Dear Abby: My neighbor has it out for me. What should I do?
DEAR ABBY: My neighbor “Doris” runs our neighborhood group that has in-person meetings once a year. She didn’t have any meetings in person or even on Zoom for three years during COVID. Two weeks ago, she contacted me and asked me to come to the next meeting. I told her I didn’t want to because at the last meeting I wasn’t able to ask all the questions I wanted of city hall officials. Doris apologized several times and assured me it would not happen again.
Last week, I attended the meeting, and they had a sheriff’s deputy speak. We were told we could ask questions, so when it was my turn, I began asking questions — and Doris cut me off and censored me! I saw later that evening that she tried to call me, but I feel it would be redundant to have the same conversation with her. What do I do now that I have been burned twice by her behavior? — BEEN THERE, DONE THAT
DEAR BEEN THERE: You have two choices. Either stop attending those meetings or, because you feel Doris is too controlling, oppose her leadership, run for that position (if you have the time to devote to it) and ask your neighbors for their votes. It may be time for the “winds of change” to blow through your neighborhood.
Read more Dear Abby and other advice columns.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.