Article July 25, 2005 Issue

IS 'LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF' PRACTICAL ADVICE?

THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR

Even Before They Moved In, there was tension. First they insisted my husband and I amend the rules of our two-unit condominium to let them operate a business, and were angry when we would not. Then there were difficulties relating to condo fees and insurance. But worst of all were the explosions of noise that made the furniture rattle and woke me up at night.

Although I managed to keep the relationship cordial, this particular morning I was as rattled as the furniture. I'd had noisy neighbors before, but none who woke me up with noise at six o'clock in the morning.

I had tried discussing the banging with them. Perhaps they were renovating their apartment? But they weren't, and wouldn't discuss it further. This particular morning, the banging was so loud I could scarcely think; I just sat and seethed.

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