Lauren Lejeune

If someone has written a “How To” guide on living in town, I need to get a copy of it. 

I have been a homeowner since the end of November 2022 and it has been such a great adventure. All the painting, decorating and projects have filled my time and it has been a great learning experience. Having something to call your very own, especially a home, is an accomplishment I think everyone should be proud of.

There aren’t a whole lot of places I’d rather be than at my house nowadays, whether I’m having dinner on the back patio, watering my garden and yard, or even folding laundry with a good movie on, watching the sun set out the living room picture window and seeing the neighbor kids ride their bikes outside. Buying a home was one of the best decisions I’ve made, and I’ve loved every second of it.

Well, almost every second. 

A few weeks back, I had just settled down for the evening with a book and a hot cup of tea, when all of the sudden I heard this agitating, grating noise outside. I’d never heard anything like it. It was like a drone, only louder and sounded like it was right outside my kitchen window. As I sat and listened, it slowly made its way across the length of the house. And what followed after had me fumbling for my phone.

A misting sound, like the little sprinklers that spray the produce at the grocery stores, was loud and covered everything outside, trailing after the drone. I thought about my garden outside, whatever was landing on the plants and I quickly fired off text messages to my friend, demanding to know what in the world was going on in this town. 

Now, keep in mind, aside from a brief stint right after high school, I haven’t lived in town since I was a child. Even now, having lived in town for the last nine months, I’m still getting the hang of this townie thing. I grew up listening to the crickets and the frogs singing outside my bedroom window, and not much else. Certainly not the introductory sounds of Armageddon. No, I had to get used to louder living, people walking down the street in the early hours of morning and my dogs going absolutely berserk at the living room window, and having other houses nice and cozy next to mine. (To my neighbors, you are all wonderful individuals and I would gladly shovel all of your sidewalks.) To be fair, my street really isn’t that loud. But I’ll be honest, it’s been a little bit of an adjustment. When I heard the apocalyptic noise of whatever was happening outside, I was ready to throw in the towel. 

After a series of questions from my friend who was nicely trying to figure out what I was losing it over, he sent me a video and asked me if the noise matched. A pickup truck pulling a small trailer full of liquid was spraying a thick coating across a series of lush, green lawns. The sound was the same, and he informed me that someone drove around and sprayed mosquito spray onto the yards of everyone in town. 

It made so much sense. More so than my original theory of aliens scoping out my house for conquest (which honestly, until I see the Powell Mosquito Man with my own eyes, I’ll still hold onto it. Anybody watching the news lately?!). 

The Mosquito Man quickly moved on from our street, and my racing heart settled down. I was mentally facepalming myself for the silly terror I felt, and laughing at the sheer ignorance. But what one doesn’t know can’t be helped, and I can most definitely look back on this moment as one heck of a learning experience. 

So, if the How To Guide for New Townies hasn’t been written, I’ll start now: There is almost always an explanation for all of the comings and goings, and usually a willing and able individual to answer all your questions, no matter how irrational they might be.