Not Avon calling

One of the rarer time killing events is when someone rings your doorbell.. This is something you are oblivious to when you're at your "job"..Sometimes it's just a courtesy ring from Fedex or UPS as they drop a package - no need to respond...Sometimes it's a neighbor which is always welcome unless they are giving away kittens..AND, sometimes it's some kind of petition signing which always makes me suspicious as in the end they want money to save trees or whales. (I killed three trees myself this year alone)..The most recent and awkward bell-ringing episodes have been the religious types..

Having been raised Catholic I just don't know much about religion or the Bible so when I answered the door last week and saw two very churchy women I knew they weren't selling cookies or saving whales and I felt uneasy about discussing the possible apocalypse. They had their pamphlets in hand which they offered but I think their goal was to spread the word and maybe get a donation for those 12-page booklets that resembled my catechism booklets I had as a child..

I wanted them to go away but I didn't want to be rude. I asked myself the question "what would my mother do?".. that didn't help so I listened and refused the booklet. I almost said something about the signs in our neighborhood that say "no solicitation" but I didn't want to seem obnoxious. They soon got the message that I wasn't a good target and wished me well. I felt OK about that and they went on their way..I wondered what the other neighbors would do.. I felt the urge to peek down the block. I figured that was the end - I figured wrong..

A few days later I saw two more bell ringers as I was in my garage.. I don't think they saw me so being the grown up I am I ducked into the house and laid low as the doorbell started to ring. I couldn't bear to tip toe through another 4 minute sales pitch and trying to be polite. It was the best thing for me to lay low in our family room looking through the crack in the blinds.. While waiting I was dusting the window sill so I felt efficient..I also felt like I now needed to go into the Jehovah's Witness protection program!!