I Am Not a Peeping Tom, Not!

I have a confession to make. I look into my neighbors' windows. 

Okay, shoot me. But have a heart.

Because, it's basically impossible for me not to - since my loft building faces their loft building - and even though we are a half a block apart - my huge six-foot high windows still face their huge windows and I can see in. 

Well, sort of. Not everything. But...

...I want you to know, I AM NOT strange or twisted or weird, I am CURIOUS. A writer for godsake! Filled with imagination. Stuck 24/7 in my own downtown movie.

And since I live and I work in my loft, I can basically tune in and tune out, whenever I want to - that is - if their shades are up and "my neighbors" (loosely defined) are there.  

A couple have caught my eye. 

There's the dark-haired woman, who during the day, smokes, sitting on her window ledge (four floors up) and talks on the phone. I sware, between you and me, one day she's going to fall right into the parking lot below. I have a fear of heights and she worries me.

Another curious one is the photographer. He's on the fifth floor, and I see his strobe lights, and the flashes from his camera, going off constantly. He must be a very busy photographer, either that or maybe he is a drug pusher. I just don't know, I can't see that far. 

And then there are the two guys on the top floor. Chefs in the making, or maybe chefs already made. They are constantly cooking, because I see them carrying pots and pans around a lot. I assume they have a gourmet kitchen but I just don't know. I imagine they will star on Top Chef one day. 

Of course, there are more neighbors. All, mini-movies. I often wonder what they're up too. And miss them, when I don't see them for awhile.

Well, maybe I am a little strange. Not a peeper, though!

But, here's the real kicker. 

If I can see them - guess what? They can see me, too! And I wonder if they do, and what if they've made up a story about me, or point, or even let out a scream!

Which brings me to getting dressed. 

On days I'm feeling confident, I walk out of my bathroom - gasp - naked - and get dressed with the shades up - some 20 feet from my windows. On fearful days, I hide behind my bed getting dressed, just knowing someone is watching - maybe even with a telescope, no less. 

Then, on the few days I'm rational, I think unless they have eyes like Superman, a mind like Fellini, and are seriously damaged, I'm just a fleck of a person living across the wide, wide street. 

Hopefully, with a life of my own. 

Comments

[Linda Jay Geldens]

Nancy, You are not a voyeur, you are a writer -- absolutely, so don't worry about your curiosity about your neighbors! I too live in a situation that reminds me of the movie Rear Window -- I can look right across the courtyard to three apartments, and I know exactly what's going on in each. But I'm a writer...so it's OK.

[TalesofDowntown.com]

Yes, I am a writer. And my curiosity could fill a whole loft full of Rear Window stories. I had forgotten about that movie, but you're right Linda. That's my life and I'm sticking to it! Nancy

[Vicky DeCoster]

I too thought of "Rear Window" when I read this post. Reminds me of last week when my husband and I took a walk and I accidentally looked in a neighbor's window as we sauntered past. I whispered to my husband, "I think I just saw Frank in his underwear!" and my husband replied, "Avert your eyes for goodness sake!" Let us know if you ever see anything illegal going on, Nancy, but in the meantime, better keep dressing behind your bed because you never know who might be walking by (like me)!

[TalesofDowntown.com]

I will definitely keep you posted on the "movies" that I see down here. My neighbors have already told me some whoopers of what's happened to them. Seems like so far, I've gotten off easy. Nancy

[joy]

one word: binoculars. :)

[TalesofDowntown.com]

another word: telescope

[J. Russell Brown]

Many past (pre-downtown LA) lives/ years ago, I lived on Wilshire near Beverly Glen. Bedroom/ bathroom window was bedroom of neighbor next door. Living room was open to Wilshire and neighboring highrises.

During a large public dinner party in my high rise 5th story glass house, a new guest in my home started to relate details on my busy neighbor, their schedule, parties, activities. He continued to elaborate all the details of watching this neighbor and seemed obsessed with following them. Then I realized the neighbor being viewed was us.

From that night forward, the vertical blinds were slanted in the opposite directions.

10 years later, the partner of that guy became my best friend and it was not until much later we realized the tangled web of distance, public viewing, loss of privacy but also the links and friendships that were to develop.

[TalesofDowntown.com]

Russell that is hilarious. If we only knew who was watching us - most of us never find out. But, you knew, and the whole thing came full circle. What a story to tell. Nancy