Running topics are once again taking a back seat as my mentor directs me, against my wishes, to write about my experiences as I’m prepared for a future role, in which I turned getting dressed in the morning into a show for the woman who lived next door.

The woman who took over the lease next door to me was a co-worker at an insurance agency with the former tenant and had visited once before when I did my thing in front of the window. When she moved in, she put up a wall screen that covered most of her window. My interpretation was that she wasn’t interested in my morning shows.

Another woman in her mid-30’s often came over first thing in the morning who I later learned was another co-worker at the insurance agency. I assumed she was there to provide support to her friend and co-worker, and possibly to dissuade me from doing my thing.

It was surprising that mentor did not push me to disrobe while the two were there. I noticed small signs that I was misinterpreting, but being the cautious person I am, I didn’t act on it.

Over time I noticed signs that suggested my “performances” were desired and they’d be positively received. Mentor advised me it was time.

As before, I presented myself in various ways and mentor advised me to do this and that in order to add interest for my next door audience.

Though I couldn’t see through my neighbor’s sheer curtain, at times while performing close to my window, as I kept myself shielded from being seen by anyone else, she often strolled slowly past another, uncovered window. I took that as a sign that she approved of my behavior.

Like the previous tenant, she had a guy, and he worked out of town often. Though I chatted with my friendly neighbor on occasion, like before, it was typical neighbor-chat, and there was never any discussion of, or interaction beyond our morning ritual.

Also like before, as time went on, I was disheartened by mentor pushing me to take more risks. One morning, mentor suggested my neighbor was usually up well before my regular start time, and I should do something special. I did not want to do this, but as always, I was compelled.

Soon after this advice was given, one morning my neighbor’s grandfather walked into view in the breezeway between our places. His eyes wavered slightly as if he’d seen me peripherally and wanted to look directly. I don’t know how much he saw, but I immediately went into damage control.

My neighbor’s grandfather came over occasionally to check on her, and I’d talked to him on a previous visit. He was likeable, and I’d told him I’d watch out for her. As you can see, I did more than watch out for her.

The grandfather left and as the next few days passed, no one knocked on my door or confronted me about what happened. Apparently I dodged a bullet again.

This wasn’t the only incident in which I was caught in the window. In each case, instead of being allowed to do the sensible thing and refraining, mentor again compelled me to continue the show the next morning as if nothing had happened. I know this caused some grief to my neighbor.

After a few months, her lease was up and she moved out. An elderly couple from Kentucky moved into the apartment, and they often brought over a slice of freshly baked homemade pie that was very delicious.

Enough time has passed that it’s apparent I escaped mostly unscathed, as far as know, and up to now. I feel an attachment to the women next door because I saw traits in them that I admired, and despite my behavior, I think somehow, they’d not developed a negative attitude toward me. Though we were separated by two windows and several feet of concrete, an intimacy had developed in our morning ritual, and I wished there was a way I could have talked to them more often.

If you missed an earlier, much shorter post, My Daily Stress, I explain why I must do these things and who mentor is.