My neighbor put up a big tent. They even rented a mobile toilet. Something big was going to happen. Either some kid’s birthday or Cinco de Mayo （墨西哥抗法胜利纪念日）. Saturday night went quietly, but on Sunday, as I made a stop two block away from my house to visit a friend at about 9pm, I could hear the music. At my house, double pane window was of no avail.

Such loud party was not a daily thing of course. Not even a monthly thing. Two years ago when I moved into this neighborhood, it was worse. At first I complained politely, only to invite an insulting remark. I stopped. I thought I better not antagonize my neighbor. In most cases they are hardworking people so they deserve some fun. Nor do I dislike their music. Only that I do not endorse their disregard towards neighbors. But again, I was unfortunate to have bought a house in this neighborhood. I was a fan of their culture back then, picking up their language and learning their folk dance. And also I know that not all members of their ethnicity are like this.

Today I enjoyed their music and even danced in my yard. My double pane windows more or less muffled the sound a little bit. In the past, someone told me, if you cannot stop them, dance with them. Well, I am too busy to dance and it would be accident prone if I should approach them at night. Before saying I want to dance, they would surely assume I am there to interfere.

I enjoyed the music by following it in my mind, as if I were listening to my radio. Their music is not bad after all. Sometimes I listen to such music on the radio.

I do not want to call the police, seeing many kids in the jumping house. I am worried however, such disregard of neighborhood well-being will get passed down generation by generation. Their kids, growing up with this, will think this is the norm. I already see petty vandalism on my property. A cone against parking on my driveway for their fun was knocked over. The piece of wood block that I use to put at the wheel of my car to prevent accidental malfunction of parking brake was dislodged. Paper plates and forks with cake residue decorated my curb. A plastic ball was in my front yard (this happens constantly, party or no party, but my yard was chained so they have to wait till I come back to return the ball).

I wonder why their adults do not educate their kids about proper manners when playing at a party.

The city is notoriously dis-functional in enforcing codes regarding loud parties. Police do come if someone calls, but there is no reaching out to prevent such behavior. There is no education. This country’s love for individualism makes it abhor at mass education. They call it brainwashing.

I think a law should be passed that loud parties must get city permit to be held. Date, duration, facilities used, time, etc should be specified. Police should visit the site at the closing hour to make sure it ends. Violations should be cited.

It was 10:55 pm now and the party was still going on. 　

邻居的晚会

我的邻居搭起了一个大帐篷，甚至还租了一个移动厕所。看来会有什么大事发生。要么是某个孩子的生日，要么是五月五日（墨西哥抗法胜利纪念日）。周六晚上很安静，但在周日晚上大约9点，我离家两个街区去拜访一位朋友时，我听到了音乐声。在我家，双层玻璃窗也不起作用。

这样的大派对当然不是每天都有的，也不是每月都有的。两年前我搬到这个社区时情况更糟。起初我礼貌地抱怨，却换来了侮辱性的评论。我停止了抱怨。我觉得最好别激怒我的邻居。通常来说，他们都是勤劳的人，应该享受一些乐趣。我也不讨厌他们的音乐。只是我不赞成他们对邻居的忽视。但不幸的是，我买了这栋房子。当时我是他们的文化的粉丝，学会了他们的语言，学习了他们的民间舞蹈。我也知道并非所有该民族的人都是这样。

今天我享受着他们的音乐，甚至在院子里跳舞。我的双层玻璃窗在一定程度上减弱了声音。以前有人告诉我，如果你无法阻止他们，那就和他们一起跳舞。好吧，我太忙了，而且晚上接近他们可能会有危险。在他们认为我想要跳舞之前，我肯定会被认为是来干涉的。

我喜欢在脑海中跟随着音乐，就好像我在听收音机一样。他们的音乐其实也不坏。有时我在收音机里也会听这样的音乐。

我不想报警，因为我看到蹦蹦屋里有很多孩子。然而，我担心这种对邻里的忽视会一代代地传承下去。在他们成长的过程中，这样的行为将成为常态。我已经在我的财产上看到了一些小的破坏行为。他们为了取乐，把放在我车道上的禁止停车的锥形标志推倒了。我用来防止刹车意外失灵的木块也被移开了。在我的停车场有随便抛弃的纸盘子和叉子，上面还有蛋糕残渣。我的前院里有一个踢进来的塑料球（这种情况经常发生，无论有没有聚会，但我的院子被锁上了，所以他们必须等到我回来再把球还给他们）。我想知道为什么在派对上玩耍时，家长们不教育孩子们要有适当的举止。

这个城市在执行关于喧闹派对的法规方面声名狼藉。如果有人打电话报警，警察确实会来，但没有人主动采取措施来防止这种行为。没有教育。这个国家对个人主义的热爱使得他们不愿进行大规模的教育。他们称之为“洗脑”。

我认为应该通过一项法律，规定举办喧闹派对必须获得城市许可证。日期、持续时间、使用的设施、时间等应予以明确规定。警察应在活动结束时到现场检查，以确保活动确实结束。违反规定的应予以处罚。

现在是晚上10点55分，派对仍在继续。

后来11点半了，参加晚会的人才陆续离去。音乐也低下来乃至停止。我观察，很有不少年轻女士，不过都是抱孩子的。哈哈。

那个大篷还装了旋转彩灯，俨然一个舞厅。散的时候，来了几辆出租载客，估计是喝多了，或者本来就没车的。颇有点闹市娱乐场所的氛围。

两个男人近距离说话，互相拍肩膀，很有点像中国人酒宴上发生了点口角然后又和好的样子。

2024 校对