I was recently walking the dogs on a very blustery day. A homemade campaign sign from a neighbor’s yard flew across our path. The sign was handmade because my neighbor’s first sign, printed professionally, had been stolen. I didn’t want them to think it had happened again, so I picked it up, crossed into their yard, which I assumed would be OK with them, and gently placed it at their front door.

It seemed like the neighborly thing to do.

This sign wasn’t for a candidate I support, but obviously my neighbor had every right to display their opinion. I was actually disappointed when their first sign was stolen. How weak and childish. Why inhibit someone’s freedom of speech? Use your own voice rather than silencing someone else’s. I wouldn’t want to be treated that way.

The next day, I woke up and discovered that my sign for the other candidate was gone. I didn’t want to believe it was stolen, so I spent about 10 minutes trying to figure out where it may have been moved by wind. I walked our entire yard twice. I looked under clusters of trees and on the fence line. Nowhere to be found. I circled back to where the sign had been. The post was gone too. It had been stolen. No doubt.

Someone had come onto our land and taken something for which I had paid.

A thief. Plain and simple.

I thought about the cameras we recently installed. I knew I could review the footage and find out who had done it, but I didn’t want to. No good could come from knowing. If it was a neighbor, I’d be incredibly sad. If it was a stranger, it’s not like the “Law & Order” team was going to hunt them down.

Instead, I made another donation to the candidate of my choice and got a few more signs in case another one was stolen. I picked up a couple more for other candidates too. Their campaign teams can thank the thief for the extra money.

I am almost comforted by the theft of these signs, traveling blue and red, left and right. It shows that selfishness flows in both directions. Mainly though, I’m disappointed. My opinions are no more important than anyone else’s, but they’re mine to express. My neighbor’s too.

When you think about it, we just cancel each other out. #cancelculture

I think our community is strong enough for people to feel differently.

If I want to say these thieves, assuming they are two different sets of people, are bumbling hypocrites representing small thinking, I can. If I think that they’re dishonest and childish, petulant and spoiled, selfish and insecure, that’s my right to say. If I had the chance to look them in the eye and tell them I don’t respect them, I could.

Of course, I’d never do so. That would be mean.

There are strangers and people I love in this town who feel differently than I do. Vehemently so. I see bumper stickers on cars. I see the yard signs that have yet to be stolen. I doubt I could change their minds. So I just won’t drive past their houses until November 6.