All that could be but while I know the area he lives in I don't know his neighbors. Guessing who started the fence dispute is like the chicken and the egg riddle.

I have only a passing acquaintance with Jim 45 years ago and a little interaction a few years ago on stuff pertaining to his lots. He never seemed like a hothead but neighbors can get under you skin and who knows what you get.

Bottom line, the neighbor pushing him is the act of assault that launched the blow. Boundary disputes can be solved without fistfights. Neighbors can talk. I think this hothead action tells a lot about the guy doing the pushing's communication skills.

A power saw at 7:00 may be rude but is not illegal. I am glad I am not in the neighborhood.

Heh. +1

I'm with you, Stash. A little consideration and common decency go a long way.

We get these types of actions from the people running the city of Aberdeen? Yikes.

I wonder if he was wearing his new T-shirt.

I work nights (obviously) and I have quite a few neighbors around me who work in their yards early and often. We have a gentleman's agreement to keep the lawnmowers/chainsaws off until 9 a.m., in order to let me sleep a tiny bit longer.

After 9 a.m., all bets are off. They're all cool with it. No fistfights needed.

A little communication goes a long way, I guess.

That is probably the moral of the whole story. There is a better way.

Not mentioned so far is that Jim is in his 60s and at that age is unlikely to be duking it out with anyone's kid unless it was forced on him. I give him a couple points for actually hitting his neighbor as opposed to missing his target and falling on his ass.

I am thinking he is embarrassed about the whole thing. Maybe old dogs can learn and he will a new and improved neighbor.

Some of us in the working class also work graveyards or rotating shifts. Maybe his neighbor should return the favor and crank up his stereo, or work on his car at midnight.

I know it worked in my case when my neighbor forgot that we don't all work a static 8-4, Mon - Fri like he did. A couple of nights of Slayer cranked up while I revved up my old Nova with the glasspacks changed his tune.

It is illegal in some cities and neighborhoods. Maybe a city ordinance could be passed that limits noisy actives: lawn mowing, leaf blowing, chainsaws, etc until after 10:00 AM. I like to sleep in some mornings.

And after 10PM...including fireworks!