The first thing I was cognizant of this morning was someone (Jerry) banging around in my room. Then I noticed the light, most of it was because Jerry had left several doors open and the light on in the bathroom.
Now, as is usual for me, since I was awake, I stumbled to
the bathroom and turned out the light. We do have a nightlight in the bathroom
which illuminates the room when there is no other source of light. However, it’s
off because the sun is already peaking over the horizon.
After using the bathroom, I stumbled, still not fully awake,
back to my bed. While I was doing so, Jerry saw me. “You’re up early.”
I grumbled. “I’m not awake.” Then climbed back into bed,
taking the time to adjust my blanket and pillows in just the right way to allow
maximum comfort for whatever remaining sleep I could get before I had to wake
up for the day.
I had no intention of stirring until it was time to feed the
dogs, and without checking the time, I knew it was way too early for that. The
sun wasn’t that far up yet.
Then one thought bolted me completely awake.
It’s Wednesday!
I checked the time just before my Wednesday morning alarm
went off.
Of course, I posted last week. We switch off every other
week, so it isn’t my turn to write the post. But I’m flashing back to the phone
call I got Monday night. The phone call that I didn’t do anything about all day
Tuesday.
I had thought about possible solutions to the problem but I
made no actual effort to do anything about it. So too early in the morning, I’m
faced with a looming deadline and the only recourse I have left is to address
the issue myself.
So I’m awake and again staring at my screen trying to figure
out what to write for the post this morning.
Why isn’t Bonnie writing it?
She is currently dealing with a plumbing issue that requires
effort on her part at about two-hour intervals to prevent her apartment from
flooding. At this point all she can manage is keeping her house as dry as
possible and what little sleep that effort affords her.
When she called Monday night to give me a heads up it was
clear that she wasn’t fully awake. Between that and telling me all the effort
she’d put into trying to get this issue fixed, I knew she wouldn’t be able to
write this week’s post.
When she first rented this apartment, her landlord was easy
to contact and he always responded promptly. That changed over the last few
years.
She’d had issues even getting her rent check to him and I’m positive
this isn’t the first repair that place needed when she could not get ahold of
her landlord. I have the feeling he’s ignoring other tenants too.
Now? He hung up on Bonnie. He won’t return messages or make any
effort to contact her thus leaving her to deal with the issues on her own.
This time, she’s contacted a lawyer because besides having
to deal with the plumbing issue on her own, she’s now missing work. Work she
needs to be able to pay rent, though I’m sure a lawyer would tell her that she
is well within her rights to not pay rent to her slumlord.
I’m not sure what his endgame is. However, I’m sure he wants
to sell the place but it was already run down enough before 2020 that he’d have
to invest money, and time, in the building before anyone would even make an
offer. Though it’d be more time-consuming and expensive to repair around the
tenants.
I think his current lack of response is to get frustrated
tenants to move out. Perhaps some of them have. But Bonnie has not only lived
there for years but there is no other place she can afford. She’s looked.
I’m hoping she can get this taken care of enough that she’ll
be able to do my post next week. I’m also praying her housing situation will
improve because one of her only other options is moving in with family members.
Most likely me.
The issue with this idea is we don’t have the room.
Melinda is the only one not already sharing a bedroom but that’s
because I’m the only other female in the household. And since her old bedframe collapsed
earlier this month, she no longer has a spare bed. Acquiring another bunkbed frame
was far more expensive than the one we did buy.
All in all, I’m praying she can get things taken care of
this week, and without having to move here.
Smile. Make the day a brighter day.
