No Place Like Home
People keep telling me that it shouldn't be so hard to find another place. I agree with them but unfortunately it is. They are astonished when I tell them I haven't found anything yet and look bewildered when I tell them it is hard. I guess because most of these people that I have told own houses or have rented the same house or apartment for years and haven't had the inclination or the need to find another place to live.
My uncle, my father's brother, whom I just happened to run into when we were coming from the corner store the other day had a look of surprise on his face when I told him I hadn't found anything. He just couldn't understand why that was. But, he had plenty of advice to give me. He suggested that I walk to the nearest paper stand and look for a stand that had apartment books and then look in there, read all the pages in all the counties, there had to be something there in that book for me. Then he suggested go online, his daughter found her new place online, he thinks, but search the sites was his suggestion. And if all else failed ask for more time where I am now because he is sure the landlord would understand that I needed more time. I informed him that I had done all that he had suggested and perhaps there might be an apartment or house on his street that is available. He shook his head negatively and said that on his block are mostly families. He really didn't make much sense with that answer so I just assumed he didn't know and was not going to make any effort to find out either. I asked him one more question which was pretty much rhetorical. I looked him straight in the eye and asked him when was the last time he looked for a new place and unless it was recently he had no idea how hard or easy it was. I didn't expect an answer and neither did I get one. All I got was a mumble about his getting back to work. I gave him a hug and he hopped back into his company work truck, blew the horn and took off faster then a bat trying to get out of hell, as my grandmother would say. He left so fast he didn't even wish me a Merry Christmas.
Then my mom called her brother, my other uncle. This uncle lives in a retirement community, which he won't admit to. I guess that would make him feel as old as he really is if he told me or anyone else that. So, he will say he lives in senior housing which to me is basically the same thing. He tells my mom to pass on his advice. He advised me to search online and the newspapers. I kind of laughed at the newspaper part but then again he is old and probably still reads 4 papers per day. I told her to thank him for his advice and told him to let me know if he knew of something. He informed her he doesn't get out much anymore because his truck, which is probably almost as old as me, quit running a few months ago and he is having trouble finding parts for it and the only transportation is his girlfriend's car which she won't let him drive much. He said she used to say it was because he couldn't see that well but he had his laser eye operation last year so he can see just fine now and can even drive at night. Although, he pointed out he had nowhere to go at night. He was surprised at how long this process is taking also. I reminded him that he has been in his senior living building for over 9 years now so it has been a while since he looked for anything let alone a place to live. Then I reminded him about the number of people I am looking for and that is not making it any easier. He then agreed.
Then my aunt weighed in on it. She was another one giving me advice that I hadn't remembered asking for. Then she told me the story AGAIN about how she found her house back like 30 years ago. I have heard this story more times then neither she nor I can count but I just listened to her like it was the first time hearing it and the first time she told it. After she was done I wished her a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year as well and hung up the phone.
I must admit I was not too surprised about what I heard from this group of folks. I know that they are just trying to be helpful each in their own special way. So, I took their advice to heart, just the searching online part mostly, and poured myself a cup of tea and turned on the computer to continue my search.
My uncle, my father's brother, whom I just happened to run into when we were coming from the corner store the other day had a look of surprise on his face when I told him I hadn't found anything. He just couldn't understand why that was. But, he had plenty of advice to give me. He suggested that I walk to the nearest paper stand and look for a stand that had apartment books and then look in there, read all the pages in all the counties, there had to be something there in that book for me. Then he suggested go online, his daughter found her new place online, he thinks, but search the sites was his suggestion. And if all else failed ask for more time where I am now because he is sure the landlord would understand that I needed more time. I informed him that I had done all that he had suggested and perhaps there might be an apartment or house on his street that is available. He shook his head negatively and said that on his block are mostly families. He really didn't make much sense with that answer so I just assumed he didn't know and was not going to make any effort to find out either. I asked him one more question which was pretty much rhetorical. I looked him straight in the eye and asked him when was the last time he looked for a new place and unless it was recently he had no idea how hard or easy it was. I didn't expect an answer and neither did I get one. All I got was a mumble about his getting back to work. I gave him a hug and he hopped back into his company work truck, blew the horn and took off faster then a bat trying to get out of hell, as my grandmother would say. He left so fast he didn't even wish me a Merry Christmas.
Then my mom called her brother, my other uncle. This uncle lives in a retirement community, which he won't admit to. I guess that would make him feel as old as he really is if he told me or anyone else that. So, he will say he lives in senior housing which to me is basically the same thing. He tells my mom to pass on his advice. He advised me to search online and the newspapers. I kind of laughed at the newspaper part but then again he is old and probably still reads 4 papers per day. I told her to thank him for his advice and told him to let me know if he knew of something. He informed her he doesn't get out much anymore because his truck, which is probably almost as old as me, quit running a few months ago and he is having trouble finding parts for it and the only transportation is his girlfriend's car which she won't let him drive much. He said she used to say it was because he couldn't see that well but he had his laser eye operation last year so he can see just fine now and can even drive at night. Although, he pointed out he had nowhere to go at night. He was surprised at how long this process is taking also. I reminded him that he has been in his senior living building for over 9 years now so it has been a while since he looked for anything let alone a place to live. Then I reminded him about the number of people I am looking for and that is not making it any easier. He then agreed.
Then my aunt weighed in on it. She was another one giving me advice that I hadn't remembered asking for. Then she told me the story AGAIN about how she found her house back like 30 years ago. I have heard this story more times then neither she nor I can count but I just listened to her like it was the first time hearing it and the first time she told it. After she was done I wished her a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year as well and hung up the phone.
I must admit I was not too surprised about what I heard from this group of folks. I know that they are just trying to be helpful each in their own special way. So, I took their advice to heart, just the searching online part mostly, and poured myself a cup of tea and turned on the computer to continue my search.
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