earlier in my blog adventures, i think i briefly referenced my neighbor susie. susie is one of a kind, man. when i first moved into my apartment, i had no idea how to work my gas oven and didn't understand that when the pilot light went out, it meant that gas was leaking (electric ovens FTW). i think thanksgiving 2009 was the first time i had noticed this phenomenon as i was trying to bake yams and had no idea why my oven was working, and had to call the gas company to relight the pilot light.
a short time after it happened again, and again i called the gas company and this time the lady said "LEAVE YOUR APARTMENT IMMEDIATELY" like the whole thing was going to blow up or something. so i went to my friend autumn's until they called and told me they were on their way. when i showed up at the apartment building, i was greeted by the sight of 4 fire trucks -and- the gas company. it didn't really register at first, but i heard the guy on his radio saying that there was the gas leak and i sprang into action and said "that's me! i have the gas leak, but i already called the gas company - they're here too." the fireman started to tell me that my neighbor had called to report it, when i see said neighbor barreling down the stairs. cordless phone in hand. rollers in her dyed reddish-orange hair. slippers. it was too good. and in her new york accent she says:
"oh hiiii, i smelled tha gayass. i cawlled the fiyah depahtment to make shore they cyame in case. i'm susie, i live upstayahs in apt 6"
the next thing i know, 3 firemen, the gas company man, and susie are all in my apartment. the firemen make sure the levels of gas are ok, the gas guy disconnects my oven, and susie comments on the decor of my apartment.
"where'd you get this tayble."
"how much you pay for this apahhhtment"
"you cawll me wit anything you need, i live right upstayahs"
over the years, i've learned that her husband ben sells jewelry "beautiful silvahh" at the flea market in fort greene on saturdays. they have a grown son, whom they constantly argue about in the apartment lobby. they've lived in the apartment for 37 years and have seen the neighborhood change and become gentrified, some of it welcomed, some of it not. she's thrown water on the girls waiting in line for the bar below the apartment building more than once if they were being too loud. and the craziest tenants were a "bunch of italians about twelve years ago on the top floor, who were havin' orgies. and smokin' grayass! i mean a constant smell of grass. the girls would climb up the fire escape to their balcony where they had a mattress laid out....for the orgies."
so the challenge today was going to be to write susie a thank you card. i don't think i've known any neighbors since i graduated high school and left bigstone place in westlake village, and it's rare to have one so genuine and so involved and concerned about your well being in the building. she's helped me through more than my fair share of apt difficulties, has called the super when i was unable to reach him, and let in maintenance men when i wasn't able to be home. she's pretty amazing, and as much as it weirds me out to say it - i'm totally going to miss her.
as i was leaving yesterday, i saw her in the stairwell and she threw her arms around me and said if i was ever in the neighborhood, to "ring her bell and come up and we'd have cwaffee and catch up." and i think i will. even if she did tell me that her husband was having surgery later that week because "his testicles were the size of grapefruits."
thanks susie, for making my stay in LES just that much more awesome.
day 10 - complete!
xoxo
meags
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