Look Sweetie
I pulled the door's handle too strong - again. I looked at the driver to see if he also felt the big bang. He didn't seemed phased. He was counting a bundle of dollars and putting them into his pocket. 'Where?' he asked with an expressionless face, ready to go wherever my money would carry us. '16th and 7th Avenue,' I said. He nodded his head and turned the wheel towards Park Slope.
My hair was still wet from the rushed shower I had taken to be on time for the appointment. I had recently become a poor time manager, hopping into four-door sedans and arriving in posh style. I did this to look at apartments I could maybe afford if I sold everything I owned. After each ride, I promised myself that I would start saving and that I would rely more on the subway.
'Ziksteen zitreet?' the driver asked in basic, broken English. 'Yes,' I said and proceeded to give lengthy instructions out of fear that we may be lost and I may be late.
'Ah know, ah know...' he said, waving his hand at me not to worry.
'OK," I said and sank back into my seat.
'Ju're going to your friend's apartment?" the driver asked. I didn't mind when they dived into my personal life -- it made good conversation.
'No, I am looking for an apartment. I am meeting with a broker,' I explained. I didn't expect much of a reach. I was not sure if he knew about brokers and all that stuff.
'How much?" he asked... I understood that to be the price of the property...I told him.
'Too much!' he protested. 'Waz it for? Houwse?' he asked
"No, an apartment..."
"Too much for this ah-rea..." he said. I was pleasantly surprised to come across some newfound expertise.
"These are the going rates," I said in a sigh.
'Buy yoh own home...OK? I know, I have one.." said the driver.
"It's too expensive," I whined.
"No, no, listen - you put what you have and you hask da bank..ok?" he said as someone who had figured out the American system before the natives invented it.
"I live Bay Ridge. I have home. And I have tenant downztairz... I don't pay no rent. Tenant pay my mortgage. I live for free..." he said, giving me a run-down of his hard to knock argument.
I knew I was stepping into a raw deal, wasting another Sunday at an open house with 5 other families who would look but not touch.
"What's this? It's like prison!" he claimed pointing to the tall brick building across the condo on 16th street.
"Himm, I'm not sure. I am just looking anyhow..." I said, trying to hide my disappointment.
"Sure, sweetie, look, look...." he said as he dropped me off and took my seven dollars plus tip.
My hair was still wet from the rushed shower I had taken to be on time for the appointment. I had recently become a poor time manager, hopping into four-door sedans and arriving in posh style. I did this to look at apartments I could maybe afford if I sold everything I owned. After each ride, I promised myself that I would start saving and that I would rely more on the subway.
'Ziksteen zitreet?' the driver asked in basic, broken English. 'Yes,' I said and proceeded to give lengthy instructions out of fear that we may be lost and I may be late.
'Ah know, ah know...' he said, waving his hand at me not to worry.
'OK," I said and sank back into my seat.
'Ju're going to your friend's apartment?" the driver asked. I didn't mind when they dived into my personal life -- it made good conversation.
'No, I am looking for an apartment. I am meeting with a broker,' I explained. I didn't expect much of a reach. I was not sure if he knew about brokers and all that stuff.
'How much?" he asked... I understood that to be the price of the property...I told him.
'Too much!' he protested. 'Waz it for? Houwse?' he asked
"No, an apartment..."
"Too much for this ah-rea..." he said. I was pleasantly surprised to come across some newfound expertise.
"These are the going rates," I said in a sigh.
'Buy yoh own home...OK? I know, I have one.." said the driver.
"It's too expensive," I whined.
"No, no, listen - you put what you have and you hask da bank..ok?" he said as someone who had figured out the American system before the natives invented it.
"I live Bay Ridge. I have home. And I have tenant downztairz... I don't pay no rent. Tenant pay my mortgage. I live for free..." he said, giving me a run-down of his hard to knock argument.
I knew I was stepping into a raw deal, wasting another Sunday at an open house with 5 other families who would look but not touch.
"What's this? It's like prison!" he claimed pointing to the tall brick building across the condo on 16th street.
"Himm, I'm not sure. I am just looking anyhow..." I said, trying to hide my disappointment.
"Sure, sweetie, look, look...." he said as he dropped me off and took my seven dollars plus tip.
posted by Mimi Media @ 11:15 PM
1 Comments:
At 4:46 PM,
Anonymous said…
My parents gave me the same advice...buy a house and rent out a part...then you live for free. It's a good strategy. You can always talk with me or Mommy for advice. And apparently cab drivers!
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