Neighbors

I just came from picking up Laurence’s suit from the cleaners. Now it’s ready for Abigael’s wedding. My next door neighbor was coming in as I went out. I asked Rebecca about her cancer journey. Her and I stood in the lobby for 15 minutes while she told me the difficult time she’s having though she’s a year out from the surgery to remove the cancer.

I walked two blocks to the cleaners for the suit. As I came back into the lobby, Jose was coming out. Jose and his brother inherited Coca’s apartment. (I got her beautifully woven Romanian cloth.) I asked Jose how it’s going with Coca’s apartment. He said, “Do you want to see it?”  I definitely did, so he showed me the newly painted walls, new light fixtures, new kitchen flooring and backsplash, polished hardwood floors, and a lightened bathroom with a small shelf that held a tiny planter of real-looking lavender. Jose opened the doors of the walk-in closets – so much space. I could easily downsize from a one bedroom to move into that lovely studio apartment! Asking price is $235,000 (welcome to NYC!).

However, I know that both Jose and I felt some sadness. The empty apartment came because Coca died. She died alone. Her neighbors were her only support group. I met with the funeral director after she died. They put her ashes in a box. Jose spread them in Central Park where Coca would often go to walk.

There are 48 apartments in this building. The food smells in the hall tell us that people from many different countries and backgrounds reside here. The parents at work. The children at school, so this building is quiet during the day.

I’ll leave more building tales for another day. Laurence will soon be home for lunch. We are going to have the first picnic of the season this evening. Berniece