Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Somebody should do something

Everyday, going in and out of my apartment I cross a brick road that serves as the parking lot for my complex. It's old, uneven and full of holes, but it fits well in its historic aspect with the rest of the atmospheric,downtown area. It happened a number of times that my wheels got stuck in one of the larger ditches. I would then use my legs to push myself out balancing from one side to the other, lifting my front up. It also happened that I miscalculated, flipping my chair entirely. My neighbors would often see me struggle getting around with my wheels getting between the bricks. "It looks hard"- they would say, "Somebody should do something, somebody should tell the management. I would reply that I tried, that I've been told that the street is historic, that the way it is is part of the old town feel and look of the area and they say they wouldn't want to touch it.  Over the years I pretty much got used to going down the street that way and after a while, I stopped complaining. I guess you can explain anything to yourself in my mind. You get used to it and then you move on. Just last week I was having the same conversation with another neighbor. She nodded her head, commented on my struggles and said, "Somebody should do something", "Somebody should say something. But then, instead of nodding when I said that my complaints have fallen on def years and moving on, she said, "I'm going to the leasing office right now". "It might help to have somebody else get on them about it". Perhaps two, three days ago I noticed that what used to be a big tear along the road is now smooth and filled. I think it's asphalt, whoever did it cared very little to have it match the surrounding bricks and it's visibly darker. But what matters is, it's fixed, The girl went in, complained and had it done. Something that I was previously told was undoable and that I struggled with for four years. She was the straw that broke the camel's back. And it seems I'm constantly reminded of the importance of not giving up easily. If someone says no, ask again. And then again. Or try a different approach. If you say "Somebody should do something" don't just nod and walk away. Why shouldn't this somebody be you, why can't the time be now?

2 comments:

  1. Hello Ralph,
    Thank you for writing this.
    It is so true in so many aspects of life and it is good to be reminded by you 'to just do it'!
    Susie

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  2. I always say be the change you want to see in the world.

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