My Name Off the Door

All the apartment doors at Fred Lind Manor bear metal strips with the names of the residents of the individual apartments. 

All the doors except mine, that is. 

I returned from a long day--an outpatient visit at Harborview, then lunch with Younger Son, some shopping together (partly so that YS could carry my purchases, which included a jug of bleach), and then the walk home. I had my cane, and wasn't carrying anything except what was in my pockets, but it was uphill. A good, tiring walk. 

When we arrived at my apartment, chilled and worn, we were greeted by a blank door--someone had removed my name. 

I opened the door with some trepidation--would my things still be there? But the apartment behind the door was the same as I had left it, as far as I could tell, anyway. God and everyone has keys to these apartments, so privacy is minimal. 

A sympathetic staff member asked if I had reported the vandalism to the front desk. I'll do that tomorrow, and expect that I'll eventually get a new name sign for my door. 

This is not the first time my door has been vandalized. Back in December, someone removed my Christmas wreath from the door. This was a gold-toned metal wreath made of large jingle bells. We'd had it for some time and I was expecting to hand it down to one of the boys.

When I reported that incidence of vandalism (most likely by a resident, because of the building security), the building manager suggested that I call the police. Uh huh. He said that he and his staff had done everything they could, which was exactly nothing.

Not even a note in the elevator asking the culprit to please return my wreath.

Many of you have asked (and many more may have wondered) why I stay here. Well, after a very tough year, it is my home. My house is gone, and this little studio apartment is now my home.

I have a few friends in the building, and I don't want to move. I'd like to stay and I'd also like to see things improve, although I admit the hostile climate shakes me up a bit.

 

@ jeanne marie sather 2013.  

Comments

[Maggie]

Just Plain Weird.

I'm glad you and YS had a good day out. So sorry the annoying @#$% keeps coming so thick and furious.

Sending love, light, and somehow a little laughter anyway

[Jeanne]

I did report the vandalism, and a new name strip should be forthcoming.

In the meantime, I cut out letters--freeform, I was rather proud of myself--from bright origami paper, the kind with kimono prints on it--and taped them to the door.

The letters say: Jeanne still Lives Here

[Steph]

LOVE IT!

I just knew you would not let that pass without making some kind of "Jeanne" statement.

[Jeanne]

My name disappeared Thursday, and has still not been replaced. My taped-on letters have not been touched, but you should see the heavy-duty taping job I did!

[Deborah]

I love the thought of your bright letters saying "Jeanne still Lives Here" :) I almost would rather see that beautiful message than a boring old name strip just like everyone else's!

[susan c]

Good to hear that Jeanne is back in more ways than one.

[Jeanne]

Now, I'm having trouble with the comments box. (Trying this for the second time.) My name is back on the door, and has been for several days, but I decided to leave my origami-paper letters up as well.