I’m In Good Hands

This is a picture of me with my niece Ashley several years ago. I watched her grow up all of her life and have always felt I was her experiment. (A willing Guinea Pig)

She’s a make-up artist and we got to spend some time together this weekend to start up a blog for her. She lives in Kansas City and was recently laid off because she is now too qualified for a major salon that she has been employed by for almost three years. She’s recently decided to go solo and freelance. Ashley can make real looking scars on your cheek and varicose veins on your forehead.

She belongs in Hollywood.

Though, I’d prefer she worked with Oprah, Chicago is much closer to me. Her presence in our lives is BIG. Her being here this weekend was fabulous. She’s a magnet. She magnetized my nieces and nephew to come and stay here with us in the Urban Apartment which is currently being painted.The Urban Apartment that is now officially in the process of foreclosure. That’s the BIG news for me on the planet.

And, right now I’m feeling thankful that this foreclosure is happening.

I want to tell you the whole story … reminds me of a post that Mark just wrote about the Language of the Universe. His post reminded me I am in good hands though it may not look like it. (hint)

Thursday morning I noticed three suits walking around the building for an hour. Men in suits is not a common sight around here, on the skirts of a major university campus. I left for an errand and came home to find two business cards under my door. One was from a Bank and the other from a Realty company. I called the Banker and discovered that the owner was in arrears and the building was going up for sale.

And maybe I need to back up here and remind you all that I am painting and I want to stay here. I’ve been here for a year. I WANT roots. And let me say this too: this news came on the heals of conferences for my daughters last week. My youngest daughter Mia, a fourth grader, is in an eighth grade reading level. She just started playing the violin and steel drums and is feeling all happy about her self in many ways. My oldest daughter Bailey, a seventh grader is preparing for an SAT and ACT because her mathematic abilities are in the range of an eleventh grader. All my children are geniuses … which makes the budget tighter all around. This plays into factors I deal with in my life as a single parent and it’s helped flesh out the priorities of what I do … I just had too mention that. I WANT TO STAY HERE … things are going so lovely for my children.

You know the expression, “When it rains it pours.” It was this kind of week last week for me. Just so you know why I may be veering off the path with my words and ability to express the full measure of these happenings. Okay?!

Over the weekend, while my nieces and nephew were here … it was cold. And the heat, steam heat and radiators … they were not working. No heat caused me to bake up a storm. I cooked my heart out just to keep the place cozy and warm. This way no body would be privy to the ‘no heat’ in an otherwise cold apartment … right? They ate like royalty … as usual.

And this other thing happened too. The lights in the common areas of the building didn’t work. Walking through the halls with a flashlight at night was common for all of the tenants through the weekend. It was like camping I tell you. Also, the washers and dryers didn’t work. Not having clean towels for a weekend with seven people in my apartment was ‘interesting.’ We discovered that papertowels are just as good.

My communications with the Banker were constant though Friday, he planned to come for a tour of the building on Monday with his entourage of assessors at 3 pm. IT WAS THE PERFECT TIME. Although I admit, it didn’t feel like the perfect time. I pick up my daughters after school at the same time; my nieces and nephew are here … and there are no lights in the hallways.

Good thing it was daylight I thought to myself.

Good thing the Banker called an Electrician after hearing the news of what was going on around here this weekend. Good thing that the Electrician discovered a fire hazard existed with hot wires that were smoking during the time the Banker and his entourage were here.

Good thing I am here to appreciate all of the lovely things that are orchestrated on my behalf.