Dear Friends,
We all like to believe that we are good people, but are we? What does being good really mean?
Does not killing, stealing, cheating, lying or embezzling make us good? Or, do they simply make us not guilty. Is not being "bad" good enough to make us fine?
All of these nutty questions came to me at midnight, naturally. My mind and I were up till dawn, tossing and turning, philosophizing, tossing and turning, and then philosophizing some more.
Earlier in the evening, I'd informed my elderly tenants of my plans to move to Cobourg. The thought of inconveniencing them at their age upset me. Furthermore, they loved their home of six years and were renting below market value.
My conversation with Mrs. B, my tenant, started with, I'm so sorry, and it ended with, I'm so sorry. She was very understanding, which made me feel even worse. When she told me she was going through her annual depression, but she will be fine, my heart broke.
I wished her husband had answered the phone. He feels entitled. He wouldn't have taken the path of least resistance. His accusations would've angered me. Then, I could've told him that I hadn't raised the rent in six years, that I'd repaired whatever they had broken immediately and that I was giving them more than three months notice. But, alas, all I got to say was, I'm so sorry!
Finally, as my body was pushing my mind into oblivion, I heard myself confess, I am a bad person.
I should be able to make other arrangements, even if I cannot afford to. Would that make me good, or stupid?
I hope Mr. B doesn't put a curse on me. Those of you who read my Christmas adventures know that I'm already operating under another malediction, my mother's. I'm afraid all these old people's sighs will eventually seize and destroy me, as we say in Farsi. That's why I took some precautions and gave my tenants notice, in the old year! May the New Year bring only Joy for everyone!
Happy spring!
Lili -- you're a fabulously good woman!
ReplyDeleteYou have the right to live in your condo in Coburg! And you never raised the rent!!
Their reactions are not your problem! They knew that eventually the owner would move in! Life is too short to worry about what others think of you! And you know how to live -- so put it out of your head and put on Roy Orbison and have a glass of Merlot!
I completely agree with the above statement!
ReplyDelete