La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
A rainy Thursday was spent with a very proud Kid Brother at his apartment and in his neighborhood. The view above is the lobby of his building (built in 1924) while I waited to be let in.
When I arrived, he greeted me at the door with a boot box filled with your (and my) cards and letters. He didn’t even give me a moment to take off my jacket. His roommate, Chris, was excited to see me, too. They’ve shared the apartment for nearly 32 years. KB immediately began to lay out the cards on their kitchen table while Chris gave me a running commentary on all their favorite teams, his family, the weather, our history, and more. Chris can really talk. Unlike The Kid Brother, he told me some days their mailbox has been full of cards. “People really love Charles,” he said, and that made Charles beam.
What a marathon. Reading and arranging postcards. Telling KB about the wonderful people (you) who sent them and what you wrote, seeing him smile and laugh at your notes, listening to Chris, answering Chris’ questions, listening to KB, responding to KB. I’m sorry I didn’t do a great job with the photos (click the thumbnails to increase the admiration), but it was a lot to take in all at once.
The Kid Brother then took me to T-Mobile in his neighborhood to see about getting a data plan for his mobile. I was relieved to get one for only $25 a month. He doesn’t make phone calls. But he loves to check his team standings and the weather. I want to be able to video chat with him instead of simply phoning every week.
We then walked in the pouring rain to “my pizza place,” as he calls it. “They know me,” he proudly told me. Not only do they know him, but they treat him like family. It warmed my heart. We each had two slices. If you’re not familiar, New York pizza is sold by the slice or by the whole pie. It was oily, drippy, gooey, and delicious, just the way I remember it. After our meal, I installed WhatsApp on KB’s mobile and tested it. He laughed when he saw my face on his screen as we sat across the table from each other. Not necessarily the reaction I had hoped for, but a smile from KB is always welcome.
He’s coming to my hotel Sunday morning. I bought tickets for the New York City Transit museum, which is a few minutes walk from the hotel. I was stunned to discover that we are now both eligible for the senior discount.
I think I’ll buy him a new electric shaver that day. I’m guessing his shaver must be 20 years old. He shaves daily but, with the old worn blades, he seems to miss more than he shaves.
Thanks to every one of you for your kindness, your time, and your generosity. You have brought joy to Chuck and to me.
.
Un jueves lluvioso se pasó con un hermano pequeño muy orgulloso en su departamento y en su vecindario. La vista de arriba es el vestíbulo de su edificio mientras esperaba que me dejaran entrar.
Cuando llegué, me saludó en la puerta con una caja de botas llena de tarjetas y cartas suyas (y mías). Ni siquiera me dio un momento para quitarme la chaqueta. Su compañero de cuarto, Chris, también estaba emocionado de verme. Han compartido el apartamento durante casi 32 años. KB inmediatamente comenzó a colocar las cartas en la mesa de la cocina mientras Chris me comentaba sobre todos sus equipos favoritos, su familia, el clima, nuestra historia y más. Chris realmente puede hablar. A diferencia de The Kid Brother, me dijo que algunos días su buzón ha estado lleno de tarjetas. “La gente realmente ama a Charles”, dijo, y eso hizo que Charles sonriera.
¡Qué maratón! Lectura y arreglo de postales. Contarle a KB sobre las personas maravillosas (usted) que los envió y lo que escribió, escuchar a Chris, responder las preguntas de Chris, escuchar a KB, responder a KB. Lamento no haber hecho un gran trabajo con las fotos (haz clic en las miniaturas para aumentar la admiración), pero fue mucho para asimilar de una vez.
Luego, El Hermanito me llevó a T-Mobile en su vecindario para ver cómo obtener un plan de datos para su teléfono móvil. Me sentí aliviado de obtener uno por solo $25 al mes. No hace llamadas telefónicas. Pero le encanta consultar la clasificación de su equipo y el clima. Quiero poder chatear por video con él en lugar de simplemente llamarlo todas las semanas.
Luego caminamos bajo la lluvia torrencial a “mi pizzería”, como él la llama. “Ellos me conocen”, me dijo con orgullo. No solo lo conocen, sino que lo tratan como a una familia. calentó mi corazón. cada uno tenía dos rebanadas. Si no está familiarizado, la pizza de Nueva York se vende por porción o por pastel entero. Era aceitoso, goteante, pegajoso y delicioso, tal como lo recuerdo. Después de nuestra comida, instalé WhatsApp en el móvil de KB y lo probé. Se rió cuando vio mi rostro en su pantalla cuando nos sentamos uno frente al otro a la mesa. No necesariamente la reacción que esperaba, pero una sonrisa de KB siempre es bienvenida.
Viene a mi hotel el domingo por la mañana. Compré boletos para el museo de tránsito de la ciudad de Nueva York, que está a unos minutos a pie del hotel. Me sorprendió descubrir que ahora ambos somos elegibles para el descuento para personas mayores.
Creo que le compraré una afeitadora eléctrica nueva ese día. Supongo que su afeitadora debe tener 20 años. Se afeita a diario pero, con las hojas viejas y gastadas, parece perder más de lo que afeita.
Gracias a cada uno de ustedes por su amabilidad, su tiempo y su generosidad. Has traído alegría a Chuck ya mí.
• Su barrio.
So happy you guys are enjoying your time together.
KB and his room mate seem a perfect match to compliment each other’s personalities.
That pizza looks like the one we had yesterday……NY style pizza. Our fav.
Jim:
KB and Chris could not have been more perfectly matched.
WOW! that is a lot of cards. So happy to see that he is getting so much mail. I do remember that NY style pizza, it is good. Well I do not know what a senior discount is in NYC but I get them to usually 10 to 15% which is not bad. It covers the tax charge which is 15%.
Larry:
I kept pointing out all the cards from you and told him about PEI… and even showed it to him on Google today when we were at lunch. Thank you again. The senior discount varies (age and amount of discount). The transit museum gave us our tickets at half price. Instead of $10, only $5. A great deal.
What a wonderful post! Glad to read how well the KB and his roommate Chris get along in their lives and apartment!
Debra:
It’s astounding how perfectly matched Chris and KB are. Chuck has shared his room in the past. One roommate was also a great match. He retired out of the apartment several years ago. The most recent roommate was a really nice guy, but he was a slob and that drove Chuck crazy. He moved last year to be closer to a new job. Chuck refuses to believe he’ll eventually have to share the room again. Argh.
KB has made a nice life for himself and how great that he has “my pizza place”! What a display of card and kindness!
Wilma:
I was astounded by the number of cards and he was SO proud. He has a better life than I ever imagined he would.
A great way to spend a cool rainy day.
David:
Very emotionally satisfying.
I love that mural! Street art really makes me smile.
And then so did that assortment of cards; such a collection.
Bob:
I love that mural, too. It’s been there for years and is well maintained. The cards are amazing. He said he has another shoe box ready to go.
This made me so happy 🙂
I love Chuck’s building! And the pizza! And knowing that he must have been so happy to have you over. It’s all so good!
Judy C:
Isn’t that building something. The elevator (I should see if I can find a photo) has the original etched brass outer door in the lobby. He was so proud to take me to HIS pizza place, and it warmed my heart to see him there.
Happy to see you were able to get to Chuck’s place again and to find that he and Chris are doing well. Whatsapp should help you get a better sense of how he is doing once you are back in Spain (seeing vs only hearing). Of course, you’ll now be subject to his critique of your looks. 🙂 Will keep you on your toes.
Mary:
I can just hear him telling San Geraldo, “You need a shave!”
32 years in the same apartment is wild, but from the looks of the lobby it must be a palace. That pizza looks mouthwatering.
Shirley:
A very nice old building. The apartment is not quite a palace, but the rooms are large and its very comfortable… and clean! They’ve got a good laugh there.
I adore that lobby, deco isn’t the word x
John:
The elevator door is deco. I have a photo somewhere I’ll fish out. The lobby is very 1920s Ocean Parkway. Lots of grand old apartment buildings. A nice place to live.
I hear the Scottish Parade is this weekend ~ any chance?????
Ron:
I guess I missed that. There were bagpipers in a park mid-town Friday afternoon. I didn’t stick around.
oh oh
I looked at the photos and didn’t recognize any postcards I have sent.
This makes me wonder if I have the right address, or not all were photographed?
Urspo:
I definitely read your name to him and told him about you. I said you live in Phoenix and he said, “Whoa, it’s hot there!” So, there were cards from you. I thought I had snapped the all, but he was moving cards around awfully quickly.
thank you for clarifying this. It’s a relief. I have the right address and he likes them.
OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now that is a lot of cards! You must have been there for 3 hours looking at them….I’m falling grossly behind with blogging with the move. I hope you saw my waving from the Casa du Borghese as you flew over…….
I hope your having a wonderful visit.
Mistress Borghese:
I waved back! Chuck is so proud of his cards. He told me he’s got another shoe box ready.
That looks like a really nice building! It’s so great to see all the cards. I’m glad KB has enjoyed them and that you got to spend time going through them all. 🙂
Steve:
I had hoped to look at the cards in more detail but those two beside me it wasn’t going to happen. Still, so nice to see how proud it made him. I should have gotten a photo of the origina etched brass elevator doors. Stunning.