Fixed!

Two minor problems with the new place: the refrigerator froze everything even on the lowest setting, and the dishwasher didn't have any water going into it. I sighed with total lack of enthusiasm. I hate trying to convince someone else that something doesn't work and that I am not just a clueless nincompoop who just doesn't know how to do stuff.

In the previous complex, I had a list of things that needed fixing created during our "walk through" on move in. It was a good twenty or thirty broken items that, granted were small, but little irritations that would have been nice to have had fixed.

The few items the office sent a maintenance person over to address had to be redone at least two or three times before they worked - and those were major things like heat or water leaks. I heard that over the course of the year I lived there they fired four of their five maintenance men because of incompetence. Maybe, but they still didn't fix stuff in my place, and after awhile, you give up. Its hard not to think that somehow you just don't deserve to live in a place where things work! Am I too poor? Too female? Too old? Too uneducated (that can't be it). Too what?

So with some small amount of dread, I went to the office Sunday afternoon to report the situation. I have to admit, my expectations were low. And being the weekend, I was sure no one would appear until at least Monday. The weekend office person (amazing that they are open on Sunday!) had a little trouble with the concept that the freezer thaws and the refrigerator freezes, but she faithfully typed into the computer what I said and assured me that someone would be by first thing Monday to have a look see.

Monday on the drive home from work, I was curious whether anyone had looked at the appliances. Even if they had, they probably would have to order parts or some such thing. I didn't hold out much hope. We parked in our assigned spot (how glorious not to have to park a mile away because the neighbors all get home before you and take the close spaces!) and trudged up the stairs.

There on the door hung a pink slip. Yes, they had come, looked and FIXED both appliances!!! I was shocked, amazed, delighted, dubious. I would not believe they were working properly until I tried them out. Sure enough, the dishwasher rinsed and the freezer froze. I give it a few days, but some small spark of hope ignited. How wonderful to be taken seriously and to be treated well for a change. You get so tired of having to fight for every little thing. Maybe my experience-based cynicism will clear up a tad.