Plunge in and keep going

A wise woman once said this to me. It is one of my real estate mottos. Mottoes. No, definitely mottos.

This morning I got a call from someone new, someone pregnant, calling about a townhousey type apartment in the West Village. Guess what? I have the apartment at the advertised price. I told the woman on the phone that I'd call her once I got to the office. Well it took me a while. I first went to an open house on 19th Street and 10th Ave. Unimpressive and I'm not taking my client there. On the way across town, I wandered into a store having a moving sale. I quickly chose a crystal vase for the Young Doctor (I owed her a housewarming gift), had it gift wrapped. The owner told me she could exchange it at any Bloomingdale's for full retail value, $75 (I paid $40). Cool.

Just as I got to the office at 1 pm, a friend called me and I spent the next ninety-three minutes talking with her about lots of things, family issues, mutual friends, our businesses, hamburgers and healing. I finally got off the phone at 2:30 and managed to call the managing agent for the West Village townhousey apartment. She said the showing was from 12-3. Ok, I said, lemme see if they can show up. I call the new pregnant people. The husband is willing to come see the place immediately. Wow. I realize I have to take a cab over there, because there is no other way to get over there quickly. I get there, meet him and the lady showing the apartment. He walks around for a while, she tells him some stuff about the place, like that it is 1500 square feet, which I don't believe for a second. I keep my mouth shut. When he's all done looking, ready to go, I ask him what he thinks. He likes it but there are some issues. Ok, I say. Rent, fee, lease terms, I can help. Size, location, layout, we'll have to find someplace new. We part ways, I'll call tomorrow to see if the wife wants to see it. Would be nice, it's an open listing, which means I'd get 40% of the fee instead of the 25% I get for a co-broke.

Now it's three and I walk back across town to 1 university *see below* to drop off the crystal vase for the Young Doctor. I leave it with the doorman.

I decide not to get right on the train back to Brooklyn but to walk around for a while. After all, the weather is contemplative and warm, my afternoon is free, and most importantly, I am not wearing heels. One of the things I like best about my job is that is gives me occasion to look at New York City with purpose and meaning, in a new way. I walk east, toward Alphabet City, thinking about books I've read, movies I've seen. I go to a thrift store I've never seen and buy some $5 sunglasses that make me look cool. I wander back across 14th Street, hitting all the 99 cent stores, looking for old new stock. I found some cool Chinese silk clutch purses for 99 cents. Now it is time to come home. Because I am hungry.

A little later, I am feeling optimistic. About real estate, even though things are the same and all the money I made is spent. Even about the Hamburger. Even though he has never called me back, I know it is okay. I don't know why or how it got to be okay, but it just is. I guess all that healing is kind of working.