Upgrading

I promised S to look for better living quarters and so I had an almost daily excursion looking and asking. Everywhere I asked, it was always the same, I'll put you on my list but there are so many people ahead of you. Finally I decided there must be a secret I don't know about. W with wife had found a beautiful place. But she did not like to entertain. We askked How were you so lucky? They never told.

We liked to have people for dinner and we loved to play bridge. When we invited the Ws the question was : Do we put a card table in the bed room and have one person sit on the bed. Not very comfortable. Or do we have people eat in the kitchen and watch Buela doing her thing? There was very little counter space in the kitchen. So we had to play bridge with dirty dishes surrounding us. Something had to be done.

On a Monday morning I drove to the nearest town to look for a bookstore. Could not find one. So I drove to Forth Worth and eventually found one. I looked fo a man to wait on me. Found one. He was elderly. The young ones were all at Mineral Wells, or other like places. He asked what I was looking for. I need something in the self help department. In what area do you think you need impprovement. I told him my constant failure in securing better living quarters. He said, I have just the book for you. And he went to find the book. "HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE" I drove back home and began reading it and I think it was the only time we had to go out for dinner. S was impressed by my daring to drive that far. But he also poh pohed the idea that a book could change the rental market.

On Tuesday I went on my search. And I tried a little harder place. I was in the high rental area. The first place I struck gold. A lovely elderly woman was the owner of the real estate. She gave me the usual talk about the long list ahead of me. and the probability it would be at least three months before my name would be at the top. And so I began using hat I learned in my book. I admired the roses that grew along the front of the property. She said: would you like a cup of tea? I stroked my forehead and sighed and said: I was hoping you'd ask. And then we got into hair colors. She wanted to dye her hair but lacked the nerve. I said, and really meant it: Oh, don't do that. You have the most beatiful color now. If it changes you will not look like you any more. etc etc.

She said: You know, I can tell people you are family and put you at the top of the list. (I beg the person at the top of the list to forgive me.)