when effort ≠ result

When I first moved to Boston in 1981, I left behind Lee. I think he was happy to see me go, as he was not ready for a committed relationship.  

A few weeks after arriving in Boston, I agonized over the exact wording of a short letter I'd send Lee, asking him to come visit.

M and I had just become friends, and she thought the letter I crafted was just short of brilliant.  I don't remember the details, but it begins by briefly describing famous historic lovers, and somehow leads to the line (that M still remembers), "And so with some trepidation I begin this letter."

The letter does everything I want it to.  It doesn't make me look needy. It shows my cleverness. I'm witty and flirtatious. The blithe tone masks the colossal effort that went into writing of it.   

I send the letter and wait.  Finally I get a response.  I don't remember the exact wording of the letter but I do have memorized the exact wording of the response. 

"Sorry. No can do."

Lee and I are still in touch; he's married now and lives in Denver.

This weekend my neighbor Ronnie and I organize a meeting to discuss the wall that now surrounds the two of us, and two other apartments on the second floor. The snow has melted and now reveals exposed nails, broken branches, and pigeon poop.  It's been two weeks since this monstrosity was erected, and of course no work has even started.

 from living room window

 from living room side window

 from bedroom window

This is my view for the next year or more. I draft a well-researched note to the building management. I list the hardships (loss of privacy, workmen at eye level, a claustrophobic feeling, no street view, loss of light, etc). I quote NYC Building Code 3307.64.6. I speak to Nick Veksler who is on the Scaffolding Safety Team at NYC Department of Buildings.  I even cite acceptable and city-approved alternatives. I am thorough. 

My three neighboring apartments are all in agreement.  They make some minor changes to the draft. The email is from the four of us. Ronnie sends it yesterday. We are optimistic.  A lot of effort has been made as we want the tone to be right, the facts accurate, and the cited alternatives within code.

This morning we all get the same response Lee sent me in 1981.  It may be a sentence or two longer and more polite, but it reflects the same level of concern and thought Lee showed me so many years ago. From the management of our building:

"While I do understand your concerns, our architects and engineers have advised us that the current bridge cannot be modified due to the work that will be performed.

We apologize for this inconvenience."

Another no can do letter even though they most certainly can!