New Communications

Had an appointment at the Apple store today to get a "genius" to look at my cracked iPhone. The screen had a small crack and half of the touch icons had stopped responding. I figured there was nothing to be done but that I ought to have them look. In an annoyed mood I fought my way through throngs of tourists at the 59th and 5th location to get to the appointment I'd had to wait two days for.

"Yep, it's cracked all right," the genius said, examining my phone. "We'll have to get you a new one." He busily started pulling out some paperwork. 

"Wait, how much will that cost?" I asked, dreading the answer.

He looked at me a beat, "Well, it shouldn't cost anything. It should still be under warranty."

Zing!

As though it were the most natural thing in the world, he did a few things and then handed over my new $400 piece of equipment. It took ten minutes.

I hadn't even realized my phone had a warranty. But now I'm the elated owner of a brand-new phone and brand-new white case. Who needs the iPhone 2.0?

****

Now that I'm leaving the UWS soon, there's a list of must do's before I go (don't call it a "bucket list" or I'll have to reconsider our acquaintance). One of them was to have beers with David from the hood on the roof of his building (I didn't meet him in the hood, actually, I met him through Maria). He actually grew up in the building and now lives there with his parents while he figures out his next career move. It's pretty sweet. His parents and some other Utopia-minded types took over the building 30-some years ago when it was abandoned and buildings like that could be had for free by the "urban homesteaders" willing to fix them up. So David grew up knowing all of his neighbors, not needing to knock before he went into their apartments -- a great way for a kid to be raised. 

So anyway, we had the beers, and then David's friend Julia came by with an orange watermelon that I at first thought was a pumpkin.

"Why is she plopping a pumpkin on the table?" I thought. "Is this yet another harbinger of fall?

But, no, it was another reminder that this is still summer -- if only for a short while longer. 

After the beers, David and I got pizza slices at Koronet on Broadway and 110th. Columbia students were everywhere, enjoying the mild night and one of the last summer Thursdays. Their classes must start soon. Everyone's in the mood to squeeze in as many last moments as possible, including me.