Well we’re just shy of being in NYC for a week and I thought I would tell you about the Youngs vs. the Front Door.  First things first, after driving 3 days in a moving truck into the largest city in the country, I became a little flustered when our keys could not be found where they were left.  Fortunately 9 phone calls the woman we’re subletting from we were able to get them.  They were left at a VYNL restaurant.  The manager couldn’t find them but as always the bar tender made everything ok.  So we drove to our apt and the excitement rushed through me like rats through a subway tunnel.  “Turn the key and we’re in,” I told myself.  “Pull it out jut a bit then try.  Turn it left then right.  Try again turn and smile to Christina so she doesn’t worry”  After a few minutes we got it.  Hurray!  We propped the door open and we moved in.  What we didn’t know is the door’s thoughts… “You may have won this round but I’ll be here next time.”

We returned out truck and came home, a few more minutes at the front door got it.  “I think I have it now.” I exclaimed to Christina.  I don’t know if that was the understatement of the year, or if it was the email I got from the guy who was subletting before me that said, “The front door key is a little tricky.”  We went on to have problems that day.  Once we had to buzz someone fortunately it was a guy I had met.  We would be out worrying that we might night make it back in.  We would see someone going in and run down the street trying to not let the door shut.  Then I had the greatest idea ever.  I’ll train the dog to buzz me in.  Well he just barks when the buzzer goes off.  We hit a low point on Tues Christina’s first day of class.  Manny and I walked her there to return a little before 8:00am  Several minutes went by and no luck.  A few more minutes went by.  “Excuse me, do you live here?” the officer questioned. “Yes.” I replied.  “Do you have a key?” he asked in that tone that he expected me to turn around with a ski mask on and lock picking kit.  “Yep, just moved in can’t figure out the secret key turn.”  After over 30 minutes a kind woman was walking out and let me in.  I tried to call a locksmith but he thought it was the lock and couldn’t help without a good key.  I should take a second to point out that we have opened the door probably about 20 times up to this point but could never figure out what we did right.  We measured how far the key was in, wondered if it made a difference turning the door knob, and our prayers got increasingly longer the more time we were out there.  “Seriously God,” I remember repeating that morning.  Thanks to my iphone I sent a bit of an abrasive email to the girl renting the apt to us.  She called later in the day and it was not the first time we discussed the problem.  “I just don’t understand the keys worked fine for me.” she explained trying to friendly.  However I’m sure she thought we must be complete idiots if we can’t open a door.  I just wanted to shout, “Me smart me me use many key in my livestime.”  At this point I really was afraid to leave the house.  Finally I met Christina and once again we could not get in.  A maintenance man tried our key and had trouble but was able to get it.  He happened to have an extra key.  I honestly was more excited at that moment than I was when I went into the 24hr Apple Store.  It was liked we moved in to a new place again.  The freedom we had now we could come and go whenever we wanted.  Today I made copies hoping they would work ok and I’m happy to report they work Great.  So take that door!  I know the door still can keep me out so I am alway gentle and whisper, “Thank You.” every time its lets me in.