Landlord Special

Last month we moved back into our old apartment in Nashville—the place that feels most like home to our little squad. The first thing I noticed upon arrival was a wire, held up by a pencil, wedged between a crack in the roof. Seeing that, I knew we were in the right spot. That to me is an A+ landlord special; a masterpiece if you will, and it's been working since 2021 or much earlier for all I know.

Genius as the pencil fix was, I decided I would be taking future landlord specials into my own hands. Little handyman projects seem a great way to exercise adulthood, becoming an active participant in the making of one’s space. Growing up I knew a thing or two about making things on computers, but not so much home improvement. Now, living in this apartment with its abundance of silly fixes, I've been empowered—I’ve been made to feel like I can be a beginner and just learn as I go. This is my domestic Thoreau arc.

No, I’m not very good at fixing stuff but I've got heart! That’s why I’m more of an apprentice to the landlord special method. I can throw manual reading and googling to the wayside, just solving problems on instinct alone. And without buying any materials—this is essential to the integrity of any landlord special—I’ll happily grapple and grunt, not solving things efficiently, just being a beginner again, and celebrating the tiny fixes as if I performed miracles. This is my new hobby: making little differences around the apartment every day.

It’s also my knowing venture! I don’t know how long we’ll get to live here but till death do us part is my litmus test. Our backyard is a freaking park, our front yard is the city, and I am so grateful to have a place to care for. It really does feel magical here, like we’re part of a history that's more glorious than we bargained for (and trust me, we bargained). This type of gratitude does feel overwhelming and often makes me do a little skip when I’m taking walks in the park with Basil. I’m just thankful to have this life and learn things and get to share it all with some sweet little ladies. Seriously, what a gift.

So I beckon you now—when you feel like you don’t know a thing about a thing. Consider taking the time to get to know a thing about that thing. I bet you could know two things if you really wanted to. Maybe that thing needs a landlord special. Maybe you need a thing to do a landlord special.

Grace & Peace,
Andrew Tyson

Content warning for readers who are professional fixers or even the mildly gifted at making things work that the following photos may be highly displeasing to the trained eye…