It couldn’t have been a more wonderful day with our sun shining brightly and the cooling breezes coming out of the north. Of course with it now being the 15th of August, we’ll be seeing more signs of approaching Fall weather, and especially with our nighttime temps. You can be sure I only had a few of my windows cracked last night, as I didn’t want to find myself chasing after cold drafts in the dark.
A tenant who lives in one of the properties I help manage, text me early this morning saying he was having a problem with water coming up a drain in the basement, so when the hour of eight arrived, I called a sewer-cleaning service and scheduled an appointment for him to get it unplugged. Luckily he had time to get there mid-morning, so off I went to meet up with him. After about a half-hour’s work, he announced that it was freed-up of gunk and a few tree roots, so luckily that’s all it was.
When I returned to office, I spent several hours preparing a broker’s opinion on a home which will hopefully be coming on the market in the near future. I went the extra mile with my narratives, just so the seller would be fully up to speed on why I’d attached the value I did to it. Once I had it completed, I scanned and emailed it out to the respective parties, and by the time that was done, it was well approaching my lunch hour.
Once I had my lunchtime snack, I went online to get some additional news read which was filled with one sad story after another. I still can’t believe what happened in Hawaii with those fires. That island State would’ve been the last place I would’ve expected an out of control fire. Until today, I didn’t realize that they were in drought conditions as well.
It became a bit of an ‘off’ day for me when I began thinking more about a family I’ve known since my school years who were the nicest people you’d ever want to meet, but for some strange reason, both their parents are now gone, and as of just recently, the last one of their remaining four children has also passed. If there ever was an example of the good dying young, the deaths of those four children and their parents would be a prime example. Doesn’t such happenings certainly make a person wonder about it all?
Part of my afternoon was spent getting prepared for a closing that’s coming up on Friday, and all I’m now waiting for, are the final closing statements which’ll be coming from a closing agency. Truth be told, I do grow a bit tired of waiting until the last dog is dead before getting critical documents out of them, and as the years have rolled on, it seems to be getting worse, and only because I always end up having to place an encouraging call to them which I shouldn’t have to.
One of my dear old clients stopped by at the back of my office on his bicycle this afternoon, just to see how I was doing, along with giving me the raspberries over my having placed advertisements in the Globe and Shopper. He’s actually the person I think about whenever I tell people I’m gonna be the nicest old man you’d ever find when I’m his age. For a man who’s 94 years old and riding a bike all over town, still living in his own home, drives his car, and has all his mental faculties, I’d say he’s one that should be raised up as an example for many who’re fearful of living to be so long. What I found to be the strangest of all, was my intently thinking about him as I was driving back from my appointment in Clear Lake yesterday. How creepy/cool was that? Yes, he’s quite the gentle soul.
I happened to get a call from a gentleman who was inquiring on a home I have for sale, and while visiting with him, I was beginning to realize he’s another one of those who’re in complete denial regarding what’s causing global warming and climate change. Of course he made mention about the natural cycles our planet has gone thru over these many thousands of years, but for whatever reason, he’s placed no blame on humanity’s hand in it all, and to think he’s old enough to know better. From what I gathered, he’s moving to North Iowa just to get away from the boiling temps in our southern States. Let’s hope we don’t get overrun with similar believers coming from that direction.
Around mid-afternoon, a woman I’ve know for some time, stopped by to ask my opinion on some things that’ve been bothering her, so I sat and listened for about a half hour, and then proceeded to give her my opinions on her various issues. Thank goodness I managed to get her steered in the right direction, and by the time she walked out, I could tell she was back to her old self. Yes, there are times when we all are in need of someone to share our troubles with. What internally angered me the most, was the way in which she was being treated by an exceptionally dis-respectful male. Her story was just one more example of how some of our younger ones mis-treat our elderly, and mostly because they consider them out of touch. Well, in spite of her age, today’s visitor is definitely not someone you’d consider the least bit stupid.
Another visitor I had, was a gentleman who lives next door to a home I recently sold, and since we got acquainted with each other during that time, he came to ask about our current market conditions, and only because he and his wife are thinking about moving to Arkansas because she has relatives living there. He’s been having reservations about moving since they returned from a visit there, and only because of the higher temps and those biting gnats and ticks they have nearly year-round. My only suggestion was for them to do a little extended traveling after they’re both fully retired, just so they can get a better feel for an area of our Country where they can actually see themselves living for the remainder of their days. As he was walking out, I could tell he was another relieved visitor. Yes, sometimes I also offer counseling for those looking for some free advice.
Tonight’s One-liner is: Where better is expected, good is never good enough.
