Even though I am very grateful for the slight overcast of the sky today -- considering the fact that I may have to totally replace my lawn at some point -- I actually wake up each day now feeling great about life in Naples Florida. (Okay, let's strike "each day" and replace it with "most days".)
I'm happy that the real estate market after a nearly 3-year 55% plunge has finally decided it's time to switch from the high diving competition to the breaststroke. A relief magnified by the fact that I was knuckleheaded enough to invest my life savings into three real estate offices of my own in Olde Naples (Downing-Frye Realty) in anticipation of that return and hoping (okay, okay, praying) I was correct that this would not be an eight-year downturn as was experienced during the last such drop (1988-1996).
I'm finally coming to terms with the unexpected death of my husband (and real estate business partner) two years ago after nearly 23 years of marriage, while at the same time going through the trials and tribulations of being single mom with a newly married daughter and a son who is wrapping up his first year of high school.
I'm also stunned that I am entering a new decade in my life (Could I possibly be 50?) which is the traditional "look back on your life" time. And, oh boy, as I look back on MY life, I suddenly understand why at times throughout this thus-far great adventure on earth, people have thought that maybe I was a bit of an embellisher. In many ways, my life is darned hard for ME to believe and unless I get derailed in some way, I hope many exciting chapters remain to be written.
As a former broadcaster; journalist; editor/publisher; freelance writer (for such publications as Ladies Home Journal and the Kansas City Star and the Naples Daily News); author of the book "Headfirst Into America" (about our family's two year-long 50 state adventures); and newspaper/television, retail and real estate entrepreneur, I like to think I do have a lot of insight into life. Especially when you consider the humble beginnings of our family: my mother was the daughter of a poor maid in South America and my father was an Arkansas cottonpicker's son. Sounds like a made-up story doesn't it. Or at least the narrative intro to a "Steve Martin" comedy.
Yet these two people --- still married after 51 years -- didn't let the fact that they were "have nots" diminish their goals for the future or the goals for their children. (Yep, one day my dad's dad took him aside and explained to him that in life there are the "haves" and the "have nots" and he would have accept the fact that he was a have not. Don't think that concept would fly in today's parenting circles.)
It took them 20 years after they were married, but with only elementary educations and two children to support, they struggled to find time and money to graduate from college while encouraging my brother and me to do the same. My brother, Joey, armed with a Masters went on to become a city manager for years and is currently helping me with my Naples real estate offices and providing moral support with my son Collier.
Through this blog if you are interested, you will learn strange and fascinating facts about my past life, and insights into some of my unique personal experiences from hunting for geodes in Iowa to being interviewed by Barbara Walters, Oprah, and Al Roker.
You will hear tales about my THREE adventures through all 50 states. The first one with my parents and brother was in a VW Beetle starting out in 1976 with $500 and working our way through the country as fruit pickers, restaurant workers, day laborers, whatever we could do to earn money to continue our journeys after which I started college and became a journalist. During that time I covered such stories as Ronald Reagan's campaign for the Presidency (Can I really be old enough to have covered Reagan? Yikes) and hung out backstage with celebrities.
I will reveal some insights into my life as a long-time married person with children and now as a suddenly unexpectedly single woman. As a married woman, I didn't understand the trials and tribulations of the single woman in her 40s and 50s. Now I can identify with a club whose members, in most cases, fell into it, just as I did -- unexpectedly -- for "better or for worse."
I will give you honest advice in terms of real estate in Southwest Florida and the opportunities there are to "believe it or not" make money in the current real estate environment. Many people are already doing that. Or at least using this opportunity to stake their claim in the sunshine for enjoyment and for some -- retirement. Can't wait to add THAT last word to my resume! And I would have already been there if not for a "heart-wrenching" reversal in "life" and "fortunes."
I will share the adventures of rearing a child with a very high IQ who also has "focus" difficulties in school.
I will share insight into travels to various tropical islands and to countries such as England where I put on a property show and had the chance to actually visit and sometimes stay over with some of my Brit clients who bought properties with me in Naples.
I plan to rekindle my scuba diving and boating activities at some point; and soon I will be starting on a novel "based on a true story."
And everyday I meet the most fascinating people or see interesting Seinfeld moments in life. One of those occurred yesterday when I saw a cardiologist perusing a menu at Trilogy Restaurant (on 5th Avenue in Naples) lean over to his real estate agent and ask "Should I eat healthy today?" A cardiologist asking a real estate agent if he should eat healthy! Yikes. That was especially interesting since he had just finished up a "life or death" call. (The fellow was having a heart attack, but the cardiologist thought he was going to be okay.)
Hopefully you will enjoy my blog. I haven't done this since 1996 when I shared our family's day to day adventures of traveling all 50 states and meeting all kinds of people all across America. It was so great to interact with so many people and have them be part of the "soap opera" of my life.
For now, though, I guess I need to sign off since several of my agents are coming into our 5th Avenue office and are wondering why I am writing such a long, long email! Time to get to work! Lots and lots to do to stay ahead of the game in the current economy. Now that the "breaststroke" has arrived I have to be sure to keep my head above water. (I sure wish I had taken more swimming lessons when I was younger! But it's my hope that any shortfall in talent will be attended to by tenacity!)
Have a great day everyone and have fun with this link: www.TheMostInterestingWomanInTheWorld.com
