It’s About The People Who Touch Your Heart
The story of The Green Robe [quoted below] was written several years ago…I am re-posting it today because I just listed Joy’s home…I sold Joy and her husband their home in 1992. Joy passed away suddenly over a year ago and I’ve stayed in touch with her husband, as I always kept in touch with her…When I got to their home the other day to go over the paperwork with him, he had a nice stack of notes, cards and papers on his desk neatly bound together. He said, “Do you know what this stack of papers is? This is our Michele pile…” Over the years they kept every note and card and letter I had sent to them–I couldn’t believe it…and so, ask me why I sell real estate? It is all about the relationships I’ve made along the way…it’s about touching people’s hearts…some of the greatest friendships in my life have come from this calling…
“Over 20 years ago I sold a home in Naples to a wonderful couple…Joy was a teacher….we clicked immediately. We’ve stayed in touch over the years…Sometimes nothing more than just a few of my ‘staying in touch’ marketing postcards, the annual Christmas card or an occasional personal note to let her know I was thinking of her. When we did have an opportunity to reconnect, it was always like no time had gone by since our last encounter. I’ve sold over 1,000 homes in the past 30 years…to a lot of wonderful couples, but Joy and her husband’s purchase was one that always stands out in my mind–it was such an enjoyable transaction! One of the most delightful aspects of the sale was meeting “Dottie”, Joy’s mom, who already lived in a condo in Naples. Keep in mind, this was over 20 years ago, and so to this real estate gal who was then in her mid-30’s, and who has never been one to even try to guess a woman’s age, I simply suspected Dottie was at least old enough to collect social security. She was deeply caring and so happy to be involved in the process–She wanted to see the homes Joy and her husband had narrowed down to, and be part of the excitement that her daughter and son-in-law were experiencing buying their first Naples home! She was even at the closing!
Recently Joy called me–we had not spoken in years. She left a sweet message, but before I returned the call I did something I don’t think I’ve ever done before–I search the local paper’s obituaries online…It was there that I found what I sadly suspected was the reason for Joy’s phone call, her beautiful mom had passed away. Joy wanted me to know that her mom had told her a long time ago, “someday when something happens to me I don’t want anyone else but Michele to sell my condo.”
~Later that week I met Joy at her mom’s home–she had already gone through much of Dottie’s things…Together we walked through the bright and cheerful apartment, and I could just feel Dottie’s spirit. I made a few suggestions on what needed to be done before we put it on the market, and I told her not to worry, I would get back in there myself and have the place staged…A few more things ended up in boxes, some knick-knacks, books, and some clothes that were headed to the local shelter…Almost all the personal things save this one lovely green silk robe hanging in the closet. It didn’t look like it had ever been worn–Joy confirmed that it hadn’t and when she saw how I admired it, she asked me if I wanted it. She and her husband had bought it for Dottie–‘guess she felt it wasn’t practical’–made me remember when my grandma died and all the pretty robes and pajamas that my mom had given her over the years were still wrapped in tissue paper. “Of course I’ll take it, are you sure? Oh my God Joy, it’s beautiful!”
Well, yesterday was the closing. Some really nice people bought Dottie’s little condo, which made us feel very good. It rained like crazy yesterday…Joy and I held back tears at the closing thinking that the rain drops were Dottie’s happy tears…It was really awesome to tell the closing agent how far back we all go and how I came to get this listing…and I came away from that closing with an incredible feeling of contentment. It is good to be reminded sometimes that what we do each day has nothing at all to do with contracts or closings…It’s about people who touch your heart…it’s about a green silk robe, which by the way, I love to wear…Thank you Dottie!”
~Fast forward now to today…I still love that green robe…I still think of Dottie every time I wear it! My friend Joy was a lover of books…her husband told me to look through her books and pick any I wanted–I selected one named ‘Comfort and Joy’…Yes, It is still about the people who touch your heart!
Thank you for letting me share…make it a great day,
The Naples Real Estate Blogger
