Last Thanksgiving, I wrote about my old friend, Mr. Ed, an 88 year old World War II veteran who had just celebrated what we felt was his last Thanksgiving.  His poor old body was worn out, but his mind was still good enough to give thanks for Christmas and to celebrate the arrival of the new year.

But, a couple of weeks ago, that tired body gave up the fight and Mr. Ed left us early one morning.  He was at home - as usual - with Mrs. Becky, who had cared for him tirelessly and with no thoughts of anything but his well being for the four years of declining health that led to the last day.

His funeral was held on a cold, wet Wednesday morning in Gallatin, Tennessee.  Visitation was the previous afternoon and hundreds of his friends and the residents of Gallatin who had known him and his family for 80+ years gathered to pay their respects.  His three children were there and most of their children and grandchildren were there, too.  Everyone who could come dropped by to pay their respects.  It was as it should be.  A life well lived honored by those who cared.

Knowing Mr Ed was gone was sad.  Seeing his widow weep - she who had spent every night of their 68 years of marriage with him except when he was away at war or she was in the hospital delivering their third and last child -  was sad.  Hearing the stories of his long life from the lips of his grandchildren who said,  "I wish I could hear him tell that story about Sam Houston just one more time" was sad.  It was all sad, but underneath there was joy - a celebration of the life that this man lived...his contributions to the freedom of this country and to his community and to his family.

After the service, family and friends gathered under a tent that had been set up to provide shelter from the rain that had been falling steadily all morning.  Funny thing...the rain stopped while the mourners left their cars and walked to the grave site.  Over to the right stood four aged Veterans from the American Legion - all standing at attention and holding rifles.  Three more Veterans were waiting patiently at the grave. 

Once the minister concluded his remarks, the Veterans removed the flag of our country from the casket and all three helped to fold it according to tradition.  When they were finished, one moved quietly ouside the tent where he lifted a polished trumpet to his lips. The plantive notes of Taps floated above the cold cemetery as the American flag was presented to Mrs. Becky.  "Ma'am, this flag is presented to you by a grateful nation."   Then, the Vets standing across the way lifted their rifles in response to a command from their leader and fired a 21 gun salute to Mr. Ed.

The tears were flowing down my cheeks and also the cheeks of others who witnessed the ceremony.  We weren't sad for Mr Ed - he's in a happier place.  Perhaps we were grateful for his contribution to our country and those were tears of gratitude.  Perhaps we were sad for ourselves - knowing we had lost another man who helped preserve our freedoms and those were tears of regret. 

For many reasons, the tears flowed. 

Thank you, Mr. Ed for being an example of a man who loves his God, his country and his family.  Were that all men were more like you.

Sleep well.

Last Thanksgiving, I wrote about my old friend, Mr. Ed, an 88 year old World War II veteran who had just celebrated what we felt was his last Thanksgiving.  His poor old body was worn out, but his mind was still good enough to give thanks for Christmas and to celebrate the arrival of the new year.

But, a couple of weeks ago, that tired body gave up the fight and Mr. Ed left us early in the morning.

His funeral was held on Wednesday morning in Gallatin, Tennessee.  Visitation was the previous afternoon and hundreds of his friends and the residents of Gallatin who had known him and his family for 80 years gathered to pay their respects.  His three children were there and most of their children were there,too.  Everyone who could come dropped by to pay their respects.  It was as it should be.  A life well lived honored by those who cared.

Knowing Mr Ed was gone was sad.  Seeing his widow  - who had spent every night of their 68 years of marriage together except when he was away at war or she was in the hospital delivering their children - with him was sad.  Hearing the stories of his long life from the lips of his grandchildren who said,  "I wish I could hear him tell that story about Sam Houston just one more time" was sad.  It was all sad, but underneath there was joy - a celebration of the life that this man lived...his contributions to the freedom of this country and to his community and to his family.

After the service, family and friends gathered under a tent that had been set up to provide shelter from the rain that had been falling steadily all morning.  Funny thing...the rain stopped while the mourners left their cars and walked to the grave site.  Over to the right stood four Veterans from the American Legion - all standing at attention and holding rifles.  Three more were waiting patiently at the grave.  Once the minister concluded his remarks, the Veterans removed the flag of our country from the casket and all three helped to fold it according to tradition.  When they were finished, one moved quietly ouside the tent where he lifted a polished trumpet to his lips. The poignant notes of Taps floated above the cold cemetery as the American flag was presented to Mrs. Becky.  "Ma'am, this flag is presented to you by a grateful nation."   Then, the Vets standing across the way lifted their rifles in response to a command from their leader and fired a 21 gun salute to Mr. Ed.

The tears were flowing down my cheeks and also the cheeks of others who witnessed the ceremony.  We weren't sad for Mr Ed - he's in a happier place.  Perhaps we were grateful for his contribution to our country and those were tears of gratitude.  Perhaps we were sad for ourselves - knowing we had lost another man who helped preserve our freedoms and those were tears of regret. 

For many reasons, the tears flowed. 

Thank you, Mr. Ed for being an example of a man who loves his God, his country and his family.  Were that all men were more like you.

Sleep well.

This will probably  be the last Thanksgiving for an old Tennessee friend of mine.  He is 88, a veteran of WWII who spent three tours in the Pacific fighting so you and I are able to enjoy all of the freedoms we often take for granted, but which we should be thankful for every day.

When I first met him about 6 years ago, his son told me not to encourage his Dad to talk because he would 'talk my ear off'.  Mr. Ed did like to talk to me, but I liked to listen.  He was interesting and if I heard a story twice or three times, that was okay.  Mr. Ed was a wealth of information about a plethora of subjects and he told me all about it.

He used to tell me stories about Sam Houston , who lived in Gallatin, Tennessee, experienced a brief unhappy marriage and was the governor of the state before he moved to Texas where he ended up beating Santa Anna, securing independance for Texas and became the Governor of Texas.  Who knew?  Mr.Ed did and he used to tell me all about it.

He met some German prisoners during the war and picked up a bit of their language.  He used to greet me each morning at breakfast with 'Gutten Morgen'.  That would be followed by a story about the German prisoners and what good, hardworking folks they were.  He used to tell me all about it.

There were stories about coaching baseball and his son who won an appointment to the Naval Academy courtesy of hard work and Senator Al Gore, Sr.  Stories about his eldest daughter, an accomplished artist whose paintings hung in the Vice Presidential residence when Gore, Jr was living there....stories about his youngest child, a miracle daughter who arrived long after he came home from the war and whose childhood was the only one of his three children that he was there for from the beginning.  More stories about local politicians.  Even more stories about the many pets he had over the years.  He used to tell me all about it.

I'm thankful for the opportunity to have known Mr. Ed and to have been someone with whom he felt comfortable sharing his stories.  During this Thanksgiving visit, it has been difficult for him to talk.  His health is failing rapidly and his family is doing everything possible to make his last days comfortable.  He is proud of his family and told me a couple of days ago that he tried to live his life in a way that he was a good example for his children and grandchildren.  He told me all about it.

He has indeed been a good example for his family and I'm blessed to have been a part of his life.  This seemed like a good place to tell someone else all about it.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours and thanks to Mr. Ed for his service to our country.  That's the one thing he didn't ever tell anyone all about. 

I have a great listing of a condominium on Peachtree Street in Atlanta.  It belongs to a dear friend of mine and she is ready to have it SOLD!

Agents call to make appointments to show and I ask only one thing.  "Will you please give me a call after showing to share some feedback about your buyer's response to seeing the unit?"

The Seller and I would both like to know why the prospective Buyers are not going forward with contract offers.  Do they think the unit is too small for the price?  Too large for their taste?  Is the view not to their liking?  Would they rather have a unit on a higher floor?  A lower floor?  Is the price an objective?  Do they not like the wallpaper?  Are they looking for a unit with a larger kitchen or more updated bathrooms or larger windows?  Would they like to have the furnishings?  What can we do to make this unit acceptable to the Buyer?

I'm not asking for much...just a simple phone call or an email would do, but only ONE agent has bothered to give me the courtesy of granting my request for feedback.

If you asked me to give you feedback, I'd gladly respond graciously.  It's professional courtesy and plain old good manners.

Yesterday's 'Comment to Share' on Lynda Dunn Hester's Facebook page:

Facebook is a marvelous addition to our lives, but I am concerned about a few of my 'friends' who seem to have been infected with Facebookitis. As Groucho Markz so famously put it when introduced to the lady who had 12 children, 'Lady......, I love my cigar, but I take it out sometimes..."

 Best comment was from an old friend, 'J'.... 

(This was too funny and clever not to share with my Active Rain friends.)

Amen, Lynda! I check FB most days, but I am tempted to take some "friends" off, because they seem to think we all want to know what they had for breakfast, the weather, "it's a wonderful day", etc. continuously. I would settle for a little info and even a lot of humor from friends, but I don't want to erase some good people from my friends list and hurt their feelings. Suffice it to say, I hope breakfast and the weather is just super for everyone, and certainly for the rest of my life, I hope everyone has a good day!

Dear 'J',

 As always, you make me laugh!
Guess what....! You can 'hide' people and they'll never know it. If you 'hide' their posts, you won't hurt their feelings AND you will never again have to be exposed to whether or not they are on the way to the gym. I currently have 13 who are hidden. Let me say that not a single one of these who are hidden are anyone I have ever met in person. They are mostly 'friends of friends' whose invitations I accepted when I first got started. I should have realised that if they had nothing better to do than to invite someone they didn't really know to be their 'friend', then they might be suffering from a serious case of Facebookitis.  If you need instructions on how to 'hide' posts, let me know!  

Dear Lynda,

Good info! Great to talk to you. I'm on the way to lunch. Maybe I'll have a salad. It's sunny, but overcast. I could not find my favorite sock this morning. I love my wife. We are planning a trip to Home Depot. Business is still slow. The kids are great. The grandkids are great. That about covers it for this hour.

J,

I really am laughing out loud and I'm working at home alone!!!!!!

Do you use Active Rain?  I'm taking your comments, adding mine and using it for a blog about what not to do on FaceBook. 
Make today a great day after you get back from the gym and be sure to let me know how you enjoyed your lunch and if you showed property anytime this morning after you got back from your doctor's appointment.  Also, please update me on all 6 of your contracts and how close each is to closing  when you finish putting aloe on the sunburn you got at the beach this weekend.
As always,
L

Last week a local bank foreclosed on a very nice property that was built as a 'spec' home.  Originally offered at 3.3 million, the home was marketed while under construction and the listing agent's MLS information showed all sorts of bells and whistles that were included in the purchase price:.  Security system, whole house intercom, golf simulator room, temperature controlled wine cellar, flat screen TV and whole house suround sound system, outdoor kitchen, country club membership and on and on.........

Once the foreclosure took place, the bank engaged me as the new listing broker.  While accumulating the information for my listing paperwork, I discovered that the former listing agent had been advertising the house for a price below what the bank would have considered accepting ( about $500,000 less).  Not only that, but he had advertised the house as completed - even listing the appliances.

The house isn't finished; there are no appliancesinstalled; there is no completed golf simulator room; no 'systems' ar completely installed; there is no temperature controlled wine cellar.  Not only could the house never have sold for his advertised price, the builder was incapable of taking the house to the advertised finished state.

Since the agent didn't locate any qualified buyers and his listing ended with the foreclosure, I suppose many readers will say, 'No Harm, No Foul'.  However, the information he posted is still available to researching parties.  I now have a qualified buyer who has made an offer based on the information he found on the Internet that had been posted by the former listing agent.  What a waste of everyone's time!

If the falsified information had never been entered in the Multiple Listing Service, prospective Buyers wouldn't be making offers based on erroneous information.

A conversation with the compliance department of the MLS system gave me no direction about addressing the fact that the agent made an informed decision to post false information. 

Has anyone else out there had this experience?  If you have, how did you handle it?  It is agents like this whose actions harm the reputation of our industry.

Many AR members write interesting, helpful, thoughtful, knowledgeable blogs.  Those same blogs deserve interesting, helpful, thoughtful, knowledgeable responses, but writing those responses takes time.  That same time could be used to write a blog. 

What's an Active Rainmaker to do?

When you read a post that stimulates you to respond with a comment that could stand on its own as a post - maybe with just a little added introduction - right click and 'copy' your comment before you send it on its way.

Then, go to your home page and 'paste' in what you have already written so you can use the comment you have already spent time writing as the basis for a post of your own.

You'll have accomplished several things:

1.  You will have made more than just the normal 'I agree with you' or "This happens in our market, too', type of comment that is so very typical of the blog comments.

2.  You will be able to use the work you have already done to make your very own blog post.

3.  Obviously, you are exposing the original blog idea to a wider audience by extending the scope of the   your different viewpoint, ideas or comments about the original post.

Happy blogging! 

It has been over a year since the last time I was able to help negotiate a purchase and sale.  Our local market is largely a secondary home market and my focus is not only secondary homes, but luxury secondary homes....sounded like a great idea three years ago when I opened my new company here in the beautiful north Georgia mountain lakes region!  LOL

Things went very well for the first 18 months ...then, nothing...nada.  Not that I would wish no sales on anyone else, but it was the entire area...not just me.   Ever optimistic, I had a feeling there were buyers who were sophisticated enough to realize the beginning of the end of the downward spiral and that we might see some offers soon. 

Happily and gratefully, I am able to report to all of my Active Rain friends and colleagues that things have indeed turned the corner and my last week has been spend negotiating not one, but two - YES, FRIENDS, TWO contract offers.  Both are my listings. 

Color me excited!  And, it is not just the possibility of finally getting a paycheck...although I must admit that IS pretty exciting!  You know what has amazed me?  The thrill and the 'rush' that comes with the negotiation and helping the two sides reach a meeting of the minds.  It helps, of course, that the agents for the buyers are professionals and easy to work with, but WOW!..is it thrilling to see these contracts coming closer and closer to finalization.

I hate to admit, I had forgotten how good it feels.

My prayer today is that every one of you has the opportunity to feel that 'rush' sometime soon!

Have a great Labor Day.  I'll be laboring and happy to do so!

It is finally happening - right now as I type ( and you read).....the ceiling is shattered...broken...crumbling all over the Active Rain floor.

560 profile points ( didn't do a very good job the first time I entered information),

1,818 invite points - I invited a bunch of people the same day the new rates went into effect last winter,

12,180 blogging points (two of my blogs have been featured. WOOOOO HOOOO!!),

 3,400 comment points ( It's informative and entertaining to read posts and write comments.  I want to be like Broker Bryant's wife when I grow up so I can ROARRRRR!!),

0 linking points because evidently you don't get points for linking, but the space remains on the site and makes me feel as though I'm not doing all I can do,

500 bonus points that I got the first week for reading the Active Rain rules and regulations ( or something similar) and ...

1500 'other points' that I have absolutely no idea how I got, I am fixing to go over 20,000 points with the credits that will be awarded for writing this post.

Now that may not sound like much to some of you who have been on Active Rain for a couple of years, but for someone who just got started earlier this year, I'm pretty proud of my 20,000 points and what they represent.

Thanks, Brad Andershon, for helping me out when I first got started and couldn't figure out how to do much of anything.

Thanks, Russell Ray, for encouraging me to stay involved on Active Rain when I took a vacation from it for a couple of weeks.  It was nice to be missed.

Thanks, Gerry Khachikian, for starting a contest that I got involved in early on.  My math skills didn't allow me to figure out how many members of AR there will be on January 1, 2010, but it was fun to try.  Also, thanks for posting the pictures of the pig races in Montana.  Everyone should see a pig race!

Thanks, Midori Miller, for talking to me on the phone about a question I had about Florida real estate law.  You gave me good insight.

Thanks to Kim Southern, who is truly the voice of a southern lady with her 'Southern Hospitality' blog.

Thanks to Steve, the Ozark agent who is a 'fan' of my company site and who posts such lovely pictures of his homeland.

Thanks to every single one of you who has ever posted a comment on one of my blogs.  Each comment was greatly appreciated.  It's nice that you took the time to let me know my words were read.

Thanks, Active Rain, to whoever thought up the idea of giving real estate professionals a place to share and to be on stage.

I love the Rain.

Wondering what is going on in Rabun County and what there is to do in the mountains of North East Georgia this late August and September?

Here are some dates and events to write on your calendar.  

Lake Rabun Hotel and Restaurant was recently listed on the National Geographic Traveler Magazine's Top Stay List 2009.   ( If you haven't had dinner at their restaurant, you have missed a prime dining experience.  The food is amazing!!)

Lazy Bear Furniture (rustic and cottage furniture, accessories, lamps, and art) in Dillard now has a wine tasting room and is offering free wine tastings. They serve and sell wine only from The Georgia Winery, the oldest winery in the state of Georgia. For additional information, call 706-746-2168.  

Persimmon Creek Vineyards recently had a birth of a new lamb named Daisy who joins their East Friesian sheep herd.        

The North Georgia Community Players will be presenting their 7^th annual all children's production (musical) of "The Magical Land of Oz." Performances will be October 17, 23, & 24 at 7:00 p.m. and October 18 and 25 at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 adults and $5 for children under 12. Tickets can be purchased at the Chamber, both Rabun County Banks, Regions Bank, Stephens Federal Bank, Community Bank & Trust, Mountain Heritage Bank, and United Community Bank. For information call 706-212-2500.        

Tiger Mountain Orchards in Tiger has raspberries at $2.00 per pint (u-pick). Picking is open from sunrise to sunset, seven days a week. Call 706-782-3290 for additional information.   

                                                                         Calendar of Events   

August 27 - Mountain Physical Therapy will host a Wellness meeting on August 27 at 4:00 p.m. at their location, 1218 N. Main Street in Clayton. The guest speaker will be Mike Addington from Clayton Pharmacy. There is no cost for this event, and it is open to the community. 

August 29 - David Phelps (Christian singer and songwriter) at Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (SMCPA) in Franklin, NC. For concert information, call 828-524-1598 or 866-273-4615 or visit their website at www.greatmountainmusic.com.  

August 30 - Emile Pandolfi concert at the Rearden Theatre (RGNS). Ticket price is $15.00. For more information, contact the Rabun County Music Festival Association at 706-746-6226 or visit www.rabunmusicfestival.com.  

September 1 - Mountain Lakes Medical Center's volunteers are having a jewelry sale fundraiser featuring quality, stylish costume jewelry and accessories on Tuesday, September 1 from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. in the hospital's main lobby. All jewelry is $5.00. The fundraiser will help raise funds to purchase needed equipment and other necessities for the hospital. For additional information, call 706-782-3100. If you wish to become a volunteer for the hospital, please call 706-212-0230. 

September 4 - Carl Hurley and Jeanne Robertson (humorists) at SMCPA.   

September 5 - Chonda Pierce (comedian) at SMCPA.  

September 12 - The Isaacs (singing group) at SMCPA. 

September 12 - Dr. Guy Gober, The Tiger Clinic, is co-sponsoring a PCAR Golf Tournament on September 12 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The cost is $45.00 per person or $90.00 for a 2-man team. This tournament is to promote September as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. The proceeds fund local scholarships. For additional information, call 706-782-3572.   

September 13 - Georgia Philharmonic Orchestra at the Rearden Theatre (RGNS).   

 September 18 - Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (musical group) at SMCPA.  

September 19th - Tiger Mountain Vineyards will celebrate its 10^th anniversary with a spectacular Harvest Party to honor wine club members and guests. Grape picking begins at 9:30 a.m., followed by a picnic, live music at 12:00 p.m., a visiting chef, and more. Check www.tigerwine.com or call 706-782-4777 and find out how to join the wine club and be included! Look for another fall celebration, of the winery's 10^th birthday, on October 17^th which is open to the public--Old Highway 441 Rabun Red Bash. 

September 19 - Marie Dunkle, with her Celtic band named Caledonia Swing, will be performing at lunch time on September 19^th at the Mountaineer Festival.   

September 22-24 - The Jungle Book at SMCPA.  

September 24 - Mountain Lakes Medical Center, in conjunction with Merck Pharmaceuticals, will be holding a free Diabetes Education Class. The class date is September 24 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The class will be held in the cafeteria at the hospital. If interested, please contact your local physician or Melessa Alley at 706-782-0439 for registration information.  

September 26 - Greater Vision (musical group) at SMCPA.