Vanita Sansom's Blog

Living in Dothan, Alabama

Vanita Sansom (Dothan Real Estate Team) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:28:20 -0800

I have lived in Dothan, Alabama for over 30 years now. I was transplanted via the wedding isle from Atlanta, Georgia. I will always be a Georgia "peach", although I must say I love living in Dothan. I have raised 4 children and one husband here. I homeschooled my children for more than 10 years ( I promised them I would pay for therapy). They are grown and "mostly" gone. I have sold real estate 7 years. It's in my blood. My Mom is a veteran REALTOR of over 30 years. I said I would never sell real estate. She always said "never say never". So here I am....loving what I do and helping people buy their dream. And what a dream and privelege it is to own your own home and to live in the USA.

I have been a business partner with Kelli Tew for about 4 years now. She was born and raised in Hartford, Alabama, which I fondly call the "sticks"....but is actually a lovely "bedroom" community of Dothan where everyone knows your name and your business....but there will always be someone there who knows you enough to CARE! Kelli is a computer genius and is the "organized" one and a great "implementor". We work well together as a team and we always tell our clients....you are getting two for the price of one!!!

It's an absolute blast to live 2 to 3 hours from the big cities...Atlanta, Tallahassee and Birmingham and to live only 90 miles from the white sands of the gulf coast. Taxes are cheap, weather is mild and the people are really...yes, really nice folks!

When a bad day is really not a bad day....

Vanita Sansom (Dothan Real Estate Team) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:20:56 -0800

Everyone has those days.....we call them "Mondays". Nobody died, the mortgage is paid, and everybody is in fair health. It's just one of those days that seems that nothing goes our way. Well, last Monday was that for me. I guess you could say I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Maybe I didn't really want to go to work anyway. Ran by the pharmacy to pick a prescription....it should have been there days ago and of course it wasn't ready....no big deal (my anti-depression meds will have to wait). I get stood up for lunch. Not too bad. I didn't need to spend the money anyway. You see, there is a positive side to everything. I went across town....running late of course (that can't be my fault---it's Father time....he's always late) to pick up a real estate sign...they misspelled my name....which is nothing new. I've been Vanessa, Vaneetta, and the worst......Velveeta....but this time I'm Swanson instead of Sansom....Anyway....that's OK....Folks were real nice...just have to make another trip back. Then I get a call from daughter...her breaks on her car have GONE OUT.....yes>>>>no breaks. She was on her way to the Atlanta airport for a flight to Canada. (No,she's not dodging a draft) She's in the middle of Ross Clark Circle of the big Dothan Metropolis......a smaller version of 285 in Atlanta and just as dangerous (it's those Alabama drivers---they can't read (JK)----but we do have indoor toilets...FYI) A fellow named Devon stops to help out and she limps her car to a parking lot.....Now get this. Within 10 minutes, I'm there (it's the Mother in me) and then my husband (he's the master mechanic). Well, Devon, our angel from somewhere offers to fix the breaks. My husband goes and buys the parts, another friend, Bill, assist and "waaalaaa"....the breaks are fixed...THANKS, DEVON....whereever you are. I get to go have lunch with two of my lovely daughters while the mechanics do their thing. Then I dash off again to get another sign and I realize my replacement sign is not put together.....needs just 2 screws....that's all. I don't have a drill or the will. I'm thinking the sign will have to wait.....but I promised the seller....I'm a woman of my word. As I'm driving around the "circle"---Low and behold...ACE Hardware comes to sight. I take a chance that help is near. I stop and Richard and Tony come to my rescue. For 20 cents......I get 2 holes drilled into my sign, 2 screws put in and a wet paper towel to wipe it off and to top it off....Tony carries my sign and puts in my car.....IS THAT SERVICE OR WHAT??????? SOOOOOOOO.....when all is said and done.....I had an absolutely wonderful day!

Mental Pause

Vanita Sansom (Dothan Real Estate Team) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:43:36 -0800

It's confirmed.....I am in the "mental" pausal state. My Doctor showed me the numbers and a sense of relief that said "you're not crazy" came over me. THose sleepless nights and moments of being saturated with "glistening liquid" down to the underwear, outburst of tears, and those few...just a few times of rage when my adult children would ask "are you in menopause?"---- It all makes some sense now....sort of... I must say....I don't like it. Maybe it's really becoming who you are because you can't hold in the NICENESS anymore. Now that's scary. I remember working at a nursing home as the bookkeeper for a Nursing Home when I was in my 20s. Some therapist came and spoke to the staff and said that OLD people don't just turn into snippy grumply old people....they become who they really are because they no longer care what other people think and they don't pretend or hold back. They become what their real nature has been during their life... THerefore....I'm hoping this "mental" pause is exactly what it says.....a pause....a short moment in time......a hump....and on the other side these is a really NICE person and it's ME!

Vanita