Grandma was a teacher. As a young woman she and Grandpa invested in property (land) on a tropical island where they began their life as husband and wife. Grandma's place of employment was a one-room schoolhouse in the middle of the island.
Each morning Grandma took off for school via mule. Well, she tried to, anyway. Only problem was the beast totally refused to let her ride through the palmettos to her destination. So Grandma followed along on foot, ...at least she would end up where she wanted to be and not get lost..(a good-thing I learned from her and that my real estate clients sure appreciate.) 
Grandma used to laugh out loud when she told me how "Old Clyde" that ornery mule repeatedly looked back over his shoulder the entire half-mile down the sandy path to the schoolhouse, as if to bate her. It never failed, too an odd assortment of kids and islanders joyfully waited for the day's entertainment... the sight of a lady in a long dress, hat askew, arriving slightly miffed, yet obviously ready for that next attempt. 
This is the kind of tale that is passed down in a sustainable community.
Now I am thinking that this tale sort of parallels a few of my experiences as a land and horse farm specialist of late...
Yesterday, for example, my 1031 investor client and I piled in the car and headed out to a remote 500+ AC parcel that he was really excited to see. It was farther out than I remembered. I had forgotten to gas up. I was really holding my breath especially when we took an unplanned ten-mile detour because a road sign playfully been "adjusted" by a local.
It pointed in the opposite direction of where it should have been pointed. The road was tortuous. I mean if there had been road signs out there, they would have looked like a pig's tail. When we finally got to our destination, despite the obstacles, my investor was car sick beyond belief , but managed to find the horse property of his dreams despite the challenges.
Experiences like this are totally about good will, determination, and a sense of humor ...
I call them "Old Cydes." There are a hundred "Old Clydes" each of us have, I am sure. I look at them in the same way Grandma did...as a kind of remedy...a way to keep a wholesome perspective in the very challenging business of real estate.... I like to think that we have the option, through our stories, to discover more of what we and our clients are made, and what is most important to us and to them.
Our stories are treasures that help us to do well in our transactions. And when we tell them to each other, as Grandma did, they take on a new life. They become an avenue to positive outcomes for the benefit of all who hear them now, and a hundred years from now.
SO I would love to read yours!
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