Home : Blogs : Chris Elizabeth Griffith ~ Bonita Springs Fl Real Estate : Bonita Springs Florida Central

What Did You Get Out of '07?

Who is this girl and how did she get here? The year 2007 brought me more of the unexpected than I could have imagined. If you were to have told me last year at this time how many new people I would know from all over North America I wouldn't have believed it. Because of my blogging and internet exposure life changes quickly and dramatically.

I am still in awe, especially during this holiday season. So many people have been so kind to this bumpkin from Bonita Springs. It has caught me off guard. The amount of cards and emails that came to me for the holidays, and even Christmas gifts has floored me. I won't "out" my gift givers on the net, but I do thank you and appreciate you thinking of little old me. I had planned on going thru the quietest Christmas of my life and was surprised and honored by the thoughtfulness of others.

Usually, I try to be somewhere over the holiday period and didn't go anywhere this year to spend Christmas with my parents fearing it would be my Mother's last Christmas, as she has been seriously ill. I stayed put and at the last minute my parents flew back to Cleveland, Ohio to be closer to the Cleveland Clinic. So here I sit in Bonita Springs. I figured it would be just me, the dog and the movie cube at the grocery store.

A few days ago things changed. I mean really changed. I have an outside blog called Life in Bonita Springs. I wouldn't likely have built it without having spent the last year or so on Active Rain. I was posting so much local information about Bonita Springs on Active Rain I decided to start putting it in my own blog. Correction, Actually I didn't, Bob Carney shamed me into it. (Thanks Bob and thanks to Linda Davis and Sarah Cooper for backing him up.) Continue Reading.

Posted by Chris Elizabeth Griffith ~ Bonita Springs Fl Real Estate on 12/24/2007 05:47 PM

Comments (28)

bonita springs, christmas

28 Comments on What Did You Get Out of '07?

Chris,

Let me guess...she road in on that 'shooting star' in the background! Anyway, Have a great and exciting and fun filled Christmas!!! Thanks, Fran

12/24/2007 06:14 PM

by Fran 'The Title Man' Gaspari Title Insurance-PA & NJ (Patriot Land Transfer, Inc.)

Wow, how great is that, what a wonderful feeling helping someone out and she found you on your blog. Very nice of you to share your time.

Merry Christmas!!!

12/24/2007 06:46 PM

by Jay McGillicuddy~Real Estate Broker (Prudential Verani Realty)

Nice photo of you and Ayumi. And a good christmas eve story here too. How cool is that?

cheers

12/24/2007 07:23 PM

by Gary Bolen (CRS) Lake Tahoe Real Estate Information (Dickson Realty - South Lake Tahoe)

Merry Christmas Chris,

What a nice holiday you are having after all--maybe you can go to Japan some day and Ayumi can show you the sites there!

12/24/2007 07:38 PM

by Leslie Bloss, Seattle Real Estate Professional (REALTY EXECUTIVES/BRIO )

I just think this is the greatest Christmas story! Merry Christmas Chris! Your mom is in my prayers.

12/24/2007 08:31 PM

by Linda Davis (RE/MAX Realty Group)

You are the farthest thing from a country bumpkin ever. Wishing you and yours a blessed Christmas. Keeping you and Mom in my prayers.

12/24/2007 09:18 PM

by Palmetto Bay | Redland Real Estate | Maggie Dokic (EWM Realtors)

2007? Old lessons re-learned! As for me and going somewhere for Christmas I have finally reached the point where they travel to come to my house .... all 40 or so of them! My mother passed on December 11th so there were some emotional spots--nothing that disrupted us. Christmas was my mother's favorite Holiday and she was well represented. Everyone here was a child, grandchild or great grandchild! Will call your name and your mother and family in prayer.

12/24/2007 11:05 PM

by Novation Mortgage

The stories that come about because of this site amaze me, and this one is no different. Happy Holidays, to you and your new friend Ayumi.

12/25/2007 04:38 AM

by Larry Hammelman Sterling, Illinois Real Estate (Mel Foster Co.)

Merry Christmas Chris.... You are just a sweet ol' softie.... Hope your mother is comfortable....

12/25/2007 04:43 AM

by Dan Cummings - Connecticut's Running Realtor (Raveis Real Estate)

Merry Christmas Chris. Take each Christmas as they come. They all are unique. Your Mom is in my prayers.

12/25/2007 10:23 AM

by Gary Woltal - REALTOR® Dallas Ft. Worth (Keller Williams Realty)

Chris, Merry Christmas and your Mom will be in our prayers.

12/25/2007 12:10 PM

by David Matney, CRS - Omaha, NE Real Estate (Alliance Real Estate)

Chris -- great question that I am processing. As I think about the question, the word process continues to come to my mind. Trust the process and be with the results. When you achieve a desired outcome, you should determine how so that you can replicate it.

I think you pointed it out in your post(exposure) -- we are not alone as we think!

I sometimes think about you running as I ride my bike, I also think about Suzanne Sands and how she works out in the morning, I think about Maggie who is smiling and many others who have touched my life in 2007.

Peace & Love

12/25/2007 12:12 PM

by Aziz Abdur-Raoof,Howard Co. Real Estate Scoop (RE/MAX Rewards)

I'm so happy that I met you!!! I've been REALLY enjoying my stay here with you!! ^^/ My mom says "maybe Santa thought that you were a lonely, poor child (lol) , and he brought Chris to you!!!"

My parents want to come here!! I will come back here with my parents after I graduate!! And I want you to come to see my city someday!! We can eat my mom's sushi and tofu =D My mom can't speak English at all, but she said she would study hard to talk to you in English!! My parents say "Arigatou" ( which means "Thank you" in English) !!!

12/25/2007 03:39 PM

by Ayumi

I think we've all been "shamed into" starting outside blogs in the last few months. I guess we should all be thankful for MyBlogLog and other such sites. Otherwise I'd go crazy trying to stay on top of everything.

12/25/2007 04:10 PM

by Lisa Hill (Daytona Beach Real Estate) (Adams Cameron and Company)

Definitely one of the better 'teaser' posts I've come across lately. What a great way to spend Christmas Day. You are an inspiration to us all!

12/25/2007 06:58 PM

by Rich Jacobson ~ ActiveRain Community Builder (ActiveRain Corporation)

Rich - you never told us that you spoke Japanese! Chris - you're bring all kinds of surprises this Christmas!

You're right - Active Rain has been a great launching pad for us for so many things.

12/25/2007 07:33 PM

by Sharon Simms St Pete Florida CRS CIPS CLHMS (RE/MAX Metro)

I just dropped her off at the hotel again. She spent Christmas days with all 5 of us and the dog. She said it was fun, I consider us horrifying. It's a free for all in this house. We don't have a conventional anything. We're kind of like the Osbornes, with out the millions.

12/25/2007 07:38 PM

by Chris Elizabeth Griffith ~ Bonita Springs Fl Real Estate (Keller Williams Elite Realty, Bonita Springs, FL)

Chris...totally enjoyed reading this post. I too would never have been able to figure out a blogging platform apart from the exposure to so many talented people here on Active Rain. It's awesome to see how blogging it impacting the lives of real people.

12/26/2007 10:51 PM

by Lola Audu~ Audu Real Estate~ Grand Rapids, MI Broker

Great post Chris and I wish you an awesome New Year and huggs and kisses to you and your mom.

12/27/2007 04:16 PM

by Boise Idaho Real Estate - George Tallabas (RE/MAX Advantage)

I don't know how I missed reading this...

Chris, this is one of those "feel good all over" stories, with the exception of your moms illness. It sounds like you made a new life long friend. I bet she keeps in touch regularly :-)

12/28/2007 06:16 AM

by Kris Wales-Macomb County MI Real estate (RE/MAX Advantage 1, Inc.)

Kris, she will get in my bottomless pit of a car today and do flyer refills, etc. I dragged her to fort myers beach last night. She'll meet the young people at my office today and maybe they'll show her a better time. I was out last night until 10:30 and I feel hung over....without even drinking. I'm a geezer!

12/28/2007 06:19 AM

by Chris Elizabeth Griffith ~ Bonita Springs Fl Real Estate (Keller Williams Elite Realty, Bonita Springs, FL)

Chris: We enterained a young lady from Turkey here a few years back (met my son while he worked for a cruise line - they kept in touch via email.) I tell you, I had more fun than I think he did, but like you, the late nights were better left to the younger people :-)

12/28/2007 06:29 AM

by Kris Wales-Macomb County MI Real estate (RE/MAX Advantage 1, Inc.)

You must be fun to be around, Chris. Really enjoyed this story. I'll keep a good thought for your mom.

12/28/2007 12:40 PM

by Elaine Hanson, REALTOR® ~ Topanga, CA Real Estate Specialist (Pritchett-Rapf & Assoc. Realtors, Topanga)

You really caught my attention...enough that I was willing to click on the read more! Great post and what a wonderful experience for both your student and you!

12/28/2007 02:53 PM

by Lake Norman Real Estate ~ Diane Aurit (RE/MAX at the Lake)

I enjoy reading what you write, Chris, and I too have started some local blogs. Since I have several distinct areas I try to write info specific for those areas. It's getting a little bit difficult though to keep up.

Is your outside blog working well for you? I see some traffic on my website from one or two of my outside blogs.

12/30/2007 02:34 PM

by Lake Wallenpaupack Pike County PA Real Estate | Karen E Rice (WEICHERT, REALTORS® Paupack Group )

2007 was quite a treat

2008 will be better

2006 and 2007 were the long part of this cycle

things will move faster in 2008

12/31/2007 01:16 PM

by Southwest Florida Real Estate Investment Assoc. (SWFL REIA)

Merry Christmas and al the best in 2008 Chris!!!

01/01/2008 02:57 PM

by Bill & Barbara Jo - Florida Realty Professional - AHWD (Charles Rutenberg Realty)

Hey, Chris - I had to tell you this. Yesterday I was showing a potential buyer my cabin in the woods - I had written a blog on it and you made a comment about asking the new owners of my hunting cabin to come and take care of the possums under your porch.

Well, this buyer yesterday really stumped me, as he said to me "Where is the lady with the possum problem?"

I was mystified until he said someone online said she had possums under the porch...and then I realized he was talking about YOU! He read your comment but didn't see you were from Florida...guess he was hoping to get some possums this trip! LOL

I explained that the Possum Lady is my friend in Florida and we had a good chuckle over it.

01/01/2008 03:22 PM

by Lake Wallenpaupack Pike County PA Real Estate | Karen E Rice (WEICHERT, REALTORS® Paupack Group )