Live good. Be happy. Quote #11

I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought;

and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.
-G.K. Chesterton

My Mom came over for dinner last night.  She is at the edge of life change, trying to figure out what to do now that she is at the doorway of retirement.  I am trying to help her find answers, trying to offer suggestions.

Let me give you some history: 

My lovely mother, Susan McDermott, has been selling real estate for 32 years!  When she went into this business, she was just divorced from my dad, not quite a year after the death of one of my sister's from a 5 year battle with Leukemia.  To say she was shattered, would be a gross understatement.  My AMAZING MOM had been an at home mom up to that point, had never paid the bills, had never managed finances, had rarely driven on the freeway.  So, this, shattered, single mom with 3 kids (I was 7, my brother-9, my oldest sister-12) in the late 70's went into real estate of all things!   Some of you reading this are probably too young to remember the economy in this country in the late 70's.  Well, the 70's WERE UGLY!!  Our country was in a REAL RECESSION (like NOTHING you have ever seen!).  Interest rates for mortgages were in the double digits, hovering around 18%+++ (can you imagine paying credit card rates for a home mortgage??!!).  There was a fuel crisis, and people lined up around the block to fill up with gasoline.  Even as a child, I remember how desperate the situation was in our country.  There were hostages being held in Iran, everyone was mad at our president Jimmy Carter.  I remember.

In this economic environment, my brave and wonderful mom, forged a Real Estate career out of a real mess. Because of the nature of real estate (especially prior to the advent of Fax machines, cell phones and computers!!), I rarely saw my mom during daylight hours when I was a kid.  In fact, only on Sunday's for church did I get to see her during the day time.  The brutal nature of THAT Real Estate market is what I grew up in.  It flavor's my reality EVERY DAY regarding this one.  We lived in a little suburban neighborhood outside of Denver.  We never went hungy, we never went without heat.  But I know that every day was a struggle for my Mom to make it happen.

My mom's Real Estate career has been built on a solid foundation of goodness, graciousness, HARD WORK, integrity, honesty and perseverance.  She is regarded as one of the most respected agents in our community.  (We moved to Bellingham, Washington from Denver in 1984.)  My mom was named the WCAR Realtor of the Year a few years ago and she has been a CRS for well over 20 years.  My mom's book of business is filled with beautiful people in our community who have been blessed to have had her caring for their real estate needs.  Her business runs entirely by referral and has been for many, many years.  Her's is the kind of Real Estate career everyone should aspire to.  I know I do.

12 years ago I followed my Mom into real estate so I could be here for this very moment in time.   So I could be here to become a bridge to help her cross into retirement.  It is my way of saying, "Thank you", of showing deep 'gratitude' to her for her years of endurance, perseverance, hard work and instilling in me (through example) exceptional values...and for simply being my Mom.

While she is not quite ready to cross the retirement bridge yet (I wonder if Realtor's EVER truly retire!)...but I intend to be here when she is.

Live good. Be happy. Thanks Mom!

-Mimi

Mimi Osterdahl / The Muljat Group Realtors / Bellingham, Washington / www.LiveGoodBeHappy.com

2008 President, Northwest Washington Chapter of the Women's Council of Realtors