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The MeMe.... of Gary White

By
Managing Real Estate Broker with Flexit Realty "Flexible Home Selling Solutions"

I have been hit!  Twice as the case may be....the first I was in the middle of whatever.  The second was by Kim Peasley-Parker. She has been a reader of some of my crazy rants....zany thoughts and some interesting outlooks....hopefully.  So she wondered how someone could be so twisted and asked me to do an MeMe to find out a bit more.

I am not used to sharing much....so this is not easy...the YOU factor always has worked for me.  The I factor has taken care of itself.

First...why am I the way I am.....hummmm  Many factors:

  • I moved 19 times before graduating from high school....friends were not for very long...so new faces and places were the norm.  Caused by a father that was shattered by WWII he never put his life back together.
  • Upbringing, middle class
  • Still hold some high school records in track...once they changed to meters my yard records will stand forever!  Interesting
  • Influences, grandmother and books.....you can travel, dream and escape!
  • Education...beyond value that words can express...real world streets and class room multi-degreed with most notably University of Michigan.  (Marketing, Finance and an associates in Computer Science)
  • Work history: President of a 300 member workforce UAW plant, owned own company later retired at age 52. My fortune made....more than I deserved....never to be required to work again!  I love the challenges that work and real estate create, I will always work at something.
  • Real Estate..an easy transition, couldn't stand retirement....held builders license for 15 years acted as contractor.  Now hold many designations, CRS, GRI, ePRO, ABR, QSC, RECS finishing BPO certification and have a Brokers License in the state of Michigan.
  • Likes: God, family, people, sailing, golf, travel, reading...lots of reading and personal time for reflection
  • Public service side.....I am a professional ventriloquist and spend time at hospitals, nursing homes making people smile again....sometimes a belly laugh!  A blessing beyond words.
  • Military...served in Vietnam....still duck with loud noises....never hunt anything.  I learned more about myself and what I can do way beyond what I wanted to know!

This only tells you the surface....not the complicated, thoughtful or aggressive sides of Gary White....just words.  I enjoy the smiles I get when I help people reach dreams and levels they never thought possible.

Twas a few days past Christmas and the only one in the house was MeMe!

Hope this helps you Kim....I never put my life into words before pretty small when you consider the works of the world.

* Rate A Home
Rate A Home - Saugatuck, MI
Gary, interesting life you've lead. Thanks for sharing. I'm tired just reading your accomplishments.  :-)
Dec 29, 2007 03:02 AM
Gary White~Grand Rapids Home Selling Pro Call: 616-821-9375
Flexit Realty "Flexible Home Selling Solutions" - Grand Rapids, MI
Real Estate Services You can Trust!
Hi Duane, never looked at it that way.... :-)  Thanks for the comments Duane.
Dec 29, 2007 03:12 AM
* Rate A Home
Rate A Home - Saugatuck, MI
Gary, I'll bet you have some fun as a professional ventriloquist, could be the little voice in the buyers head that says, buy, buy, buy. LOL
Dec 29, 2007 03:19 AM
Ryan Martin
Pacific Continental Realty, LLC - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham Commercial RE Broker
Gary - I just got meme's too. I can't believe that you moved 19 times before graduating. That is crazy. It is good to get to know you a little better Gary. I have enjoyed some of your "crazy rants" too.
Dec 29, 2007 03:50 AM
Gary White~Grand Rapids Home Selling Pro Call: 616-821-9375
Flexit Realty "Flexible Home Selling Solutions" - Grand Rapids, MI
Real Estate Services You can Trust!
Hi Duane, you can certainly do somethings that would not normally be appropriate when using a prop.  I have one introduction line that my little buddy says...."what do you think...real estate isn't just for dummies...then he looks at me"!  It always gets a big laugh.  :-)
Dec 29, 2007 04:08 AM
* Rate A Home
Rate A Home - Saugatuck, MI
Gary, what a riot! It has to be fun to have that kind of talent.
Dec 29, 2007 04:10 AM
Gary White~Grand Rapids Home Selling Pro Call: 616-821-9375
Flexit Realty "Flexible Home Selling Solutions" - Grand Rapids, MI
Real Estate Services You can Trust!
Hi Ryan, now we will get to know you a little better.  Moving as much as I did has made me a bit more stationary as I have gotten older.  Thanks for the comments Ryan...look forward to your MeMe.  Have a great New Year!
Dec 29, 2007 04:11 AM
Gary White~Grand Rapids Home Selling Pro Call: 616-821-9375
Flexit Realty "Flexible Home Selling Solutions" - Grand Rapids, MI
Real Estate Services You can Trust!
Duane, the nursing homes are the huge fun....some are very sad at this stage of their lives...  We ask them to turn off their hearing aides just in case we want to talk about them!  I have about a two hour presentation with a mixture of topics from Depends to Geritol.  We even have a few old songs that everyone knows.  These are some of the best outings, the rewards are great just seeing them laugh.  I had a lady lose her teeth once laughing so hard!  My little friend was a quick thinker....he said, look out.....choppers on the lose!  Made everybody roar more!  Take care Duane.
Dec 29, 2007 04:23 AM
Kim Peasley-Parker
AgentOwned Realty, Heritage Group, Inc. - Sumter, SC
Gary, Thank you for sharing.  You have accomplished much in your life.  I can see the work history in your work.  I worked in manufacturing for about 18 years before real estate.  I love the vantriloquist act!  That is so great you are able to share your talent and make people happy.
Dec 29, 2007 04:31 AM
Gary White~Grand Rapids Home Selling Pro Call: 616-821-9375
Flexit Realty "Flexible Home Selling Solutions" - Grand Rapids, MI
Real Estate Services You can Trust!
Hi Kim, some things don't go away when you change careers.  The marketing side is always there...even when I am fishing....here fishy fishy!  I hope this gave you a little hint that the complexity of people is more than words....we never know who we are communicating with....but we certainly can enjoy them.  Thanks for prompting me to do this....it did give me a unique opportunity to reflect.  Have a great year Kim.
Dec 29, 2007 04:42 AM
* Rate A Home
Rate A Home - Saugatuck, MI
Gary, LOL on the choppers. What a great community service you provide! You take care as well.
Dec 29, 2007 05:13 AM
Kris Wales
Keller Williams Realty - Lakeside Market Center - Macomb, MI
Real Estate Blog & Homes for Sale search site, Macomb County MI

I've learned more about you and am happy I could.  Thank you Gary for sharing so much of yourself.  Professional ventriloquist?  I would never have imagined!   I would love to watch you some day entertain those who need it the most.

Grandmothers are Gods gift to us aren't they?   

Dec 29, 2007 08:17 PM
Kelly Sibilsky
Licensed Through Referral Connection, LTD. - Lake Zurich, IL
Nice MeMe Gary...I liked learning more about you! Happy New Year!
Dec 30, 2007 01:05 AM
Lola Audu
Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate - Grand Rapids, MI
Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI ~Welcome Home!
Gary, enjoyed reading your meme.  I would never have guessed the professional ventriloquist!  There's so much more to each of us than meets the eye.  Best Wishes to you and your family for a Great New Year!
Dec 31, 2007 01:46 PM
Rita Taylor
None - Sanford, NC
Sanford NC Real Estate - Homes for Sale in Sanford North Carolina

Gary,

That is an interesting list of things about you.  I would have never guessed you were a ventriloquist - now that is an interesting hobby!

Jan 01, 2008 01:55 PM
Gary White~Grand Rapids Home Selling Pro Call: 616-821-9375
Flexit Realty "Flexible Home Selling Solutions" - Grand Rapids, MI
Real Estate Services You can Trust!

Hi Kris, I guess I'll have to break out a few photos of my boys!  I have 2 guys and a bird named Lewis in my act...they are great fun for me as well....Grand parents are God's gifts....sadly some are just forgotten.  I played Santa at a nursing home and could hardly make it down the hall to my intended victim!  I asked the ladies if they wanted to sit on Santa's lap....they all laughed loud, some even said....Santa behave!  It is the little things we do for others that helps make our lives richer too.  Thanks for all your comments Kris.

Jan 01, 2008 02:48 PM
Gary White~Grand Rapids Home Selling Pro Call: 616-821-9375
Flexit Realty "Flexible Home Selling Solutions" - Grand Rapids, MI
Real Estate Services You can Trust!
Hi Lola, just something I wanted to do since I was a little kid.  I have one..."Otis" who was custom made by the same guy that makes some of the props for the movies we see on TV.  He was an expensive rascal but worth every penny!  Best wishes for you in 2008 too Lola.
Jan 01, 2008 02:52 PM
Gary White~Grand Rapids Home Selling Pro Call: 616-821-9375
Flexit Realty "Flexible Home Selling Solutions" - Grand Rapids, MI
Real Estate Services You can Trust!
Hi Rita, it is a lost art...not very many that have the professional props...mine are in the thousands of dollars each....but they are full featured.  One has a latex nose that sniffs.....loads of fun...his upper lip moves separately too...for a sneer effect.  It takes time and practice to build and identity for each character.  Thanks for the comments Rita.
Jan 01, 2008 02:55 PM
Cait ODonnell Donohue
Red Key Realty Leaders - Frontenac, MO
Gary-Not boring At All in fact i believe we have a lot in common. I'd love to see your ventriloquism!
Feb 01, 2008 11:38 AM