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Personal, not about real estate.

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner CA#01772851 HI#RB21268

This Activerain contest was something I wanted to enter but had a hard time choosing a topic. My life has just been so full of - I can only call it - ADVENTURE, what to pick? Not until I read Margaret Rome, Baltimore Maryland entry did I decide what to pick.

Ria, my girlfriend of 40+ years. Photo above was taken at Elton John concert in Honolulu on January 8, 2012. Yep, we get together during the Christmas/New Year's Holiday pretty much every year.

Ria and I met through our respective daughters when they were in kindergarten in Mililani Town, Oahu, Hawaii. They felt we should meet because we were both German. As it turned out, Ria and I were born in the same year in Germany while bombs were raining down on us. We both immigrated to the US as young adults, Ria because she married someone in the service stationed in Germany; my parents left Germany after the war for Canada and when I was old enough, I immigrated to the US.

I had just gotten a divorce and Ria was going through a separation with her husband. Ria was a real estate broker then, and I actually got my real estate license but decided to stay in public relations and advertising so never did anything with it. In retrospect, I wish I had--but maybe not, because Ria is now retired from the profession, while I am in full stride with my broker's license in both California in Hawaii.

Over the years, we have stayed in contact, early on even double dating, and now I house-sit for her two cats and dog in her beautiful house in Mililani when she goes on one of her many trips around the world. When I go to Hawaii, Ria and I go to community theater plays, art openings, dinners, and parties of all kinds. You can find us at the Halekulani's "House Without A Key" oceanfront terrace listening to live music and hula. Because of our background similarities, we like the same foods (healthy), music (classical and '70s), clothes (tailored), cars (European made), flowers (all), travel (anywhere in the world - she's catching up to my early travel years), books (in print not online), and speaking other languages (she makes me speak German to keep it up).

One of many things that I value is the fact that we will call each other and there is no awkwardness about catching up. We don't feel we need to be in touch all the time, and frequency depends on what's going on, if we need to bounce something off each other, or share a triumph or hurt. Right now I'm looking forward to getting together over Christmas and New Year's when I am in Hawaii to visit my daughter and grandchildren. We will probably see Bill Maher on New Year's Eve, then go to Waikiki Beach to watch the fireworks.

Ria is one of few constants in my life besides my immedate family.

 

 

 

 

Posted by

Hella Rothwell at Carmel Beach during Concours WeekCarmel-by-the-Sea Beach and Pebble Beach Golf Course California

Whether buying or selling oceanfront, oceanview, commercial or any type of real estate in Carmel, Pebble Beach, Pacific Grove, Monterey, Carmel Valley and Big Sur, I can help you. Call me and let's meet in my Carmel-by-the-Sea office in Su Vecino Court on Dolores between 5th & 6th.

Or we can just chat on the phone to discuss your real estate needs.

Are you out of the area? No problem, I often never even meet my clients. The whole transaction is handled long distance.

As an independent real estate broker licensed in California and Hawaii, I can represent you with residential real estate, commercial properties & investment opportunities.

For more information

www.HellaRothwell.com & www.RothwellRealty.com

& www.HellaHawaii.com

Member: National Association of REALTORS, California Association of REALTORS, Hawaii Association of REALTORS, Del Norte Association of REALTORS, Honolulu Board of REALTORS. Also MLS Listings in California.

 ________________________________________________________________

Hella Mitschke Rothwell (R)

Real Estate Broker/Owner/Realtor®
Licensed in California #01772851 & Hawaii #RB-21268

Tel. 831-626-4000 

Fax 1-877-822-9332

ROTHWELL REALTY INC.: Su Vecino Court, Lincoln & Dolores between 5th & 6th, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 93921

 

MAILING: P.O. Box 4554, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 93921

 
Email: HellaRothwell@gmail.com


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Disclaimer: Hella Rothwell does not guarantee nor is in any way responsible for the accuracy of the information provided herein, and provides said information without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied.

Comments (25)

Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Really good friends are a treasure to have in our lives.  I have a couple of them that are more family than friend.

Aug 14, 2017 04:09 PM
Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®

Myrl Jeffcoat - I know we love our family, but we choose our friends - and they are not easy to come by.

Aug 14, 2017 05:59 PM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

It's wonderful to have lifelong friends. Thanks for sharing!

Aug 14, 2017 04:42 PM
Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®

Kat Palmiotti - Lifelong friendships need to be cherished. I'm so glad I was able to talk about my friend here.

Aug 14, 2017 06:00 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Thanks for taking my call this evening. Enjoy your new car...just sent you a link to the post I told you about.

Aug 14, 2017 05:57 PM
Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®

Thank you. After reading your blog about your brown car, I'm still rummaging around my cupboard to try to find some chocolate!

Aug 14, 2017 06:56 PM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

You are so blessed to have a close friend like Ria. I have one, too, and I cherish that friendship. Thanks for sharing your heartwarming story. It's very well written and I can tell, from the heart!

Aug 15, 2017 06:51 AM
Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®

Pat Starnes - We should cherish that friendship and be there for each other not necessarily physically near but where you can reach out to each other.

Aug 15, 2017 09:26 AM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Hella. You are very lucky to have a constant and ongoing friend in your life. I am sure you are grateful and I enjoyed reading your story.

Aug 15, 2017 07:42 AM
Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®

Sheila Anderson - And that we have so much in common since our background is so similar.

Aug 15, 2017 09:27 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Isn't it amazing, Hella, that we don't always realize the lifelong friends we will have when we initially meet them? We're just living our lives, going along, having fun, and then one day we're in our 70s and we say, whoa, how long have we known each other? And it becomes even more special.

Aug 15, 2017 08:00 AM
Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®

Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Real Estate Agent, Top 1% of Lyon Agents - Makes you think, doesn't it? I don't keep up with  any friends from my very early days except family mostly because I moved around so much. Although it would be fun to catch up with a few of them, unless there is a chance to make them part of my current life, there just is not that chance of a close friendship. 

Aug 15, 2017 09:37 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Hella what a wonderful story of your best friend and you! The older we get the more we appreciate our dear friends. Good to make plans to get together often as I do with mine - who also happens to be my sister.  Blessed!

Aug 15, 2017 09:50 AM
Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®

Anna Banana Kruchten, CRS - How lucky you are that your sister is also your best friend.

Aug 15, 2017 10:10 AM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

You have found what make life the fullest and that is having people you like and love in your life and staying in touch. Thaks for sharing your human side.

Aug 18, 2017 08:33 PM
Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®

Debbie Reynolds - Friendships should be nurtured because they become more important as we get older.

Aug 19, 2017 07:55 AM
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hello Hella,  Great to find out more about you by this contest.  It is great to have a close friend like you do.

 

Aug 19, 2017 08:05 AM
Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®

Will Hamm - She's quite a friend. Right now she's in Berlin the city of her birth visiting her brother whose wife just passed away.

Aug 19, 2017 08:54 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hella- I absolutely loved your story. A friendship of any kind like the one you have with Ria is hard to come by and even more so for the length of time you've had it. Everyone needs someone that has shared their experiences, weathered the storms of life, and is there to celebrate your triumphs. 

Aug 19, 2017 05:36 PM
Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®

In this day and age where we move around a lot, I wonder how many people keep up with friends from way back. Interesting.

Aug 20, 2017 10:08 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

          Thank you Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor® 

Aug 19, 2017 05:55 PM
Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®

Thank you so much for featuring my post on your weekly post.

Aug 20, 2017 10:06 PM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Thank you for sharing . I have lost two of my best friends . When I first came  to this country we did not have email or cell phones so I could not keep in touch with them as often as I wished to. 

Aug 20, 2017 04:17 AM
Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®

Gita Bantwal - Losing friends like this can be devastating. I know I had one for many years and then lost touch, only to find out she had died of cancer. Then I felt so bad not having been there for her at the end.

Aug 20, 2017 10:10 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Hella -- a very thoughtful post and with many things found in ActiveRain -- the comments complement it nicely.  I'm glad Kathy Streib selected it as one of her "lightbulb" moments and that Margaret Rome, Baltimore Maryland inspired you to write it.    

Aug 20, 2017 05:52 AM
Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®

Michael Jacobs - Do you know that I still haven't shared this blog with my friend that I wrote it? It's time, I think.

Aug 20, 2017 10:11 PM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

I can see why Kathy chose to highlight your post today! Great job!

Aug 20, 2017 06:59 AM
Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®

Kristin Johnston - REALTOR® - Thank you, I am so pleased she did too.

Aug 20, 2017 10:12 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

So glad to see Kathy Streib feature this post!

Aug 20, 2017 08:01 AM
Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®

Margaret Rome, Baltimore Maryland - I haven't even told Ria I wrote this. But I will. She's off to Berlin right now to help her brother whose wife just passed away from Altzheimers. Sad situation.

Aug 20, 2017 10:14 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

That is true friendship and one to be treasured.  I have only one or two friends like that one.

Aug 20, 2017 12:47 PM
Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®

Chris Ann Cleland - I had another friend like this but we lost touch. Then found out she had passed away from cancer. Now I have regrets that I didn't stay in touch.

Aug 20, 2017 10:16 PM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor® - Okay, after reading your post on friendship, and Nina Hollander story that made me boo hoo, (I also lost 2 dear friends, a childhood friend from Chicago and Karen, the only supporter I had when my husband was dying). But on a positive note, you motivated me to contact Denise, a good friend of mine who sounds a lot like Ria. We met in Maine in the late 80's. She was the nurse and we both had daughters in summer camp. It has been years since we visited with each other. Now, I'm tempted to book a flight, go to Cape Cod to visit with Denise, fly to Charlotte, meet Nina at the airport, fly with her to either CA or Hawaii to spend some time with you Hella and Ria too!

Aug 21, 2017 08:53 AM
Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®

Patricia Feager - You should do that!!! Both looking up your friend and coming out here to California where I am right now or Hawaii during the Holidays. We'd have a blast!! PS. Sorry, I hadn't seen your comment until today but it's been crazy busy.

Aug 26, 2017 03:09 AM
Elva Branson-Lee
Solid Source Realty GA - Atlanta, GA
CDPE - Atlanta Real Estate & Short Sale Agent

Lifelong friends are such a blessing. I'm glad you and Ria have each other.

 

Aug 25, 2017 11:56 PM
Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®

Hi Elva Branson-Lee - That's it. It's nice to have friends you can always call and bounce ideas off etc.

Aug 26, 2017 03:06 AM
Susan McCall - - Compass Realty Solutions
Compass Realty Solutions - Portland, OR
Listing and Buyer's Agent

 

Thanks for taking the time to write about your friend.  I really enjoyed it.

My oh my I have a friend (roommate from college) that I need to go see.  On the phone it is just like we haven't seen each other for a few weeks. 

My best townie friend and I share the same prescription in glasses - that is weird!  We made a pact to have no drama and no guilt.  It's been working so far!

Sep 08, 2017 09:23 PM
Carolyn Roland- In Delaware and S. Chester County PA
Independent architectural histor'n - Wilmington, DE
Carolyn Roland, GRI, CRS

Having friends from years ago is precious, but it is sad when they start passing away and you are too far away to have known they were ill.

Oct 19, 2017 08:13 AM