5 Part Series: Real Estate Conclusion

Dear MaryAlice,

Thank you for being a super realtor. The support you offered during the sale of my late mother's home was so very appreciated.

I have lots of good news to share with regard to the bidders. I didn't think I was going to become so emotionally invested in their letters but you know me, I'm a sappy sort of person. In fact, I made it a point to seek them out after the house sold and thought you might like to know of their whereabouts.

First, Carrie Miller. She and her two boys are living in a lovely older duplex about a mile away. She actually made out quite well with her purchase. There is a long-time tenant named Carl in the other half who offered to assist her with interior and exterior maintenance and who has taken Milo and Quintin under his wing in a grandfatherly way. I drove by last week on my way to the library and pulled over when I saw Carrie in her driveway. She could only chat for a minute as she was bringing in two premade lasagnas from the grocery store, balancing them in her arms. One was for her family and the other, you guessed it, was for Carl. 

Next, Angelo and Rosalie Canizzaro. No doubt, since you are a regular Wood Theater patron, you've seen Rosalie in the box office selling tickets. Honestly, with those mile-long legs and her curly orange permanent; if you squint a little and use your imagination, she really is a dead ringer for Bernadette Peters. Angelo and she are renting a luxury apartment downtown within walking distance of everything they enjoy. I see them at the Farmer's Market on weekends where, while Rosalie passes out flyers for the theater, Angelo brings his reusable bag and fills it to overflowing with organic veggies and colorful bouquets of wildflowers for their home. 

Ahh, Ray. Well, you know what happened with Ray. Here is a photo of Faith, Hope and Charity that she texted me yesterday. Look at those smiling faces! She installed the doggy door just like she said, but she decided not to change the locks on the house. In fact, she let me keep a copy of the front door key and we agreed that when and if she needs someone to feed the dogs it'll either be me or Norman. She is enjoying the cozy feel of the place and other than painting the exterior, says she probably won't change a thing. Something about that soothes any feeling of loss I might have otherwise had. 

Did I tell you Norman and I were approached by a house flipper the day the moving van came? Your realtor sign was leaning against the porch railing, so he thought it was still for sale and offered me 30K over the asking price. Obviously, it was too late, but even if it hadn't been, Norman and I would have passed. I am content having sold to Ray. Money isn't everything!

Finally, we are thrilled with our little bungalow. The fact that Norman and I had our very first kiss in this house when we were thirteen at Betty O'Leary's birthday party makes it all the more special. We attempted to re-create the moment, spinning a glass bottle of Farmer's Market apple moonshine on the kitchen floor the night we moved in. We aren't kids anymore, but we are definitely young at heart!

I have to run because Norman said the cat rescue phoned and told us to pick up our kitten. The cat carrier is around here somewhere! She is the cutest thing, black and white, just like we wanted. 

She is three months old, born the week we sold the house. We named her Joy. 

All Best Wishes, 

Karen

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5 Part Series: Real Estate Letter #4

This is a fictional five-part series containing real estate letters written by bidders and presented to the sellers of a local family's estate. Enjoy.

Hi Karen,

It’s been a long time.

I saw Clare's obituary in the paper. Yes, I still subscribe to it even though I live in the next state over. I am very sorry to hear about your mom. She was always nice to me, and I have such wonderful memories of her.

Do you recall us speaking at our 25^th class reunion? I know that was 21 years ago but I still remember you were wearing a jean jacket and your name tag had Karen Nelson on it. You told those of us standing in your circle that you had never married and were not planning to. I didn’t want to pry about your adult life because it didn't feel like the right setting and you also didn’t seem quite as happy to see me as I was to see you, but I was intensely curious about that.

Did no one ever ask you to be theirs forever? Or were you repeatedly asked and said no to every offer?

I reached out to some mutual friends; they told me you are still unmarried and have been staying at Clare’s house.

I just have to jump in and ask, Karen. What happened with us? Going to two different colleges never felt right to me. I know your Dad told you to go and experience life without a serious boyfriend hanging around, but I didn’t expect you to cut me loose in a phone call after your first semester. Why, on school breaks, were you always looking for me to take you to movies and walk you home from parties and accompany you to your wretched Aunt Grace's house for lunch?  I only say wretched because that is what you used to say about her. I never objected to any of it because I was always glad to see you again. Plus, Aunt Grace made delicious food. Do you remember it? I do. 

Things turned out okay for me. My son is grown, serves in the military, and lives a satisfying life in Europe. He has no children but he's only 36 so there is still time. Helen, as I’m sure you know, divorced me after 20 years together and married our old friend Larry Lepeska. You used to call him Lizard Larry because he was always sticking his tongue out at pretty girls. Well, strangely enough, they seem happy. I harbor no ill will and have only one or two regrets. You might be able to guess what they are. 

But, it's time for me to take care of me. I am leaving my long tenured job as a Chemistry professor and returning to the last place I was happy in this crazy life of ours, our hometown. Five- and ten-year plans went by the wayside years ago because so little of what I foresaw has truly come to pass; however, when our friends told me Clare's house was for sale it hit me like a lightning bolt. It felt like a second chance at happiness, maybe even a second chance at love. I hope you’re not surprised that I used the word 'love', Karen. We were voted senior class couple for a reason. 

And, you're still single for some reason. 

Could this be real?

Sell the house to me. Join me in it. Can we begin a new life in this home like we talked about in 1977?  We could adopt a black and white kitten that looks like your old cat Mittens and sit in front of the fireplace on cold winter nights with our favorite books. We could eat coffee ice cream on the back porch on a creaky glider and watch the lightening bugs...just like we used to. 

Is it too late? Please say it's not too late. 

Norman

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