Today I lost a customer,...today I lost a friend.As I sit and reflect about the world situation, the state of the market, the uncertainty of our lives, I am reflective on the certainties that we do have. Getting to know this sweet man was a certainty There is a reason people come into your life, and his presence in mine came at a very, very critical time. Knowing I had helped find him a place he could call home, a place he could sit at the end of every day, look out over the water and end each of his days with peace and quiet gave me something money can not buy.
Three years ago I met this special customer as he was referred to me by a friend on St. George's Island. He was a delightful man. Immediately we connected. I found delight in listening to his stories, his history, his tales of how he became successful. I became engaged in lively discussions, in his laughter and in his wisdom.
He was very specific and exact in his needs for a home here in Tallahassee. I've told the story a hundred times, and I still find it to be one of my favorites. His three requirements were: a waterfront home with a "great view" in a gated community, a large kitchen with access to an outdoor grill and a pantry large enough for wine storage, and lastly a small room for an office.
The view was a necessity. Although retired, he kept himself extremely busy. He had developed his own system for making money.. all after his retirement he was quick to tell me. Like most of us he worked for years in a corporate world, making money for someone else.. and now he enjoyed making money for himself, and was good at it! he even wrote a program for tracking his investments, etc. I often told him to sell it and make millions! He always giggled..always content with holding his secret close. So, ending each day in a place where he could look over the water, where breezes blew softly, where no one was glaring into his home, his life gave him solace. It was deserved I think, a reward that someone who worked so hard for deserves.
The second criteria, the kitchen. This man loved to cook! He enjoyed wine,.. he was constantly learning about wine, and he had a recipe I wish I had gotten for seafood gumbo, now lost. Deservedly taken, forever secret. We searched and found a home with a gas grill connection right outside the breakfast nook window,.. arms length, perfect he said for when the weather was bad, but accessible for indoor/outdoor grilling. I worried about him burning the house down.. but he seemed to have a system. Again, I have learned, don't question a master! We looked in pantries.. we looked for a wine closet or a refrigerator for his wine collection, we looked for open kitchens for cooking and enjoyment.
Lastly, he wanted an office. Now his office was different than most. His office furniture was,.. well, vintage. Practical and useful but not too "modern" he said. I somehow envisioned it similar to my grandfather's workbench. Stacks of projects, papers, books, circa 1940 file cabinet and his old metal blade desk fan with a frayed cloth cord. I tried not to think about it too much, a safety hazard.
So off we went! We had a good part of a day, and he wanted to see all 14 listings I had researched. Each one was different. Some elaborate, some simple and some simply disgusting causing us to laugh more than once. We joked about how people live, about his views of the things some people thought important and about the simplicity of his collections. He talked about his daughter, and having a place for her privacy when she visited from California and how he looked forward to her visits. We talked about his long car trips to see her, about driving across country to visit her. His car loaded with a bounty of wine as he timed his stops perfectly so that it would not spoil while unattended! The details of a mathematical, analytical mind amazed me and I was humbled.
We did not find the perfect house that day. There was however, the one listing that we did not see because the owner had a golf date and could not let us take a look on this day. After nearly 6 hours of looking, my sweet customer asked if there was anywhere we could go for a glass of wine. It was 3:30 pm! The one place I thought would be open at that hour was closing from lunch to prepare for the dinner crowd. After a brief request to the owner who happened to greet us, we got a table.. and we had the entire place to ourselves. I thought we might be having a glass of wine.. but instead a bottle was ordered by my customer. Now,..this is certainly not something I have a habit of doing,.. but this was a treat, and even more a treat to share it with someone I found so interesting. Some days you just have to let go and let moments like that sink in.
As we parted ways, I left him with the assurance that we would find that perfect house, and by now, I think I knew what it was that he was looking for.
The next morning, I decided to take a drive by the one house we missed. The sole picture on the Multiple Listing Service was far from attractive and barely recognizable. As I sat along the curb, I realized this home was on one of the best parts of the lake, it was far more beautiful than the picture and I knew I must make a preview appointment. I called the owner and asked if I could come in, just by myself, to preview the home. After telling her about my customer from the previous day. She allowed me to come in, and the moment I stepped in the foyer that opened up to a panoramic view of the lake, I knew I had found my customer's next home. I asked the lady if I could take photos, explaining my customer was out of town. Reluctantly, she allowed me to do so. I left and emailed those photos to him as soon as I got to the office. I then called, asked him to look at his email because I think I had found "the house". He agreed to come all the way back form St. George again, and when he arrived we went straight to the home. We examined it top to bottom.. and without too much emotion he asked that we go back to the office. I couldn't help but think, "uh-oh, that was a flop!"
We arrived back at the office and he asked me only one question. That was, "Do you think it is worth the sales price they are asking?" I replied yes. I ran a few comps to be certain, but quickly found confirmation. He then told me that he was about to do something that probably didn't happen often, but he wanted to make a full price, cash offer for the house..and wanted to write it up! We did,..and after all the paperwork, he asked if I wanted a glass of wine! Of course I did not hesitate,.. but this time I had to get back to the office shortly to get this contract presented, etc.
We closed without a hitch. He closed on the beach house, moved into the house and set up his furnishings just so.. and began the work of what he called "quiet time."
This transaction did not end here. Over the next three years, I kept in touch with my sweet customer. Checking in at least monthly, sometimes more. Making sure he was ok..introducing him to my accountant, having occasional lunches and enjoying surprise office visits. Sometimes I would just find a few bottles of wine on my desk, no note, no card,.. but I knew who they were from!
Two weeks ago, I did a quick drive by..as I did often to check on him and found him sweaty and hot from working in the yard. His speech was slurred and his memory notably different as we spoke. I learned he had recently had a series of mini strokes. He knew I was visibly upset and worried about him living alone still, etc. We talked about him having a key made for me for the next time I stopped in so that I could get in and check on him on occasion. Surprisingly he agreed. We talked about his daughter, and he reassured me that he spoke every week to her, without fail. We hugged and I went on home and made a lasagna and put it in the freezer for the next time we would meet.
Tax season arose and I spent too much time.. after working all day, gathering up tax information, readying it for my accountant. The same accountant to who I had recommended. they had quickly become friends as well. She and I talked about him during that visit. I told her how worried I was for him. That was two weeks ago.
Today, my accountant called me. she told me that he had passed away. He passed away in his home. He is gone. My heart is heavy. It took a while for me to call his daughter. Even when I reached her, I could not help but let the tears fall. I will miss this sweet soul, and I am sad for not seeing him, for getting that key, for taking that lasagna over there.
I am certain of one thing. He would not have wanted to be anywhere but at home. I pray that he did not suffer, but hope that his last views were of the lake. His last moments in a home he loved.
Again, I realize we can't hold onto what is not ours to begin with, but I respect what I am given. I am thankful for what I am given, for the time with those that are the quiet influences, the voices that give us moments we will not forget. This man was the best part of my job, his friendship a reminder of why I chose this career, and why my customers are important.
This is dedicated to my friend, my customer, and to each of you who have found happiness in your homes. In this life, there are little certainties, but rest assured, helping someone find a moment of happiness puts all that I do in perspective.
God Bless the soul and the family of my friend, Mr. Day.
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