Detroit Real Estate

What's better to do on the second day of Christmas but to pay it forward.  2 for the price of one, so I did my second good deed.  I made some pepperoni rolls and took them over to some friend's house.  Their mom is in the hospital and very sick.  I remember how so many of my friends brought food over when Marianne was sick.  It was very nice to come home after a long day at the hospital and not have hospital food or fast food. 

It was nice to have a home cooked meal. So I need to pay it forward to somebody else in need.  So this afternoon I made Marianne's pepperoni rolls and took them over to them. 

I took  a few more than two pepperoni rolls.  So let's spread the spirit of the holidays.  Who do you know that could use some good home cooked food?  Take them a plate or invite them over for dinner.  The holidays can be very lonely for some people that don't have a lot of family and friends.

Now which would you rather have two turtle doves or some pepperoni rolls

On the first day of Christmas I thought I would try to do something nice for somebody else.  It was actually very easy to do.  I got an email from a lady I had met on a flight from Detroit to Tampa earlier this year.

She was on the way to do the Tampa 3 day cancer walk.  She did the 3 day cancer walk, but she is way short of her fundraising money needed. She asked me how I raised so much money for my walk.  So I sent her an email, but I thought I didn't do enough.  So I went to the website Susan G Komen 3 day for the cure. and donated a little money for her walk.  She is going to be charged $800 for doing the walk unless we can help out. Go to Http://The3day.org/ and look up Jessica Fiorelli. Donate if you can.

I have to thank another Realtor in another state for this idea, but it was such a great idea I had to do it myself.

Basically an agent from another state gave away a Christmas tree in exchange for a toys for tots gift.  You bring us a toy we will give you a live Christmas tree.  I thought it was a novel idea because I love Christmas so much.  I am a holiday addict actually.  Halloween, Easter.  Anything that puts a smile on a kids face I like.  

So I found a friend that had a cousin who owned a tree farm.  I ordered fifty Christmas trees and split them with another agent in my office.  I called a friend who needed extra money and I worked it out with him to play Santa Claus.  Then I ordered a nice Santa Suit online and my early preparations were done.

Then I went to dialing all my past clients and clients I was working with.  I soon found out it was hard to give away a live Christmas tree.  So many people use artificial trees now days, that my percentage was about 10% of all my clients that used a live tree.  But it was great that I got to talk to so many of my clients and tell them what we were doing.  Next year I am going to give away wreaths too.

But the best part of the day was seeing the kids with Santa.  They loved it and they loved that we gave them a toy too.  It was only a toy from the dollar store, but so many parents told us the kids played with the toy all weekend.  We also gave a candy bag to all the kids that came.  We took pictures of everybody with Santa.  Today I posted all the photos on facebook and tagged the people in them.  I'll probably send the people the photo too.

Was it an inexpensive client get together?  No, but the smiles on the kids faces, the goodwill and the gifts for Toys for Tots were well worth it.  I can't wait until next year to do it again.    

The week before thanksgiving I did the Susan G Komen 3 day cancer walk in San Diego with my son and my future daughter in law.  There have been alot of people who donated and supported me.  With their help I raised over $13,0000.  We only needed $2300 to walk but I raised more.  Their help does help slow breast cancer and help women catch it in the early phases.  Thank you.

It was an very emotional experience for me.  But it helped me with my grieving over Marianne.  She was with me the whole way as I start this new chapter in life.   I was in a crowd but many were going thru the same thing I was.  Some had lost loved ones years ago, but still were walking.  Some had just lost a wife, a mother, an aunt, a sister.  Some were survivors.

But they were people who were trying to make a difference.  People that were willing to raise at least $2300.  Walkers that were willing to give up 3 days of their life to hopefully make things better.  Men and women that spent hours training.  People that suffered with blisters, driving rain, sore legs and feet. 

It poured rain for hours an hours during our walk but it didn't deter thousands of walkers from completing the journey

There were lots of cheering supporters that helped the walkers.  They stood in the rain,  brought drink and food all along the way.  Some were dressed wacky, but they were there cheering us on.

Ryan and Katie my future daughter in law walked all the way with me.  They weren't officially part of the walk but they were my support group.

Even the volunteer police force dressed for the occasion.  They came from far away as San Jose to spend 3 days without pay, fighting the rain, and helping to make our walk safe.  My many thanks to them.

I can't express my thanks to everybody that walked, that cheered, that gave money, that gave their time, and the support staff.  Because you don't realize but we are making small steps toward beating breast cancer.  Marianne got to live a lot longer because of the advancements in cancer research.  Hopefully other women will get the chance to live a lifetime.      

I think officially I have become a "Pink Realtor"

Well it has be 28 year since I last had my haircut for a good cause.  Last time I had it shaved off was when I was serving our  country with the US Army.   Even though that was a good cause today I stepped up and even did a little better.  

My wife started chemo three weeks ago.  I told her before she started that if she went bald because of the chemo therapy I would shave my head too.   The last few days has been an emotion roller coaster for her.  Even though she's a 20 year cancer survivor and has fought cancer three times before losing her hair scares her.  

She doesn't like to think about the cancer.  Losing her hair gives her a daily reminder that she is sick.  She didn't want to admit that.  She was so worried and upset about losing her hair.  So last night she decided she wanted to shave it off before she got bald spots.  I went to the barber so she could see my bald head before she had to see hers.

I think she handled getting her head shaved well.  She's trying so hard to get through this.  And she will with my help.  That's what husbands, friends, and family are for.