Military Reltionships Never Die - My Wake-Up Call
Military Relationships Never Die - My Wake-Up Call
The phone rang this morning very early. I knew it could not be the pilot, so I thought "Self, who could be calling so early?" Not wanting to be the person who answers the phone like they just finished smoking a pack of 
cigarettes chased by a fifth of whiskey, I faked a "Good Morning! This is Amy..."
"Mrs. Led?" (husband's Call Sign is Led, as in Zeppelin, as in guitar-playing pilot who once had long hair prior to joining the military). I answered perkily, "Yes, wow, I haven't heard that name in a while."
Turns out, a fighter pilot from Led's past is accepting orders to NAS (Naval Air Station) Whidbey Island, WA, to be a flight instructor. Although there are wonderful Connect Realty agents in the Oak Harbor and Anacortes areas of WA, he would rather have the Bellingham Realty Girl assist his family with a Military PCS, as I specialize in VA Loan transactions and taking care of Military Spouses.
Just because of the history of the relationship, I will become this pilot's buyer's agent. The level of intimacy shared in the military through strength and bonding is immeasurable. He and Led deployed together overseas to Iraq on an aircraft carrier. Have you ever seen two pilots get together and have a conversation? Their hands are all over the place in what I like to call the "there I was" stance.
It is rare indeed to find a profession which lends itself to creating lifelong relationships. Where military relationships are concerned, time stands still.
This one call became a true "wake-up" call for me. It occurred to me that I had not had real conversations with many of our military friends around the country for quite some time. Email and Christmas cards seem to be commonplace and have replaced the telephone. I spent the better part of the day calling old friends, catching up, leaving messages even. Initially I had lead generation on my mind. The cosmos had another plan.
I discovered a number of friends are currently deployed to Iraq and Afganistan. I gathered their deployment addresses so Led and I can assemble some care packages (I am awfully good at those). Cultivation. That is what it is all about. Sure, my business came up in conversations, but there was something much bigger at play. It is not about me.
As Easter approaches tomorrow, it occurs to me that a few years ago, I spent Easter alone without Led, and children were not quite on the horizon yet. The photos included were taken during that deployment. It seems as though no matter how much time has 
passed, how much distance has grown, and how much families have expanded, the closeness of the military relationship remains intact, familiar, and strong.
More than an email, a letter, or a card, a phone call to those far away is the handshake or hug so often shared in friendship. I encourage you to explore your past relationships, and pick up the phone.
And as we celebrate Easter, remember those servicememmbers who are not here a part of the collective, but rather abroad ensuring our safety and freedom. To those who have served, and who continue to serve, I say thank you. To Led, I say thank you, and I love you. May all those abroad return safely.
Have you polished and massaged your relationships lately? Thank you for reading. And yes, I am a very proud spouse - I hope it shows!
Bellingham Realty Girl | Amy S Zender | Realtor®
www.bellinghamrealtygirl.com | amyzender@connectrealty.com
Connect Realty.com | 112 Ohio Street, Ste. 101, Bellingham, WA 98225 Office: 360-920-4886
Amy Zender is dedicated to supporting the hottest Real Estate market in Bellingham, Washington! Amy's goal is to empower you with accurate, innovative, and honest information. Be mindful of the many choices you have as buyers and sellers, as we find ourselves in a market where there is plenty of room to be creative! Give Amy, your savvy Bellingham Real Estate Agent, a call to learn what she and her snap-crack team can do for you at #360.920.4886!
If my Son can Battle Darth Vadar, I can Stand Up to My Clients
If my Son can Battle Darth Vadar, I can Stand Up to My Clients
I have clients who insist on pricing their home too high. They will not listen to reason. "But we bought it at this price, why isn't it worth twice that now? We wanted this property, so will someone else. The market isn't affecting these more expensive homes..." and on and on. You get the picture.
Some short time ago, we visited DisneyLand in California. We surprised the children with the news on the morning we drove the airport. Instead of celebrating and running around the house screaming like my 4 yr. old did (she knew she would dine with the coveted Disney Princesses), my son sat on the counch rather pensively. Clearly we could tell he had something significant on his mind. We joined him on the couch. And here is what the little man said to us:
...Well, I'm sort of excited. But my friend Cody went to DisneyLand and he had to fight Darth Vadar (keep in mind, my son is obsessed with all things Star Wars. He has four light sabres so the whole family can spar. He has every action figure including Princess Leia. And has a Darth Vadar, Clone Trooper, and Jedi costume). And Darth Vadar is sort of scary. He's mean and people don't like him...
To our wise yet vulnerable young son, we explained about the concept of pretend (while nervously looking at our watch. I mean, we had to get moving! Mickey Mouse does not hold planes, even for cute little fellows) Our brave son gets up off the couch, and argues:
...Let's go. I'm ready. Darth Vadar is a bad guy. I will fight him. Can I bring my Jedi costume and Star Wars suitcase and a couple Star Wars guys? (yes he really has one)...
After some explanation that we had already packed his Star Wars suitcase for him, and, no, he would not be allowed to bring a light sabre on board the plane (the husband-pilot assured us that TSA would not be okay with this). You see, Disney offers a fantastic show where children are selected from the audience, "trained" in the jedi arts, and then have an opportunity to "fight" Darth Vadar. Who even knew if our son would be chosen?
Who am I kidding? He is adorable, full-hearted, and looks great in the Jedi costume. Voila! He was selected. But not before contemplating the situation and carefully calculating his moves with Darth Vadar! He "graduated" Jedi training, and fought Darth Vadar - and won. He won! Words cannot describe the pride and love we had for Jedi Leland at the moment in time. Darth Vadar said: You have been taught well, young Jedi. My son faced his greatest nemesis, in the passion of saving his world.
Why can't we all face our challenges publicly, without fears of repercussions? My son was 6, and fought Darth Vadar. You men out there can identify with the importance and significance with that, can't you? Star Wars is for men what Titanic is for women.
The punch line is this: if my boy can face the meanest guy he knows in his little universe, then I can certainly stand up to my stubborn clients, and not walk away. I can and will say, "Pricing is everything. Location is important, but if the price is not accurate, then it will not sell. I repeat, it will not sell."
...And furthermore, I will not tolerate idle threats. Go ahead and call those other agents who continue to call you. If they want a listing merely to generate leads off of the sign, then go ahead. You will not make me feel little. I know the market. I know the challenges of the market. I know that this price to which you have married yourself will not stand the test of the market. It will fail, and it will sit and sit and sit without a reasonable, qualified offer. And then who will you blame?...
Oh, the force is strong... I drew strength from my young Jedi that day, and it has served we well ever since. Go with the Force Jedi agents. And stand up to your Real Estate fears. Great, kid, now don't get cocky. That too is important, my friends.
Thank you for reading.
Bellingham Realty Girl | Amy S Zender | Realtor®
www.bellinghamrealtygirl.com | amyzender@connectrealty.com
Connect Realty.com | 112 Ohio Street, Ste. 101, Bellingham, WA 98225 | Office: 360-920-4886
Amy Zender is dedicated to supporting the hottest Real Estate market in Bellingham, Washington! Amy's goal is to empower you with accurate, innovative, and honest information. Be mindful of the many choices you have as buyers and sellers, as we find ourselves in a market where there is plenty of room to be creative! Give Amy, your savvy Bellingham Real Estate Agent, a call to learn what she and her snap-crack team can do for you at 360.920.4886!
Speechless Sunday - Pot of Gold
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Bellingham Realty Girl | Amy S Zender | Realtor®
www.bellinghamrealtygirl.com | amyzender@connectrealty.com
Connect Realty.com | 112 Ohio Street, Ste. 101, Bellingham, WA 98225 | Office: 360-920-4886
Amy Zender is dedicated to supporting the hottest Real Estate market in Bellingham, Washington! Amy's goal is to empower you with accurate, innovative, and honest information. Be mindful of the many choices you have as buyers and sellers, as we find ourselves in a market where there is plenty of room to be creative! Give Amy, your savvy Bellingham Real Estate Agent, a call to learn what she and her snap-crack team can do for you at 360.920.4886!
Pooh's Little Instruction Book
Winnie the Pooh Gave me Life... [part 1]
I was inspired by Clare C's The Importance of Reading the Instructions. 
I learned my greatest lesson almost too late, because I never read the instructions. Here's the Punch Line - on the back cover read the words: read page 3, Amy...
Upon my college graduation, my Uncle Bill gave me a book entitled "Pooh's Little Instruction Book", indpired by A. A. Milne. This was a cute gesture, charming even, but what could I ever learn from a silly old bear anyway? I thought, "Self, you do not know the true gift in this yet. Hold onto it." And that I did. I waited and waited.
I read the little book time and again. Nothing. Annually, I would clean out the bookshelves of unwanted books for garage sales and used book stores (I mean, how long did I really have to hold onto my History of Rock and Roll text book from college, or that Sylvia Plath poetry book I bought during my "dark" phase in high school?). But I never could quite rid myself of Pooh's little book.
The cover grew weary (college was a long time ago), and the pages dogeared from years of thumbing. Still nothing.
Then I passed my Real Estate license exam, and I ran to Pooh's book. Surely I would uncover some little gem of wisdom that would serve me well in my new career (thank goodness I was no longer handling military contracts, and negotiating with generals, that no, they could not just have an extra million dollars worth of studies performed at the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command). Nada. Aught. "Self, the book needs to go."
Fast forward a few months. Real Estate was working for me, but not really working. I was going through the motions, but my relationships seemed empty and vapid. I was being paid but felt disconnected. Naturally loquacious in nature, how could this happen? I was analytical, aggressive, and academic. Just what a professional should be, right?
The phone rings, my Uncle Bill passed away. I was suddenly faced with the notion that I had missed something. Something that would change my life. I just could not unearth the missing link. My Uncle Bill had nothing more than an eighth grade education, but you would never know it. His entire community of Clifton Forge, VA, loved him. Truly loved him. He was a citizen's man. An honorable man. A wise man. The kind of man you wanted to know just because he was compassionate and authentic.
We decided to have an estate sale, so I packed the car with my newborn and a few boxes of things to sell myself (the fighter pilot was sadly deployed). On top of one of the boxes was Pooh's Little Instruction Book.
The sale was a success. Not much leftover (always a good sign). In a box of old 45s, rested Pooh's instruction book. It did not sell. I had a tender moment of sadness, and opened the book. It felt like the first time. I flipped through the entire book for the first time, all the way to the end. On the back cover read the words: read page 3, Amy. I flipped through to the very beginning. There are no page numbers, so I had to manually count, (what if I started counting on the wrong page?) Or better still, what if I had counted correctly, and my outlook on life changes? And that it did my friends.
On page 3 is a quote from Winnie the Pooh - It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn't use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like "What about lunch?"
Lunch. That sentence changed my life. I had been
wheeling and dealing, but never relating. And that is what life is all about - relating to one another. I grabbed that little book, and held it close to my heart. It changed my life forever. Life became authentic in that one moment. I was brought to life. And I brought that life into my business. And now I am known for my strong relationships and for making each of my clients feel like family.
Relating is paramount to any business. Without it, you have nothing. Nada. Aught. How different my life might be had I not read the instructions - read page 3, Amy. I carried this story closely, not knowing when the time was right to share it. Clare unleashed my story. My sincere gratitude to Clare, and to Uncle Bill. Who knew one rotund bear with very little brain, could impart such enlightenment.
If someone ever gives you an instruction book, however cutesy, hold onto it. The time might not be now that you can learn from it, but there will be a time. That I can guarantee you. Thank you for reading.
A Vote for Earth
I Voted for Earth Tonight
Tonight, March 28, at 8:30pm local time, I turned off my lights. And for one hour, I voted for Earth. It was Earth Hour. Wherever you live on Planet Earth, Earth Hour is a time of contemplation, a time for reflection, a time to vote for our planet.
This was the first year a vote for the planet became global. The election transcended borders, ethnicities, and ages. Started in Sydney in 2007, over two million homes switched their lights to "off" to make a stand against global warming. By 2008, the message was more transcontinental with the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the Colosseum in Rome, and Sydney's famous Opera House all shrouded in illumination. Even in Times Square, bilboards rested in darkness.
But 2009, the globe set a different goal. A goal of one billion shutting off their lights for one hour. The idea being that this is a vote where your country of origin does not play a role, but rather your planet of origin - Planet Earth. 
Instead of having lights on tonight, I sat in darkness, warmed by the soft glow of a dozen or so candles I lit for the occasion. I made sure to put one in each of the children's rooms (as they are still unsettled by the dark). I looked outside for a brief moment, and I realized that I sat alone in the dark. But that is okay. Perhaps the neighbors forgot, or were unaware.
Either way, I voted for Earth tonight in a global election of sorts, and it felt grand. I have been reading on which US cities participated. The Sears Tower, Empire State Building, and the Golden Gate bridge all dimmed their lights tonight. Not to be outdone, the famous strip in Las Vegas even went dark, including the world-famous Luxor Hotel & Casino, who's light can be seen from space.
Where else in the world were lights shut off in honor of Earth Hour? The Bird's Nest in Beijing, China; Giza Pyramids in Cairo, Egypt; the Acropolis in Greece; over 1700 buildings in Hong Kong; the business disctrict in Jakarta, Indonesia; the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Rome's Colosseum; the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden; the Eiffel Tower in Paris (only for five minutes); the Connaught Place in New Delhi, India.
Nearly four thousand cities joined forces in over 85 countries for the World Wildlife Fund-sponsored event to raise awareness for global warming.
I cannot wait to have my "Hi honey, I've landed safely" phone call from the pilot in a little while, who was flying across the country tonight, and ask him if he noticed anything unusual about the lights from cities. He is always commenting on city lights, and the sheer number of them.
Earth Hour. Mark your calenders for next year. Thank you for reading.
Get to Know the Bellingham Realty Girl Through Pictures!
Getting to Know MeMeMeMe... getting to know all about MeMeMeMe...
This blog is a direct result of a team member. I was just targeted tagged yesterday, so being the 
that I am, I just had to get this posted. Thanks for making me share my age. Of course, some good may come from this... I am not as new as folks may think I am!
Although I am a graduate of 
, and my teacher would be horrified at this, I intend to play along. I have been known to smoke a cigar once, speak fluent German and like someone recently alluded, I too would like to see the Playboy Mansion, because like unicorns and fairies, I want to know if these magical little "bunnies" actually exist.
So, let's get started...
1) Age at My Next Birthday.
This one is a hard one. I like that we got it over with first, you know, like a shot at the Dr's Office.
2) Favorite Movie or TV Character.
Who didn't want a magical Nanny who gave you spoonfuls of sugar and said silly things like
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious?
3) Place I Want to Travel.
I have been around the world and seen beautiful exotic places, including all around mainland Europe, Israel, South America, Canada, and some former Soviet-bloc countries. I have never been to Norway, and would love to see this majestic locale!
4) Favorite Food.
You have me at cheese - any way you prepare it, any way you share it, any way you pair it. It's my vice (next to a good red wine...)
5) Favorite Place.
These are photos of Germany. I grew up in Southern Germany and find it to be a breathtaking and exciting place. It has a rich history, and the people are wonderful.
6) Nickname (s).
I have two! Hey, I am a Gemini and I am allowed. Sasha is a my Going-Out nickname (complete with German accent and all!). But Higgins is the one the fighter pilot gave; since I was so young when magnum P.I. came out, I never knew this little tidbit, but apparently, Higgins used to tell long stories. It was comical, I was told. I tell long stories evidently. I have strong southern roots, I am entitled to be long-winded...
7) Favorite Color.
Orange is the color of success, determination, and creativity. Need i say more?
8) Favorite Sports Team.
I went to Penn State and love the Penn State Nittany Lions. JoPa believes in real football playing, with no fancy jersies, no silly sack-stickers on the helmets, no financial incentives to play. You want to play ball, with heart, then head to Penn State. This is real football people, and this is where you get your blue and white on. When I say Penn, you say State; when I say Blue, you say White; when I say JoPa, you say Terno. You know, I almost did not marry the fighter pilot, as he did not know who JoPa was (he is from west of the Mississippi, but that was no excuse...)
9) My Favorite Hobby.
This again was tough, as I love doing many things. I enjoy gourmet cooking, exploring with fusion cooking, and experimenting with new recipes. I like company in the kitchen however. I do not mind if you are not helping me (standing and drinking a glass of vino, I understand), but I love the company. Kickboxing keeps me energized, focused, and calm. It's great cardio, and has boosted my confidence. I have been a kickboxer now for nine years.
10) Bad Habit.
See #6... It's the story-telling thing. I talk a lot. My close friends tease me about it. But I love to talk. I love listening too. Story-telling is just my way of bonding with others. I guess that's why my blogs are never short!
Thank you for reading!
