By Jay Lieberman I was getting ready, putting on my plaid long sleeve jacket. It was a little cold outside, but not real cold. California cold, maybe 50 degrees. My brother and I had been really excited for days. We were going out with Dad, which to this day I still cannot remember where, but I do remember we were looking forward to it. Something made be feel really uncomfortable and sad though as the moment of leaving arrived. My Mom was not going with us. Just the 3 of us, which I assumed my Dad and brother were excited about spending time together, like the three muskateers, but now not me as we readied to go. We eased our way out the front door, let the screen door close behind us and all I could do was stand there, look at my Mom through the wire mesh and ask her, "Are you sure you will be ok?" Big words from a little man. I could not be more than 6 or 7 years old at the time. "Don't worry about me Jay, I will be fine. You guys have a good time." I stood there frozen. My feet felt like they were stuck in concrete. I finally left with them but the whole time I worried about her, worried about her feeling alone, not taken care of. As if I was the strong man in the family and without me she would crumble in sadness and despair. We had a client last year that was interested in buying a home. It was Ron and Sarah's first home and they had a lot of questions about the process. We went through all of the steps with them over time and they told me point blank they felt like they could be a real estate agent with as much as they know. It took over 3 months to find the perfect home for them and we all felt very satisfied when we were able to hand them the keys that glorious day of closing. We became fairly close during this process. We bonded in a way which we do with a lot of our clients, as we care for them as if we were buying the home ourselves. We took them out to dinner a few weeks after they got settled in. I felt an unspoken emotion that this may be the last time we will see them. We took them back to their new home, walked them to the door to give our hugs and kisses and as the door closed, I felt a rush of emotion as I did with my Mom that day 38 years ago. I was worried about them feeling alone in a new half empty house. I felt like they needed to be taken care of. Then I had the proverbial slap in the face as I got in the car to go home. My partner and wife Michelle reminded me about how we feel sometimes when the kids go out and we are left alone in our house. She asked if I felt sad and full of despair when that happens. She is so practical, it drives me nuts sometimes. I thought for a minute, thought for another minute, then started laughing my ass off. Look, we love our kids more than anything else on this planet. But, sometimes it is really nice to have a moment of silence, alone with your thoughts. To listen to the music I want to listen to. To read a book on the couch in the family room alone, which claim is usually already staked by my kids when I get downstairs. Or to watch my "man" shows on the bigger television set, which usually has a constant stream of Keeping Up With the Kardasians going 24/7. I realized in that moment, thanks to Michelle, that my Mom didn't feel sadness and despair that day. While I was worried sick about her that day many years ago, she was likely filled with glory and peace as she finally had a moment alone. Just as our client likely felt in their new home. They finally didn't have to hear about real estate from us anymore! P.S. We still socialize with Ron and Sarah to this day.
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