Ode to a mentor. Mentors are very important when you start in real estate.

My old friend called me today. She said it just as she always did.

"This is Lill [pause] Williams."

For the hard of hearing, the slow to catch on, the busy person....it was definite who was calling. There was never a quick, hard to understand, "ThisisLill," with the person on the receiving end of the call wondering who the devil this was. [Don't we get annoyed when someone calls and says, "This is John." Well, John who???]

Lill was my mentor when I started in real estate. We were on the phone each night comparing the day's events. She was a top-producer. She was smart. She was educated and motivated. She loved people. She made changes of importance in our Board of Realtors. She served as President of the Board. She helped start our Multiple Listing Service. She was a leader.

She taught me everything I know! She retired in 1992 and everyone hated to see her retire.

We had a party for her, a retirement party, at my house. She and her husband had plans to play golf, travel, read, and have a good time. They've done that. She called today to see if I was still selling because she didn't see my ad in a certain little Real Estate Guide. I assured her I'm still around and still missing her.

This cartoon was my parting gift to her. I figured it would take her a little while to master golf!

THANKS, LILL WILLIAMS! YOU WILL ALWAYS BE MY MENTOR!!!