Marian Goetzinger Crystal Coast Real Estate NC

If you live in Carteret County, North Carolina, or if you vacation here, you'll know what this feels like...A train rushing at you just feet away.

Today I almost felt the train. I was driving down the main drag, Arendell Street, Morehead City, and pulled into the left hand turn lane. That was as far as I could go because the train gate was down and the red lights were flashing.

I was facing West and the train was going East and I could almost reach out and touch the train as it passed. This is the only place I've ever lived where the train track runs right down the middle of the highway. I took this picture from my car window. I could feel the rumble and feel the heat from the passing train.

What a rush! Come visit sometime and see for yourself.

MARIAN GOETZINGER

PINE KNOLL SHORES REALTY

252-727-5000

marian@pineknollshoresrealty.com

www.pineknollshoresrealty.com

Thank God for troubles, problems and cloudy days.

In the real estate world we've been challenged for a few years now. We have had to dig deep, cut corners, work harder and smarter and learn new ways of doing things. Often I've missed the "good old days" when all I had to do was list it and it would sell almost immediately and very close to full price. Ah...the good old days.

Be careful that you don't get lazy and fat when things are so easy. Learn to appreciate hard times and the strength you gain and the wisdom that comes from challenges. Don't always wish for blue skies. Look up at the clouds and be thankful for the coming rain, the cooling shade and maybe even a day to curl up with a book.

This picture is the beach just across from my house. How blessed I am to live in such a beautiful place.

For all your real estate needs on the coast of North Carolina, Call Marian

1-800-605-8598

marian@pineknollshoresrealty.com

www.pineknollshoresrealty.com

Mobile #: 252-422-9000

In memory of Tommy Young, 1949-1970

(The following story is true with only a few concessions made to the story. I stop by Tommy's name at the Viet Nam memorial every time I get to DC. I hope on this Memorial Day we will all take a moment to remember the loved ones we've lost to all the too many wars.)

TOMMY

Tommy left for Viet Nam in 1968. He never came back.

By the time the class of 1968 reached seventh grade, the topic of Viet Nam had pervaded our conversations. Many of us had older brothers being drafted. We didn't understand the political ramifications of the effort. We certainly didn't understand why this was "police action" rather than a "war". What we knew was that boys we knew were being sent away into some sort of never-never land, and many were dying there. There were few families that escaped being affected in some way. Everybody seemed to have an uncle or older brother or cousin or friend who was fighting in Viet Nam, had died or been wounded there, or was fearing the draft notice any day.

We didn't like the way, but we fully expected it to be resolved long before we reached draft age. We tried not to think about it.

Then it was 1964. We were fourteen and fifteen years old. Tommy had grown four inches taller during the summer and was letting his hair grow long. I started wearing bras. I was just discovering boys and Tommy was just discovering me. We both played varsity basketball. Tommy sat with me on the game bus that year, and one night on the way home from a game he gave me my first real kiss. And the war waged on.

By the time 1965 and ninth grade arrived, my first romance had ended and Tommy and I actively ignored each other. That was the year I tried smoking cigarettes and decided I didn't like them. My older brother graduated from high school. My family checked the mailbox each day hoping the dreaded draft notice wouldn't come. It arrived that fall.

Suddenly the war was too real for me. My brother received orders to report for his army physical. I was sixteen and I couldn't remember a time when the fear of Viet Nam wasn't hanging over our heads. I wanted to think of homecoming dances and the prom, not death and fear. Disc jockeys played Johnny Horton's "Distant Drums" over and over. My beloved brother failed his physical because of a bum knee he didn't know he had. We thanked God he didn't have to go, but the war raged on.

Tommy and I became friends.

In 1967 we finished eleventh grade and began to call ourselves seniors. That summer we talked often about what we'd be doing next summer after graduation. Many of the boys lived in limbo. It was accepted that those who didn't go to college would be drafted and that those who did go to college were only getting a reprieve. We prayed for the war to end before graduation. We didn't want to grow up with a war going on.

Tommy came over and we played one on one in my back yard. He won.

On Christmas Eve that year it snowed six inches in McMinnville, Tennessee. The next afternoon Tommy came over and took me for a ride in his brand new red Mustang, his Christmas/graduation gift from his parents. Tommy was between girlfriends. The snowplows had the roads cleared and we drove around and filled the car with friends to help us build a huge snowman in front of the high school.

The "powers" had proclaimed a cease-fire in Viet Nam for the holidays. We were hopeful. Surely if they could agree to stop killing for Christmas, they could work out a permanent agreement. We were almost through high school. The war had been going on since before we started.

Two days before graduation we heard. Tommy had been drafted. We talked about how young and cute he was. Tommy was a real nut, but sensitive. It didn't seem real. I couldn't imagine Tommy killing anybody. We didn't want him to go. This was supposed to be the happiest time of our lives, but instead we all shared a feeling of anger, frustration and impotence. just last month, Brenda's older brother returned from Viet Nam minus one leg. Horrible things happened there.

Graduation day arrived. It was May 24, 1968. Tommy invited us all to his house for a celebration after the ceremony. Tommy played his Beatles albums. We were all hugging and promising to stay in touch. Everybody wanted to hug Tommy. I guess we all needed reassurance that he was still with us. We didn't talk about the war but I know we all had it on our minds. We acted like Tommy was going off to military school or college or something. The boys were cracking jokes and sneaking outside for a toke. Nobody wanted to be serious. It was too scary.

Tommy promised to come to my house in his uniform when he had a leave. When we said good-bye that night Tommy kissed me on the lips just like he used to in seventh, only different.

We never saw Tommy again.

Marian Goetzinger

Pine Knoll Shores Realty

1-800-605-8598

252-422-9000 (Mobile)

www.pineknollshoresrealty.com

marian@pineknollshoresrealty.com

Today was the first really sunny day of the season when I didn't have to be in the office. It was wonderful! The kids came and we all walked across to the beach and spent hours playing and having the best time.

Now everybody has gone home and I'm catching up on some of my chores and thinking I better go take some ibuprofen for my sunburn and it occurs to me. My daughters are very careful about sunblock on the children but I'm careless with my own skin sometimes. Enjoying the feel of the sun and the ocean breeze, how can that be bad?

I'm not even going to go into all the things we all now know about the long term effects of sunburn. I just want to warn parents. Don't let the children go out unprotected. You wouldn't let them drink just a little poison, now would you?

For Jamma tips, call Marian

For all your real estate needs on the Crystal Coast of North Carolina Call Marian.

1-800-625-8598

or visit my web-site at www.pineknollshoresrealty.com.

My first ever featured blog was about the value of trees. I hope some of you remember.

As my grandsons get older I'm learning to appreciate trees even more. Jackson is my oldest at five. His little brother Tyler is three. Tyler's the one in the back. (Their cousin Tanner is four but was not here on the day Jackson decided the tree in my back yard could be climbed and little brother followed him as always. I look forward to the next visit when all three boys can scramble together up the limbs of the beautiful live oaks.

This is a picture of two fearless little boys smiling from the treetops for Jamma's camera. I think the live oaks must be pleased to hold such treasures.

You can reach me at 1-800-605-8598, locally at 727-5000

or by e-mail at marian@pineknollshoresrealty.com

Visit my web-site: www.pineknollshoresrealty.com