Pat Haddad, ABR,CRS,e-PRO,GRI Indianapolis

by Aimee Rush Holden, Haddad Team, Keller Williams Realty

The vision of Family Fun Planner, a perfect fall day in Indianapolis IN, Nostalgic Husband, Surly Teen, Eager Dog, and a $5 entry fee were all the ingredients necessary for a recent fun (for most of us anyway) family outing at Fort Harrison State Park.Fort Harrison State Park Indianapolis IN

The early afternoon outing started off a bit shaky, with Nostalgic Husband silently wondering what the odds were of him returning home in time for at least part of the Colts game, and Surly Teen loudly questioning her parents’ sanity—yet again. Eager Dog, it seemed, was the only willing participant.

Undeterred, I, Family Fun Planner, printed off a park map (no Blair Witch Project moments for this family), packed up some water bottles and off we went.

To say the day was spectacular is an understatement. Not a cloud in the sky and a perfect 71 degrees. The trees had already shed most of their leaves, and a gorgeous orange and yellow carpet covered the forest floor. Apparently I wasn’t the only Family Fun Planner who thought a day in the woods was a good idea. Hikers, walkers, cyclists and runners were everywhere!

We started off on a paved path that wound through a pretty grove of black walnut trees, but ended after about a quarter mile at the park’s edge. After turning around, we discovered the entrance to the Lawrence Creek Trail, an unpaved 2-mile trail of moderate difficulty. This was more like it!

“Why are we sprinting?” griped Surly Teen from the back of the pack. “I just want to enjoy myself and look at nature.” Hmmm. Strolling through life. Maybe that explains the 7 tardies already accrued this school year… Her interest piqued momentarily a few minutes later when an apparently stray dog bounded by us. Visions of rescuing him danced through her head, and then were dashed when his owner came around the corner. Crisis averted!

“If there was a sniper firing from the woods on your right and I yelled out, ‘6 o’clock, 300 yards,’ what would you do?” quizzed Nostalgic Husband (who coincidentally also happens to be Recently-Retired Army Guy). Umm, run? Hit the dirt? Run, it turns out, was the correct answer since the intent was for us scatter, then meet up again in a "safe" spot. More specifically, we learned that we should run toward the 6, if you picture the forest as a huge clock. We’re still unclear on how to determine the 300 yards and fuzzier still about how we would actually remember any of that while under fire, but even Surly Teen seemed interested in the stories of her dad’s glory days as an Infantry leader.

“Oh, this tree trunk, it smells divine! The fragrance emanating from this patch of grass is amazing! How I love the scent created when approximately 5,000 dogs pee in the exact same spot! Would it kill them to let me roll in it just a little bit?” Eager Dog was in heaven!

As for me, Family Fun Planner, I was excited by our Wildlife Watch contest, which yielded the back end of a white-tailed deer, a huge red-tailed hawk and the biggest squirrel I’ve ever seen. Oh, and butterflies everywhere!

All in all, I’ll tally the adventure in the success column. We even made it home for the Colts kickoff. We’ll definitely do it again, and maybe next time we’ll get to drag Cool College Kid along!

For more information on Fort Harrison State Park, visit www.in.gov/dnr.

For information on Indianapolis real estate, visit www.HaddadTeam.com or contact your Indianapolis REALTOR:

Pat Haddad, ABR, CRS, e-Pro, GRI
Haddad Team, Keller Williams Realty
317-840-7555
Pat@HaddadTeam.com

A quest to perform a good deed turned into a lesson in humility when I recently volunteered my services at Third Phase food pantry and shelter in Noblesville Indiana.

I’m not sure what I expected, but it wasn’t the ramshackle house with a distinct odor of age and in desperate need of paint. Nor was it the lack of fanfare for a new volunteer. And it certainly wasn’t the suspicious stares that greeted me as I was introduced to some of the residents. I’m embarrassed to say that I think what I was expecting might have been gratitude, which is certainly not in the spirit of volunteerism!

Anyway, I was put straight to work – not in the safe confines of the office as I’d requested, but lining shelves in the food pantry. If it was a test I think I at least passed and perhaps surpassed expectations, which I’m sure weren’t very high anyway.

I actually enjoyed the challenge of neatly applying decades-old shelf liner to warped and uneven boards. But the bigger surprise turned out to be how much I enjoyed the stories of my workmates.

Lydia, 20ish, cleared up a lot of things when she asked if I was there for community service or to volunteer. I’m guessing everyone else I passed in the hallways was wondering the same thing! I probably disappointed and confused her by confessing that I was there of my own free will, but she was still nice enough to answer all my questions. She was there as part of the 40 hours of community service she’d been ordered to perform. She was so young and cute I couldn’t imagine what she’d done to earn the sentence, and quite frankly I didn’t want to know…so I didn’t ask. What I did learn about Lydia is that she was turned down by a half dozen churches before Third Phase agreed to let her serve her time there. They just didn’t need volunteers, those other places told her. A church that doesn’t need volunteers? Really? Maybe at that point I should have inquired about the nature of her offense, but I didn’t. I also learned that she and her boyfriend are saving money to move to Santa Barbara and that she’s never seen the ocean. Never seen the ocean? Have I ever met anyone who’s never seen the ocean?

Tim, 40ish, lives near the ocean. He just can’t get home. His vehicle conked out on the way home from a trip to visit family in Fort Wayne and since he doesn’t believe in owing anyone anything (Have I ever met anyone who doesn’t believe in owing anyone anything?) he’s taking refuge at Third Phase until he can land enough handyman jobs to have his vehicle repaired and return to Florida. In the meantime, he’s lending his talents to the shelter overseeing much-needed improvement projects and ridiculous volunteers. He painted the pink hotel in St. Petersburg, FL, that my family has visited many times, and he has excellent taste in classic rock.

I went to my volunteer session hoping to feel better about myself afterward, and I actually did. I don’t think it had much to do with my efforts, though. It was more about meeting people who I didn’t – and still don’t – have much in common with but who were gracious and interesting and who have been on my mind since I left.

I’m really hoping Lydia and Tim both make it to the ocean.

Third Phase is Hamilton County’s largest shelter and food and clothing pantry. It is located at 15755 Allisonville Road. Visit www.thirdphase.org or call 317-773-5100 for more information. Donations are always needed!

For more information on Hamilton County Indiana or Hamilton County real estate, contact your Indianapolis real estate expert:

Pat Haddad, ABR, CRS, e-Pro, GRI
Haddad Team
317-840-7555
pat@haddadteam.com

Looking for ways to feel festive this holiday season? Try taking in one of the many live holiday shows and performances coming to Indianapolis Indiana!

Broadway Across America presents two shows during the holidays. The Tony Award-winning musical Chicago plays Nov. 20-22 at the Murat Theatre. Oprah Winfrey Presents The Color Purple runs Dec. 29-Jan. 3 at Clowes Hall. Tickets for these shows and the rest of the Broadway Across America line-up go on sale Oct. 16. Visit www.broadwayacrossamerica.com/indianapolis.

The Indianapolis School of Ballet performs the holiday classic The Nutcracker during the month of December at the Scottish Rite Cathedral. Showtimes are Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 19 and 20 at 3 p.m. Tickets go on sale Oct. 15. Visit www.indyballet.org.

Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre celebrates the season with a musical adaptation of the holiday favorite A Christmas Carol Dec. 5-21. You'll love the delicious food as much as the entertainment! For tickets and information visit www.beefandboards.com.

While you're out and about don't forget to drive through the lovely Indianapolis Indiana real estate decorated for the holidays and take a peek at the holiday lights displays at Circle Center and the Indianapolis Zoo!

For more information on Indianapolis real estate contact:

Pat Haddad, ABR, CRS, e-Pro, GRI

Haddad Team, Keller Williams Realty

317-840-7555

pat@haddadteam.com

Visit us at www.HaddadTeam.com!

ZooBoo Promises Evenings of Frightful Fun at the Indianapolis Indiana Zoo!
Oct. 16-18, 22-25 and 29-30
2-7 PM

It’s no trick. Halloween ZooBoo days are a treat at the Indianapolis Indiana Zoo! Extended hours mean more timeto take in all the special entertainment including the Halloween Dolphin Show and the Elephant Pumpkin Smash! Caretakers will be on hand to answer questions about all your favorite animals! Mazes, trick or treat stations, a Halloween train ride and much more are sure to cast a spell of fun over visitors! Costumes are encouraged!

For more information visit www.indianapoliszoo.com.

For information on Indianapolis IN real estate visit www.HaddadTeam.com.

Pat Haddad, ABR, CRS, e-Pro, GRI

Your Indianapolis REALTOR!

317-840-7555

Pat@HaddadTeam.com

Tucked in between 96th Street and Lantern Road on the southern edge of Fishers Indiana, this Estridge-built neighborhood offers one of the most convenient-to-everything locations you'll find in Fishers. Winding streets, beautiful wooded lots, a neighborhood pool and tennis courts plus quick and easy access to I69, I465 and all shopping makes this 200-home enclave hard to beat. Charm, convenience and affordability (prices range from the $180s to the mid-$300s ) are just a few reasons why these homes typically sell quickly! Almost all Covington Estates homes are 2-story, and many of the homes on wooded lots feature coveted walk-out basements! Students in this popular Fishers Indiana neighborhood currently attend Lantern Road Elementary School, Riverside Middle School and Hamilton Southeastern High School.