Peter Lavelle NextRE Direct 267-348-4008 Philadelphia Homes for Sale

It was a brisk day yesterday,and we bundled up to take public transportation to Center City Philadelphia. School was out for a Catholic Day of Obligation and I decided to take my two boys to see the light show at Wanamaker's ( sorry to those that know it as Macy's, but it will always be the Wanamaker building to me). My children were a bit excited because they were going on a bus and then the train.

When we arrived inside I was taken back to my time of innocence when I remember the voice of my mother saying "We'll meet back at the eagle." We took a seat on the floor when shortly the voice of Julie Andrews begins the narration. The screen in front and above us lights up telling a wonderful story and taking us away from the everyday roller coaster ride of life. It is still awe inspiring to me as an adult as it was when I was a child; and the best part is I had a chance to share it with my children.

Let us remember, not just our friends, family and loved ones, but also those 
that are abroad and are not able to fellowship with their friends and loved 
ones. 

Let us give thanks that we can share our thoughts and gifts.

Let us give thanks to the abundance of blessings we receive, and those that we 
may not think we have received. 

Let us give thanks that we are able bodied, and are not alone in the dark.

Let us give thanks to the one True and Living God, giving us the blessing to 
live one more day.

Let us give thanks to those that have given us their kindness.

Let us give thanks to those that have trespassed against us, for without them we 
would not build character.

Let us give thanks to our children, for without them many sacrifices would not 
be made.

Let us give thanks to our spouses, for without them love will not conquer.

Let us give thanks for what we have, because for many much is taken.

Let us give thanks to the person sitting next to us, because your smile just may brighten their day.

And lastly. let us give thanks to all on Active Rain, for without any of you, we will not learn.

Have you ever stopped in your tracks, taken a deep breath, and just look around? I am just getting back from Center City Philadelphia and felt a need to write this. Me and my son were on 11th and Market when my son looked up at me and said, "Daddy hotdog." "Ok", I replied, "We are going to go through City Hall and when we get to the other side, we will buy a hotdog."

As we were walking through the courtyard, I decided to stop in the center and take in what I was surrounded with. Have you ever noticed the zodiac signs and the months inlaid on the ground? What about the massive structure and architechture of the building? I am no stranger to this part of Center City, because the Masonic Temple is just across the street, and I am there several times throughout the month and year.

Alright, I must have looked like someone in need of a straight jacket, so we continued on in our quest. We were walking from the east to the west, and I noticed a plaque on the right side of the western portico. Again we stopped and I took the time to read what was on the plaque itself. Amazing the history that is around us, but with our busy bee lives we hardly take the time to notice.

I will not keep this a secret, but I will bet, the next time you are walking through the courtyard in City Hall, you will remember this post and take notice of that plaque. It has to do with why the site for City Hall was chosen, George Washington, William Penn, the American Revolution, the French, and the defeat of Cornwallis at Yorktown. Happy hunting.

It was a normal day as usual, just another Wednesday, except, I had to have everything accomplished before 5 pm; I have the checkbook for the Lodge and I do not want the Master to give me a call. OK drop my son off at school, run home quick to grab my things, and get to the bus stop. Car? Drive? Not to go to Center City Philadelphia and also having to tend to my 2 year old son that is with me on a daily basis. Yes my son accompanies me to the office and appointments, Real Estate is great.

Well, we make it to Center City and do what we have to do before 11:30 am; enough time to grab a hotdog and make it back to pick up my son from school. While sitting on the ledge at Penn Center, my 2 year old son and I were enjoying our "dirty dog", an expression for the hot dogs from the carts, and there was an alleged member of the Black Panther movement preaching racism and hate. My blood boiled for a bit when he stated that "all white people should be exterminated!" Hmmmm....does that include my 2 and 5 year old sons? I believe the last time someone made a statement similar to that, over 6 million people were murdered for no logical reason I can ponder. Let us all say a prayer that he may be delivered from ignorance.

Well this story actually has its Yin to the Yang, Good and Evil, or the powers that be in the universe known among Hermetic Philosophers and us Einstein geeks. E=MC2 or maybe this is all relative. On our trip to get back home we took the Broad Street Line and my 2 year old son fell asleep. Having him in my right arm, with his head resting on my shoulder, I did not notice my TREO slid off my belt as we exited the train. I did not even think to check for my belongings as I normally do because the connecting bus we had to take was at the terminal. I ran through the turnstile, down the stairs, out to the bus stop waving my arm for the driver to hold for a second and let us on; he pulled away, and I was only about twenty feet from the bus. I think I am going to be late. Thanks SEPTA.

Alright let me call my wife and let her know. OH CRAP!!! Where is my phone? I look over my shoulder and the train I just got off pulls away. Back to the train terminal, up the stairs, to the pay booth, and hopefully the attendant will cut me a break. Thank the lord above, he let's me pass to check the platform . No it is not there. Back up the stairs, out the turnstile, and my son is still asleep. I thanked the attendant, and another man allowed me to use his cell phone to call my phone just in case, went to voicemail.

There are payphones outside near the bus stop. When was the last time I have used a payphone? Glad they have not removed them. I call my wife to have her call our service and suspend my cell phone just in case. Well finally I arrive home and contact our phone carrier to reconnect my service because you never know, maybe there are still good people in the world. The woman I spoke to and have my phone reconnected probably thought I was a lunatic to have my line reconnected. She explained that I can always suspend my service if needed and wished me luck. I called my cell, voicemail, I called again, voicemail, I waited five more minutes and called again; "Hello is this .....?" the man asked.

I explained to the man what happened and I told him I would meet him to retrieve my phone. He told me he was on his way home from work and he gave me his address and cell number and said he would be home in fifteen minutes. I hopped into my car and as I was about to pull away, my wife and five year old son arrived. "Hop in" I said to my wife and I told her what happened while I drove. When we arrived at this man's home I told him I wanted to give him a reward for being honest. It was at that moment when all this chaos took clarity and the light shown through the darkness. He refused payment and said "I did this because if something like this was to ever happen to me, I would hope that person will do the same thing I am doing today."

WOW, WOW, WOW!!! This is what the world needs more of. This man could have sold my phone, attempt to use my service, or use the information I have stored in my phone for malevolence, and he did not. Even the woman I spoke to at my phone company even had doubts, but I took a chance, and had a gut feeling; that maybe there are still people in this world that care for others and rise above the occasion. Guess what? There are.

It is raining right now in Philadelphia and my two boys are volunteering, involuntarily, to clean their playroom; with the supervision of Mommy Gustapo. Ahhhh...I have some work to do, as that is always my excuse to sit in front of my PC, or sneak away for whatever; the good life of an independent contractor. Kinda like when the wife gets mad and I have to go camping, i.e. the sofa theory. No problem, my camping trips give me all the amenities needed, the TV, computer, chips and dip, etc, etc. Enough with my rant, let's get to the nitty gritty of this post.

It is not a secret I hide, Yes I supported McCain/Palin for the presidential bid, and in a city of an overwhelming majority of Democrats, I am a registered Republican; sshhhhh, don't send the Sopranos after me. My support for the Republican ticket is that my views and those expressed on the Obama/Biden ticket just do not jive. Guess it is like dancing with a woman with two left feet wearing construction boots, and I do not two-step. Okay, so now what?

After groveling over the past few days, c'mon really, it is what is is, I looked past the party barriers and stepped out of the box. No I did not change my political affiliation, but rather started to see the opportunities that will come with the new President Elect. My partner does not agree with my view and asked me if I was a closet Democrat. Of course I responded to her that she really does not want to look into my closet, to many bones. No not a Democrat just an American trying to do the best to serve my God, Family, Country, and Man the best I can.

If you ever have an opportunity to watch "Lord of War" starring Nicolas cage, you will understand this view. It is violent in some parts, however, the concept does match with what is happening today. Whomever may be our leader and/or leaders, always remember, just give the people what they want. The public spoke this past Tuesday and the majority decided this is the course and path they want the country to follow, and although I did not vote for Obama; it is my duty as an American to support our new Commander-In-Chief. The good???? with the bad. There will be policy changes, and I will have a watchful eye to know when to capitalize on those that will give me and my business an advantage. Happy hunting.

P.S. Just below 250k though.