Suzanne McLaughlin

There will be no more resting in my life. Between all the social networking sites, my fingers will be the only part of my body to be exercised from here on out. But, it had to be done. No one else can promote me the way I can. So, let the games begin. I know that it will open up another venue but, am I really up to it? Well, see. My perfectionist tells me that if I fail to keep up with it all, she'll make me pay. But, it only takes a few Tweets a day, right? Now, I have to go back to all those Bookmarked blogs and read the instruction manuals. I'll be following you.....

Amazingly, I received a referral from someone outside the network over the weekend (Utah, by way of California). I get these from time to time, but this broker actually saw something from the Rain about me on a search engine. And, admittedly, I should follow up on my leads more often, but more often than not, they are local referrals from others who have worked with me in the past. It was quite a compliment. He said that he saw that we had short sale expertise. We also work with the banks to sell foreclosures, In this market, you really need to have a handle on where it's moving, so getting the banks on board, was one of my major objectives two years ago when we saw what was going to happen. This not an advertisement for our services, more of a THANKS to my Active Rainers. And the power of the Rain altogether. I have had so much support from the others here. Mortgage people have put me in touch with people who can get deals done when my buyers people can't. I love the inspectors and insurance giants who have aided me along the way. Without you all, I wouldn't be as successful I always ask those I work with if they are on the Rain because we are the very best referral network in the world.....

My greatest loss, other than when my mother died, was when my step-father, whom I considered more my father than the man who sired me, passed away. He died nearly at this time twenty years ago today. I was the director of the Ceili dancing being performed at the time at the Lake Calhoun Beach Club, the center of the Minneapolis side of the Twin Cities Irish Festival. (Which admittedly, takes the sideline to St. Paul's celebration.) But, we were certainly having a great time! A couple of pints...I'm Irish, after all. Maybe a hint of Jameson's here and there. Then, remember this was before cell phones were everywhere, a call to the front desk. Two of the best friends were there. Seamus (James to you English or Americans) and Barb. We went to my home to hear the bad news that my father had passed on that evening.

You might think of this as some sorrowful Irish pouring out of pity. But, my best lessons were learned from this lesson. His passing on one of what once was one of my favorite holidays taught me that we must take our families and treat them as gold. We must always remember that our love is free to give and hard to get. He was the most honorable man that I ever met and the least to want honors. And, I will be honored to love him for as long as I live. He has taught me to treat everyone as if they were my family. I have been so blessed to have him. And, still so blessed to have lost him.