Lynne Pope

Do you find a home?

Or does a home find you?  

I think of it as two pairs of hands digging towards each other in the sand. We can’t see the progress but we feel our way to the result. When you think of a home, you look into your heart and you picture it, a picture so clear you feel it in your soul, the place you’ve dreamt about and longed for. Your Ideal home. We have etched into our minds the things we love about a house; mountain top or cull de sac, facing east or west, one level or several levels, ranch or modern style, wood, stone or stucco, in the trees or desert, sunny or shady, the image comes from our dreams.

There is much to learn from the houses themselves.  They speak to us as the wind has a voice through the trees.  One house I showed several times without significant response. A builder had tried to buy it, but the family had decided not to sell it to anyone that would tear it down.  At one point during a showing, the house felt dark and prospective buyers did not like it.   Another time I walked in with a family who had two of their little girls and the house literally brightened. Immediately the home took on an air of lightness. I commented on the bright feeling of the home and the family felt the same connection. I found out that the people that had lived there for over 52 years had two girls who were raised in that home. Needless to say, that family bought the house and everyone is happy.

Every home has a story.  Each time I have assisted a family or person in finding their home has been something that feels like a miracle to them. It’s personal, special, and remarkable in a multitude of ways.  Home owners hold the keys to each others stories. Good neighbors and the friends that will be made are also part of your future story.

Bring your music to open houses. Get it there by any means. What is a candle or cookies cooking and a fire without music!

If you are really into it you could bring the music of the era of the house! Think about how fun that would be as a conversation point. I get a huge lift from music- along with everyone else in the world.

History lesson from Lynne is this. Ragtime, Dixieland, Blues, Jazz all are terms associated with my dad Knocky Parker, Dr.Jazz. He was a grammy nominated piano player. The album was with Big Joe Turner. It was the peak of his music career of over 60 albums. Ragtime was my favorite. He started out as a Light Crust Doughboy in Texas. I’ve been told they were the Beatles of that era in the south. He was born in 1918. They travelled and he plaid accordion if there was no piano. He learned ragtime at age 4 from Blind Lemon Jefferson in Palmer, Texas. That name brings a hush to anyone who knew of his talents. The town was home to the movie with Robert Duvall “Tender Mercies.”

Later we would travel to St Louis and he played at Gas Light square. Friends Trebor Tichner would meet and talk about music. Once I went to Preservation Hall in New Orleans and listened to the musicians jam together. Anyone coming to town was welcomed up to join in the music. When Disneyland opened up in Los Angeles, California they hired my dad to play. Such was a time and history gone by.

Cut to 2008 and see me at the Whiskey listening to www.Her Skeleton. Rock sounds with Chris Pope. If only dad could hear him.

People say how do you have time to blog. It is natural as breathing as taking a sip of tea it is sharing a story. I grew up in a long line of southern families that either were storytellers or stories told about them. I can’t sit still till I tell you the story of a teacher who thought she couldn’t buy a house. She is an art teacher. A beautiful- willowy -tall -sprite face and smile with twinkle green eyes and with a mountain of red hair. Can’t you just see her ? Put her in the inner city and have her teach art to sometimes interested kids who dodge bullets to get to school sometimes ( maybe)

She saved for 13 years to buy the house she thought she could never buy. Is this an oxymoron?

A Miracle the true story is a testimony of success.

I was one of the blessed people on her team to rescue her from the false belief of home ownership!  She applied for a California assistance that I heard about the week before. She qualified. CAL HOFFA, and more. And only because her part time job had just ended a month before. She had a fico score above all the rest. She got the last money they doled out (on loan) for 2007.  We went shopping on the first Saturday. We found the home that was almost not for sale (being taken off the market that day) The agent friend I had met knew of this house.  The seller didn’t want to let us in…we begged shamelessly. We stepped over the dog bed ( seller was animal rescue) and looked out the window to the yard. I knew it when I saw the garage this was it. This one had everything on her list( I always get the buyers to make a wish list) The two of us pressed our faces against the window and we knew it.  This was the house. The rest took 4 months, and it didn’t matter, because the seller had to fix up her home, the buyer was not in a rush after 13 years 4 ms seemed quick. She had to take courses on Saturdays to get the city loan and it was all good. It was a love fest. The seller/Realtor and the agent/Realtor and buyer became friends, and played cash flow and helped get a rescue dog a home, and they are runners and will run together. Its so good. Life is so good.

now here is the catch….this blog story or the newspaper story below…which do you like?

Newspaper story…teacher buys home after 13 years of hopeless saving. Real Estate at miserable lifetime low, even teachers can afford homes now with low home prices and low loans in Los Angeles. 

Even the newspaper could use a story!

My new discovery…pass it along to anyone you know who loves storytelling.   There is a place for us.   storyteller.net, National Story telling network

http://professionalstoryteller.ning.com/profile/LynnePope

I heard the lyrics again on American Idol recently.  I was about to make an April fool song out of it and I just could not.  Yes this is my birthday and I wanted to make fun of something but I could not do it to America or to the people living here. We are all here from somewhere else, tourists to America who decided to stay.

Truth is I am proud, so proud of my country and the amazing fact that through my blood runs Europe- fighting groups English, Scottish, Irish, French and  Asia-Indian mystery history whispered in the Southern aunts words ” We could be a little bit Indian, somewhere, we don’t know who or when” the secret passed down to me. Did it mean the one’s the cowboys killed? I wondered. Did it have anything to do with the Mongolian spot I was born with? So no matter. I am the mixture, the Heinz 57 of people. I wish I could locate all the mix I am like the mystery of my rescued pet Sophie. She looks like a baby lab but now at 1 must be mostly Chihuahua(the dog deal -what kind of dog do you have?  I just found on Craig’s List- K9 Loft is located at 2170 Sunset Blvd. For more information please call us at 213-484-6006 our visit us at www.K9LOFT.com)

I am proud to be a Woman ( after we could vote, after we could own land and before Women were paid the same, before women are accepted as Church leaders, will there ever be a woman Pope? will there ever be a woman President? I hope so and in my lifetime. If the race for President is trumped by Race over gender then when will a Condoleezza Rice be President? Everyone I know would have voted for Colin Powell any day for he was a voice of REASON. I don’t just want change I want reason. I want Hillary Clinton now, in my lifetime. Don’t get Political and don’t talk about Religion. Too bad- its April Fools and I’m doing it anyway. Call it birthday privilege.

I am proud to be a Mother, a Realtor, a Sunday School teacher, an artist, a friend, a senior citizen, a grandmother, a blonde, a brunette, a Chinese year of the Dog, and a Blogger. Writer http://professionalstoryteller.com/Lynnepope

The words I could not make any joke about.
By Lee Greenwood

“I’m proud to be an American”
If tomorrow all the things were gone
I’d worked for all my life,
And I had to start again
with just my children and my wife,
I’d thank my lucky stars
to be living here today,
‘Cause the flag still stands for freedom
and they can’t take that away.

I’m proud to be an American
where at least I know I’m free,
And I won’t forget the men who died
who gave that right to me,
And I gladly stand up next to you
and defend her still today,
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land
God Bless the U.S.A.

From the lakes of Minnesota
to the hills of Tennessee,
Across the plains of Texas
from sea to shining sea.
From Detroit down to Houston
and New York to L.A.,
There’s pride in every American heart
and it’s time we stand and say:

I’m proud to be an American
where at least I know I’m free,
And I won’t forget the men who died
who gave that right to me,
And I gladly stand up next to you
and defend her still today,
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land
God Bless the U.S.A.

http://americanidol.feedsnare.com/2008/04/01/i-am-proud-to-be-an-april-fool/