"I will spend the rest of my career Educating Equipping and Empowering seniors to plan ahead. Educating myself collaborating with like minded senior advocates."

MY ED TALK

Most called him “Ed”. I called him “Dad”

 

Age 58, a mountain man with an unshakable physique and a mind that could rig anything, retired from his engineering career to enjoy his family and the great outdoors. He is from a generation of..you plan..you work hard and smile while doing it.  A dying breed.

 

Dad believed he would die by age 70. That is when he started answering the phone with a humorous “I’m still here”.

 

Age 75,still living life to the fullest. He walked a little crooked due to falling off a steep rocky cliff while rigging a metal stairway that consisted of 125 steps straight down to his boat dock. August the following year, he agreed to back surgery with an overnight stay. Recognizing, he will be back in the deer stand in a few months.

 

Complications forced Dad into a skilled nursing home for rehab where he died just days later. NOW WHAT? Fortunately, Dad and mom planned ahead.  Leaving mom with the choices to make on her own. Not to be made for her. Being newly retired from the hospice field, I was able to spend much needed time with mom. Our family lost my brother 3 years prior, so now it is me and mom.  The blonde leading the blonde.

 

Dad’s wish was for mom to sell the NC cabin asap.  After a couple years we learned it takes a lot of time and money to care for two homes. whew.. Dad was right. So we hired a wonderful agent and she sold the family cabin. The sales process intrigued me.  

 

I never dreamed I would go into real estate. As soon as I became a Realtor, mom was my first client.  I found her a smaller home very close to me.

 

Years later, I am enjoying real estate and keeping a close eye on mom. Her daily saying is “I’m Still Here”  It continues to make us  giggle and think of dad. Watching mom age has detonated a fire inside my soul to be a devoted advocate for seniors and their adult children.