Back in May of 1997 when we were expecting a third child, we decided it might be a time to make a move to a slightly larger home. I was very happy with our nicely decorated home with lots of Laura Ashley, wallpaper and furniture, but my husband could see in the future as the children got older. It might be nice to have a little more space. He was talking with a builder, who at the time, houses weren’t moving and he wanted to keep his guy working so he negotiated a few good deals on homes. The builder made my husband offer that was more than fair price wise, so we let our neighbors know that we would be moving. Within a couple of days I got a phone call from the wife (this was back when people called on the home phone) of a couple who had heard from her friend, one of our neighbors, that we would be selling our home and she said that they wanted to buy our house. My response was, “Well, why don’t you come look at it.” So we set up an appointment and they came the next day. I had taken the kids out on a bike ride and when I came back, my husband was sitting down at the table with the couple and I remember hearing him say “this has to be fair for both of us.”
He was right. For the couple purchasing the home, their biggest concern was selling their current home, while securing a home in a neighborhood where they had friends and their kids had friends. For us the seller, our biggest concern was knowing that our house was sold so that we could move forward with the building our new home. So what Brad and the couple negotiated at our kitchen table was that, we would close on the sale of our house fairly soon, and we would pay the buyers mortgage until they sold their home. It was a little bit of a stretch for us because if they sold their house right off the bat, we would need to move out and find a rental to live in until our house was done the following January or February. What the deal gave them was plenty of time to sell their home, without the stress of having to make two house payments. So we closed within a month and we paid their mortgage and I remember on Halloween, several months later when they brought their children trick-or-treating to the neighborhood, Rich said to Brad, “we sold our house and it looks like we’ll be closing fairly soon” would it be possible for us to get possession after Thanksgiving, will your house be complete?” I remember my husband saying “the deal was that we would pay your rent until you sold your home so if you’d like us to turn things over to you after Thanksgiving will be out then.” Our house wasn’t going to be done until February but that was NOT their problem. We had negotiated a deal that was fair for both of us. We found a rental for December and January and they were able to be in their home after Thanksgiving just in time for Christmas. It was a deal. It was fair for both of us and both families walked away, feeling as if they had gotten a good deal.
I couldn’t help but think of that negotiation and transaction, almost exactly 28 years ago, when people started talking, tariffs and economics, and especially all of the deals we saw being made this week in the Middle East. It was quite interesting to see the respect that President Trump received in this part of the world. It was all great TV but I’d have to say the best photo of the week, was the President’s vehicle, “The Beast,” most likely, Detroit made, the American Cadillac driving in the Saudi parade flanked with horseman holding both American and Saudi flags. The following appearances were ‘rinse and repeat’ with different greeters and animals but the same scene in each location he visited. To see citizens of these countries holding their cameras to record President Trump coming on stage to a recording of Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA,” was a site to see. Who would have guessed this!?
President Trump walking out onto the stage in Saudi Arabia to Lee Greenwood, “God Bless the USA.”
So why the warm welcome, why the red carpet (or in Saudi) purple carpet, treatment? Because these countries realize the opportunities these deals bring for their citizens and their economic future. When most people think of the Middle East, they think of instability and maybe even a place where terrorist are supported or bred or shady deals are made. One has to ask, “Why?” In the past, there were few opportunities for youth. Many there have few economic opportunities and when money is being waved by bad characters, people will go where the opportunities are, for survival. When you give people good opportunities to make a good living you give them an opportunity to live a good life, providing for themselves and possibly a family. When people are able to provide for themselves and a family they are most likely to be productive members of a community and live a good life, this scenario bodes well for any country. The saying “give a man a fish, he lives for a day, teach a man to fish, he fishes for a lifetime.” The deals and opportunities brokered in the Middle East this week, are more than financial negotiations that benefits the rich and powerful they are breaks for the common citizen of both the Middle East AND America. Read through the economic progress made this week, not to mention from a standpoint of safety and security, as well. Look at the relationships that were possibly enhanced too, such as possible progress being made with Iran and President Trump meeting with the new Syrian president. Good relationships can lead to good diplomacy and good diplomacy can lead to (hopefully) less wars and less hot spots around the world. Good diplomacy starts with respect. Just like in life, we don’t have to be everyone’s best friend, but there is no harm in getting along with one another.
Bruce Springsteen is an outstanding performer/composer and always has been. Wishing he would stick to what he is so good at, or at least fact check himself…James Comey’s social media post last night, “86 47” drew raised eyebrows as in law enforcement, 86 refers to assassinate/get rid of someone putting them in a grave (as in 8 ft. Long/6 ft.deep), 47 referring to Presient Trump being the 47th President. Not a good look for him either. Sort of dumb for him to be surprised at the interest in his post. A good post for him to delete and he did, not long after he posted it. Brilliant idea Jim.Mo
Last night as I was finishing up my essay, I saw the clip of Bruce Springsteen speaking at a concert in England, kicking off his tour in the United Kingdom. He spoke very negatively about his home country the United States and the news breaking of former FBI director, James Comey, calling for President Trump to be assassinated. These men have every right to speak their mind and feel the way they do about anything. Our Constitution gives us many freedoms such as freedom of speech and freedom to demonstrate. What just doesn’t sit well with many is for Springsteen to lie when he has a huge megaphone. To say that the President of the United States is dealing with dictators, and claim that his administration is treasonous, that he is ‘abandoning our allies,’ and that they are persecuting those who exercise their right to protest. NADA Bruce. If he is referring to the protestors at Columbia University in New York and on other campuses, those protestors were allowed to cross the line in many cases, preventing Jewish students to attend classes, setting up encampment on college campuses. Many of these protestors were not even students of these campuses, or students in general. Bruce should get his facts straight before he goes out to misinform others with his large platform. And then James Comey’s social media post issuing a hit or assassination on a President? This act, at the least, involves an interview. When I was doing my student teaching in Ann Arbor, my supervising teachers told me of a situation at his school, Thurston Elementary School when President Nixon was in office the fifth grade students wrote letters to the President. One particular student sent his letter individually rather than with the class (where is the teachers read over and sent together). Anyway, a few days later, the Secret Service turned up at both the school to interview the student and they also turned up at his home. This was a 10-year-old little boy who sent a threatening letter to President Nixon. James Comey, former director of the FBI deserves at least this, he should know better.
These two individuals have absolutely no obligation to like a President they did not vote for, and they have no obligation to be his friend whatsoever, no does any other individual. Speak one’s mind, sure, but to spew lies or call for an assassination, well that’s quite different. There may be people who don’t like President Trump or care for his delivery, but if this man can bring jobs, opportunities and economic success for Americans and others, as well as peace anywhere around the world, in my mind, that’s a good thing. If Joe Biden or any other President could render such situations or objectives they would have my respect as well. You see these people who work in government and run our country they work on our behalf they should negotiate deals for us. When you go to a doctor, a lawyer or accountant you expect that they are giving you the best advice and you pay them well for their services, as you should. The government and government employees should have the same expectations. When we look at the progress, this new administration is making in their first hundred days or so, it seems as if the American people are getting their money’s worth. We all pay a good amount in taxes as Americans, we should be getting good service and money well spent. You see, when you make a deal whether it is buying/selling a house or a business or trade deals, both parties should walk away feeling they got something. When one party gets taken advantage of, it’s not a good deal. And it surely doesn’t make for a great day for someone. Both need to walk away feeling as if…It’s a Great Day.
