one day at a time

Took Charlie to get his haircut today. We walked over to a little shop in the parking lot adjacent to the hotel.

When I couldn't pay (I didn't have cash or a check), I told the barber I would run over to the grocery store to get cash. I told him it would be a few minutes, in that I was indeed 'running' not using a car. With three kids in tow.
So of course we got to talking about why I was walking, why we are staying in the hotel.

When these conversations start, I never know how much a stranger actually wants to hear, cares, or their knowledge of the current real estate market - the meaning of a short sale. So I usually just say we're waiting for a house.

The crazy thing is, most people want to hear the story. And usually it is because they know someone affected by the current real estate market and can commiserate.
This barber knew of the short sale process and wanted to talk because he is on the flip side, it is his current home being sold for $200,000 less than he paid for it 5 years ago.

He wasn't bitter, just sad. And he actually told me he was happy to meet a family waiting for a short sale, because he is seeing mostly investors for his property. Our conversation was cut short by another customer. I was glad to see he had business.

After I got the cash and walked back, he had two more customers waiting. I quickly paid so he could get back to work, but he took the time to say "just take it one day at a time." A man about to lose his home consoling me.

Everybody has a story to tell. It has been interesting to have a story of our own that actually invites others to share their experiences.