Lake of the Ozarks Real Estate Blog

My wife and I drove to Des Moines, Iowa this last Sunday.  My two sisters and their husbands live there.  On Monday morning, we got up early and joined my sisters and one brother-in-law on our annual journey to the Evergreen Cemetery north of Prescott and the Quincy Cemetery near Corning and Carbon to decorate the graves of our parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and even great-great-grandparents.  Later that day, we decorated graves of my wife’s family in St. Joseph and Gallatin, Missouri.

I’ve been placing flowers on graves since I was a very small child.  As I grew into junior high and high school age, traveled from cemetery to cemetery with members of the American Legion to play taps and recognize all of the men and women who served our country – many of whom had given their lives in combat.  Of course Memorial Day was originally established for them, and then spilled over into recognizing loved ones in a similar manner.

Every year, I fall into the same pattern.  There are the mechanics of choosing the flowers, making the actual trip.  There is the time spent with family members and running into friends, and the time spent in driving by familiar landmarks of days gone by.  (What have they done to Mom’s house?  My gosh, the old hardware store has been torn down!  I wonder how long they’re going to be able to keep the school open.)  

But, the most poignant time is spent on the way home or on the day after.  I find myself reflecting on the wonderful days of being born and raised on a farm near that small town of Prescott with both sets of grandparents living within walking distance of my home.  I think about the kinds of lives they must have lived as young married couples and the sacrifices they made for each other and for my sisters and me.  And, I think of those who traveled across the ocean, and then, by covered wagon through hardships to claim their little piece of real estate.

Today, I’m selling real estate at the Lake of the Ozarks.  Most of those with whom I deal are looking for a second home where they can bring their families and friends to enjoy some leisure time.  Others are like myself and have chosen the Lake of the Ozarks as a place to raise our families and make a living in any number of ways.  Almost all of us have one thing in common:  We are standing on the shoulders of those who have gone before us – our parents, grandparents, special friends and mentors who have helped makes us who we are today.

You know, we have all seen signs that say things like this:
“Those, Who Die With The Most Toys, Win!”  
Here is the real fact:
“All Those Who Die End Up With About The Same Size Piece Of Real Estate.”

This brings me to the point of encouraging you to, on this Memorial Day, stop for a moment and say a prayer for those who have sacrificed so that you may live your life in the way that you do.  Be kind and generous to each other and to those around you, and tell them that you love them while they are still among you.

Take Care, and God Bless – And, come see me at John Farrell Real Estate Co.

Joel Pottinger