Issue Date: November 29, 2006

Love for your home shared through grape jelly

By Jody Zink
Licensed Realtor in Ohio & Michigan

A retired school secretary lives in upstate New York in a home est. 1894. Her name is Helen. She is a lovely lady in her 80's. She had a heart attack in 2004 and for the past two years has spent her winters in the south with her son and family. Her son has talked her into selling her home in NY and moving to the south permanently. She is so sad about the thought.

My Aunt Helen from Austin, Texas (Helen from the South) wrote her the following letter:

Dear Helen from the North,

I'm sure that making the decision to sell your house was one of the hardest decisions you've ever made. I'd like to share with you a little story about my daughter and her family that might make you feel a little better about your decision.

Nikki and Dylan bought a house in Midland that had been a family home for more than 50 years. They had several opportunities to meet with the sellers before they moved in. Mr. and Mrs Johnson had raised their family in the house on Maxwell Street and shared a lot of memories with Nikki and Dylan during their visits.

There is a grape vine outside the kitchen and dining room windows. Mrs. Johnson said the summer sun gets so hot, that it blocks the heat from the windows. She also told Nikki how to tend the grape vines and even shared her grape jelly recipe. Mr. Johnson took Dylan out to the garage and shared information like when the roof and air conditioner had been replaced, and how to drain the outside spigots in the winter. Then the four of them went to the backyard and pointed out the different flowers and plants and told them how they needed to cut back this plant in the winter and how this flower blooms all summer long.

They all went inside for the 'freshman orientation' tour. They went into each bedroom and the older couple shared stories about their children who occupied the room. Mrs. Johnson showed Nikki the best place to store the ironing board and how the gas fireplace worked. They introduced the young couple to the neighbors. After the sale was closed, Nikki and Dylan found a brand new WELCOME door mat on the front porch.

It was obvious to the younger couple how much love was shared through the years in this beautiful home. Nikki and Dylan are so grateful to have had the opportunity to meet the people that lived there before. There is so much history. You may or may not have the opportunity to meet the people that are going to live there next. Can I suggest that maybe you start writing a journal of stories about living in your home and one day after the new family moves in, mail them a copy of the journal. I am sure they would love to have it. Be sure to give your son a copy. It will mean so much more to him in years to come—and what a wonderful thing have to share with your grandchildren.

This little story was not told to make you feel sad about leaving your home, but to make you feel happy about the opportunity you have to share your home with people who started out just like you. They may be perfect strangers, but they will appreciate your home and love it, too. And you will be with the people you hold dearest in this world—your family. And we all know that wherever we are loved, that is truly our home.

God's blessings to you, Helen from the North.

With love,

Helen from the South

Jody Zink is a licensed REALTOR in Ohio and Michigan with the Loss Realty Group. Her column appears every other week in the Toledo Free Press. She can be reached at jody@jodyzinkrealtor.com or 419-725-1881.