I neglected to say something very important in my last blog.  I confided that my birthday falls on July 31st and is a major reason why summer has always been so dear to my heart. But what I neglected to say is that July 31st is also my son's birthday.  Yes, my one and only child, Alexander, was born on my birthday.  What a wonderful present!  And, every year I tell him so!

My  due date was August 7, 1986.  My mother said, "Maybe you will have your baby on your birthday."  And, I kept saying "No, Mom, my baby is due August 7th."  But, lo and behold, my son was born a week early! Even the nurses double checked my chart and asked in astonishment, " Is today really your birthday?" "Yes, it is", I told the nurses,  "your chart is correct. I was born 36 years ago today."  

Now the odds of having a baby on your birthday are 1 in 365.  Pretty good odds - not like the lottery which is 1 in 10,000,000 or something like that.  In fact, I'm amazed that more people don't have children on their birthdays.

Of course, there are pluses and minuses to having your birthday and your child's birthday fall on the same date.  I love the fact that we are that close, that simpatico; that we have the same birthday, same astrological sign.  I also think that our personalities are somewhat the same - is it the Leo in us?

But, the problem with having the same birthday as my child is that I spent 13 years running a birthday party for him on my birthday.  It was always a big celebration but it was not always the party theme that I would have chosen.  Do you think I wanted a Care Bear to visit me on my 40th birthday? No, but that's who showed up on July 31,1990.

One summer I received a call from Alexander's summer camp admissions counselor.  "Mrs. Yalman?"  "Yes."  "Well, we are a bit surprised at your son's application.  According to what we see here, your son is 43 years old and we don't accept youngsters over the age of 15."  And, then they chuckled.  Apparently I had written July 31, 1950 instead of July 31, 1986 on the camp application. 

Anyway, tomorrow is July 31st so I want to wish Alexander a very happy birthday!!!

Real Estate Hint #14 -   I have learned to pay serious attention to what I am feeling.  I realize after 14 years of selling real estate that if I am worried about a transaction, there is good cause to be worried.  If I am expecting a return call from a client and they don't call in a timely fashion - worry.  If the buyers hesitate in making an offer - worry!  If the sellers don't sign an offer the day they receive it - worry!  If the broker doesn't return my calls - worry!  To put it in graphic terms - if I smell a rat - there is a rat!!  And my clients should pay attention to their intuition too!