I was a single young 22-year-old when I received my degree from The City University of New York. It meant there were no excuses left to avoid employment and add my assist to mom and dad.
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My uncle was in real estate sales and suggested I seek work in that field.
I applied for a job as an agent at a local firm near our apartment in Queens.
I had no experience but the broker agreed to hire me. After all, there was no salary, just a commission based on a successful sale.
He was patient in teaching me the business, but it took a while to get my license and no sign of an impending sale.
I questioned whether I had made the right decision to join that firm or, for that matter, the profession.
One day, however, a beautiful home came on the market for a rather attractive price. That’s when my broker made an unusual suggestion: “Why don’t you buy it?” he said.
That was an absurd idea since I had no income, zero savings, and still no deals in the works.
That’s when he made an astonishing proposal: “I’ll help you.”
Here I was, wondering if I had made a mistake joining the firm, when my broker made that incredible offer.
Lending his credit standing and assist, I was able to purchase the house.
Not just for me, but also my parents and two brothers.
The five of us had been living in a small fourth-floor, rent-controlled apartment, with no elevator, in exchange for a beautiful home of our own in a lovely neighborhood on a beautiful tree-lined street.
Sadly, my broker, who also had become a dear friend, moved to San Diego.
The good news was the fact that he worked out a generous arrangement whereby I was able to purchase the business.
I was doing just fine when added fortune came my way the day a gorgeous single young lady walked into the office seeking an apartment to rent.
I found a lovely place for both her and her adorable 3-year-old daughter.
She said she was looking for employment, and I told her we needed a secretary.
That wasn’t actually the case, but I was so charmed by her beauty, not to mention that delightful young daughter, I hastily made the offer.
She accepted, and we started a working relationship that quickly became a great friendship.
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Marriage ensued.
One day, her daughter called me “Daddy.”
The time arrived when I took my new bride and beautiful young daughter to visit my friend in San Diego.
He had a fabulous home in the middle of an avocado grove on seven acres in North County.
He drove us around the property on his tractor as we picked apricots, peaches and plums from the trees growing among the many avocados.
His wife, who also had become a treasured friend, prepared her fabulous eggplant parmesan dinner for us.
We were so enthralled by our visit, those dear friends, and that beautiful area, we decided to move to San Diego ourselves.
It was a hasty choice, but one that turned out to be wonderful.
So I sold the real estate business, and our friend found us a beautiful home only minutes from his.
Today, that adorable 3-year-old is the mother of three. And grandmother of five.
But before all that, we also had two sons who became the proud parents of five beautiful children.
Currently, our boys and their kids, happily reside only minutes from us in North County.
Years ago, our daughter, together with her husband, twin daughters, and young son, moved to a lovely home in Montana, in a beautiful location where my son-in-law’s family had enjoyed many summer vacations.
We see them often and regularly talk on the phone, and the distance only serves to make our visits all the more memorable.
Here, the sun, the sand, and the sea, together with our boys, their children, our daughter and her growing family, plus our friends, regularly remind us how truly blessed we are.
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Erdos is a freelance humor columnist. Contact him at [email protected].
