“Into Each Life…
Friday, 02 December 2005
…some rain must fall.”
- “Learn to roll with the punches, Sara Heartburn.”
- “You have to take the bitter with the sweet.”
- “Life’s not all beer and skittles, you know.”
She had a million sayings, Crabby’s mom, especially when Crabby wailed about her young life going awry. She got her mother’s point, but sometimes - even today - punching a hole in the wall seems the only reasonable response.
While Crabby Old Lady was looking at possible new homes in Portland, Maine, with her real estate agent on Tuesday, her New York broker telephoned. Remember the confidence, a few days ago, that the sale of the New York apartment was 90 percent certain? Here’s a new proverb Crabby's mother didn't mention:
“Never ignore a ten percent failure rate.”
Crabby's buyer backed out. No reason given (as if that would make a difference). He just declined to go forward.
With age, one ought to develop some equanimity about the slings and arrows life tosses our way. After all, by 50 or 60 or more, there have been a lot of disappointments and the truth is, you eventually forget most of them. Nevertheless, one of the secrets about getting old is that sometimes you still feel as abandoned by life as you did at the height of adolescent agony…
...Crabby just makes less noise about it these days than she did back then. Well, she does admit to an urge, when she returned home, to throw herself across the bed and weep, but that seemed a bit too undignified at her age and anyway, tears would fuzz up her contact lenses.
The biggest frustration is that Crabby has no control at all over when the apartment will sell. It's not like she can grab someone off the street and force them to put money in her hand. And with the holidays upon us, it’s unlikely a deal will be made until sometime in 2006.
If anyone knows of a real estate god or goddess, please do let Crabby Old Lady know. In a coop out back she’s got a couple of unhatched chickens just like the ones her mother warned her never to count - and Crabby’s ready to sacrifice them in exchange for a quick sale.
What a bummer! You just have to keep believing that this is because your perfect home in Portland isn't on the market yet, and when the time is right... How disappointing, though. It's miserable to be at the mercy of the stupid housing market, any market...
Posted by: Jean | Friday, 02 December 2005 at 03:24 AM
I just wish I could jump on a train and head on down for some mussels and wine with you today! What a roller coaster ride, Ronni!
I feel honored to be sharing it with you though. Thank you for telling us ... especially the part about wanting to punch holes in the wall and throw yourself across the bed weeping.
I wonder how Ollie feels about all of this?
Posted by: Tamar | Friday, 02 December 2005 at 03:32 AM
Oh no, not again! What's the deal with buyers in NY jumping in and out of deals? I've honestly never experienced that elsewhere in the country. All of us are still here for you when you need us. It will happen...keep the faith...I would send you a nice bottle of cognac to salve the wounded spirit, but my email is down.
Posted by: Winston | Friday, 02 December 2005 at 04:13 AM
This isn't going to help much, but it's eerily pertinent: at the following post, Mirty left a comment which made me laugh out loud and hopefully it will do the same for you.
Posted by: Melinama | Friday, 02 December 2005 at 05:12 AM
I did *not* want to read this today, Ronni - well, truth be told, I didn't want to read it on *any* day. I am so sad for you - next hole you punch, say, "this one's from Koan".
I'll confess, I don't know how the legal aspects of housebuying work in the US - I only just about understand them in the UK (where they're pretty convoluted). Actually, I'll retract that - in England and Wales they're convoluted - in Scotland (which has its own system) it's considerably more straightforward - and considerably harder for buyers to back out.
Not that it's any consolation to you, Ronni, but my Mum's house move went smoothly on Wednesday - so, another horrible legacy from my past (the house where I grew up) is gone. For all that *she's* relieved, I am quadruply so.
Posted by: Koan Bremner | Friday, 02 December 2005 at 05:13 AM
Sorry to hear about your disappointing news. :( The eratic nature of the real estate market can indeed be frustrating
Posted by: Rain | Friday, 02 December 2005 at 05:50 AM
How disappointing for you Ronni. But maybe, the market will be stronger come the New Year and Spring. I have my fingers crossed that you'll make it to Portland before next summer.
Posted by: Jill | Friday, 02 December 2005 at 06:27 AM
Crabby! I'll tell you something my mother used to tell me and that would drive me crazy whenever she said so: it will turn out for the best. The thing is right now, you don't know it yet. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed to make sure my mother is right this time again!
Posted by: Claude | Friday, 02 December 2005 at 07:22 AM
And where is that elusive Ouisa when you need to take a whack at her?
..."And then she gets mad and clenches up her fists and just wants to HIT something! And Clairee pushes Ouisa in front of her and says, "Hit this, M'Lynn!" Half a Chickipin Parish'd give their eye teeth to take a whack at Ouisa!"
Posted by: Cowtown Pattie | Friday, 02 December 2005 at 07:55 AM
Another mom saying, "life is not fair."
I don't swear but I do say, heck, shucks and darn it.
Sorry the deal fell through, what a raw deal.
Feel for you.
Millie
Posted by: Millie Garfield | Friday, 02 December 2005 at 08:20 AM
Well hell. Ronni I am so sorry. I went through this twice with my condo and still made a good sale in the end. Hold on. Tie a knot in the rope and hold on. And if you slip, we'll do our best to help you beat back the alligators.
Posted by: Rana | Friday, 02 December 2005 at 09:03 AM
OHHHHHHHHHHHHH NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
ARGGGHHH!!!! GNASSHHH!!
Posted by: amba | Friday, 02 December 2005 at 09:04 AM
. . . agh. Now that I can think again, two thoughts:
a) does this mean the housing bubble is bursting? (You and Mirty and . . . )
b) maybe the place is meant to be bought by someone who loves it, not someone who's going to tart it up and flip it?
Posted by: amba | Friday, 02 December 2005 at 09:07 AM
Okaaaay. Are you surrounded by concrete? Do you have a large planter? This is going to sound strange. VERY strange - but in MY corner of the universe, it's sworn to work. Obtain a statue of St. Joseph, dig a hole and bury the thing, head first and plant it/park it by the front entry.
Nope. You don't have to be Catholic.
It may be a lifetime of breathing taconite dust and I may sound more than a little, uh, odd... but 'any port in a storm?' Best wishes in your quest for a buyer. MY turn comes next Spring. I've already picked up my statue!
Posted by: Susan | Friday, 02 December 2005 at 04:30 PM
I'm so sorry to hear this, I know you were really looking forward to the uncertainty and the chaos of trying to sell both going away. I hope that you find another buyer with a good offer soon (though I know soon is a relative thing).
Posted by: Laura | Friday, 02 December 2005 at 07:29 PM
Ronni ~ have you considered changing agents?
Posted by: Gemma Grace | Friday, 02 December 2005 at 09:19 PM
Ronni:
I do know how you feel. Consider this. When we sold our house back in the early 90's, we got to a week before closing and then the jerk backed out on the contract. His excuse was, not enough room on the property for his projected swimming pool. Clearly he simply changed his mind. We got so angry, having already rented an apartment while we hunted for another house that we forced the real estate company to keep the "buyer's" earnest money and turn it over to us. Small consolation for all the heartache and trouble he caused us. It finally sold in another few months to a nice family with young children who would appreciate the home we had created there.
And I second the "change agents" suggestion above.
And I am so sorry you are having to experience this real estate misery.
Sending good thoughts your way.
Posted by: Chancy | Friday, 02 December 2005 at 10:02 PM
Screw the chickens. Sacrifice a goat. Much more powerful. Guaranteed!
Posted by: Gordon Coale | Saturday, 03 December 2005 at 12:07 AM
To all of you: Crabby so does appreciate your commiserating with her. Shared pain is less pain and Crabby's heart is warmed by you all.
To Gemma Grace and Chancy: Crabby already changed agents once early one and this one isn't the problem.
To Susan and Gordon Coale: St. Joseph and the goat are on order. Crabby thinks those ideas are at least as good as others she's heard and who knows - they just might work.
Posted by: Crabby Old Lady | Saturday, 03 December 2005 at 04:17 PM
Crabby, you have every right to throw yourself on the bed and weep, even with contacts. This has got to be so frustrating! I don't know what the housing market is like in New York right now--I just know that it is really expensive, but your neighborhood looks so ideal as Manhattan goes. The market is softening a little here in the L.A. area, so I'm glad I don't have my own place up for sale. Welcome back from your trip and I predict that your buyer will appear in January or February. A very special person is out there, somewhere.
Posted by: Fran | Saturday, 03 December 2005 at 11:15 PM
Ronni, I am trying to catch up on my reading and I'm dismayed to find that your sale will not go through as planned. Hope you find a qualified buyer very soon.
Posted by: kenju | Sunday, 04 December 2005 at 06:01 AM
Oh, Dear Ronni, I'm so sorry. I'm sure that this means that you will be in a better position to find your dream place in Maine, but that is not much comfort at the moment. Yes, hit some walls and sacrifice a goat, it can't hurt. All my love and sympathies are with you., Sali
Posted by: Sali Ariel | Sunday, 04 December 2005 at 09:11 AM
As is a common saying here in Aus: Bugga!
Posted by: jen | Sunday, 04 December 2005 at 03:01 PM