This isn't the story I'd planned to be sharing today. The cast of characters is the same,
it's just that the plot is different and we're still not sure of the ending.
The moving truck sitting in my driveway contains the worldly possessions of
my lifelong friend, Ethel, and her betrothed, Fred.
Not only are they moving to New Mexico,
they are purchasing a house three miles down the road from me.
Ethel and Fred are going to be my neighbors!
I'll shut up for a second and let that sink in.
They signed the contract six months ago, and I've been counting the days since then to their arrival.
Then things went kablooie Thursday afternoon. I will spare you the sordid details
and try not to drag you into the drama, but through a combination of uncontrollable events,
the whole deal blew up. The closing, scheduled for Friday, did not happen.
The seller called off the deal, then she fired the realtor. Then less than 24 hours later,
the deal was back on...maybe. As I write this Sunday night,
we're still not sure when the closing will be.
The stress and anxiety is unfathomable.
While we wait and worry, the calming influence of Lucy and the rest of the herd
is keeping us sane...sort of. And your guesses on what the big announcement
would be have kept me laughing. I just wish this story had reached its happy ending
before I had to write this post.
So keep us in your thoughts if you would, please, while this drama continues to unfold.
I'll be back with the ending once it's known.
Ah, real estate. It is the most emotionally charged business transaction in the world. Good luck. Congratulations Ethel and Fred! You're coming home to a beautiful place!
ReplyDeleteReading Ethel's comment from the previous post ... ha ha ha
ReplyDeleteHope the bumps in the road get smoothed out quick before more weather sets in.
This should be an interesting Thanksgiving for all (except the one who got fired ??).
M in NC
That's everyone's nightmare when moving, especially when it's long distance. Fingers crossed that it's resolved soon and you have new neighbors. What do you have now? Two roomies?
ReplyDeleteOnce this is all solved and settled you two will have some 'interesting' things to blog about. I for one cannot wait. Just hope all gets settled soon.
ReplyDeleteEmily in NC
I find some of these kinds of realtor-sales stories unfathomable. Indecision on the part of the seller is far more stressful than is necessary. Hope that it all ends well.
ReplyDeleteAnd here I thought you were getting a snowblower! ;-)
ReplyDeleteBut this. THIS! Is my 7MSN Dream. Come. True: Good friends geographically close to the 7MSN!
Sending thoughts, vibes for the happy ending. Please hurry, I cannot keep all these body parts crossed for very long!
Message to seller: This dream WILL come true. Because voodoo.
Oh, this just has to happen - fingers crossed!!
ReplyDeleteHow unfortunate for them. But think about it Carson it this could be an great opportunity for you. Have you thought about maybe building a little something on the back 40 or adding a second floor to the ranch. Hope all goes well
ReplyDeleteYou were right...NOBODY guessed this scenario! Congrats on having your favorite people as neighbors and I hope it all is smooth sailing from here on out!
ReplyDeleteActually, somebody did guess this and her comment came through just as everything was blowing up. I didn't want to tempt the fates by publishing it, so I didn't, and for that I owe northern Alberta girl my sincerest apology. Your comment name didn't link to an email address, otherwise I would have sent you a message. So, sorry, northern Alberta girl, you were the winner of the impromptu contest. Great guess!
DeleteThanks Carson for the clarification! Glad to know I haven't been banned from the best site on the 'net! It wasn't really too hard to figure out, I just put myself in your shoes and thought about what would make me happy. Will keep positive thoughts for a happy ending 'cause this really is great news in so many ways!
DeleteI so hope this comes to a happy ending for everyone. In the meantime it's wonderful that you and the herd have Ethel and Fred to celebrate Thanksgiving. I bet the table will be overflowing with good stuff.
ReplyDeletegreat indeed, we are going to see plenty of funny Thanksgiving pictures!
DeleteTremendous news! Surely, the "good" part is only on hold temporarily.
ReplyDeleteHow cool is this!! Fingers crossed that the deal goes through!
ReplyDeleteOh, dear! Good thing you have several 4 legged stress relief experts on hand!
ReplyDeleteTwo years ago, within the course of a month, I was hospitalized with a kidney stone AND bought a house. I would much rather be hospitalized with another kidney stone than go through the torture of buying another house. At least with the kidney stone, they give you morphine :(
ReplyDeleteKeeping fingers crossed that the move eventually goes through - that would be AWESOME!
Here's good juju for Ethel & Fred & the deal! Aww, gosh, I was sure you were getting married & had kept the superhero guy (because that's what he'd have to be) secret all this time! Well, having best buds for neighbors is a whole lot more fun & less wearing than marriage. Lucy looks like she is providing Zen like the special creature she is. Chin(s) up, y'all!
ReplyDeleteIt's not what I thought..,it will be the best!! Hopefully a mere bump in the road. (Real estate is the most stressful). Sending good thoughts. Aunt jean
ReplyDeleteIt is going to work out!!! Just keep saying that! Lisa G in TN
ReplyDeleteYowza! Keeping fingers crossed for you all - sending good vibes down your way. Great surprise Carson! What a lot of fun reading the feed through the weekend. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteStressful indeed. Real estate deals need to be clear and clean. Can't be forced. But the thought of that new set of neighbors moving into the neighborhood - fantastic!
ReplyDeleteOMG!!! I had that feeling the last time they visited but completely forgot about it. It will all work out. I'm sure there will be new donkeys in the future!
ReplyDeleteP. S. Was really kind of hoping about the baby elephant thing.
There must be some kind of New Mexican curse on moving to or from that beautiful state!! We're going to take the fact that Justina's move finally had a happy ending as a sign that this one will too! Prayers that it will come to a QUICK happy ending.
ReplyDeleteSo excited for you!!! How fun and how fun for us with all the future blog fodder :-)
hang in there everyone
prayers going up for a smooth and quick closing...
ReplyDeleteI am sure Lucy and gang will gladly share their accommodations until events work themselves out. In the meantime there is always margaritas ;)
ReplyDeleteHoly Moly! Wow, wow, wow! Sending positive energy your way that this all works out the way everyone needs and wants. That would be so amazing to have Ethel down the road from you!!!!
ReplyDeleteOhhh Yeah! I'm sending good Juju too that everything works out for Ethel and Fred. That will be very nice to have two more people to your area phone book. LOL
ReplyDeleteOh my, I guess I need to dream bigger. Here I'm thinking a new critter, new chickens, a new gadget....never thought it would be moving your best friends next door. For years I've wanted to move back to Santa Fe to be near my bff there...I'm dreaming bigger from here on out...as it would appear dreams do come true. It will all work out as it should. Can't wait for the rest of the story.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how the New Mexico real estate laws read, but it sounds like a big broken law mess...as in, you can't just decide to not sell your sold property on move-in day! Errrr.Grrr. The bad mojo will be flooding that seller if they don't back down and do what's right!!! Curses will be flying in their general direction. Hoping/praying/keeping all fingers and toes crossed until the truck is unpacked and your buddies are tucked into their newly relocated beds, just down the lane! The End.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting!!!! Think positive!! Everything will be ok! Sending positive vibes your way!
ReplyDeleteIf it is something with which I might help, please let me know, Carson.
ReplyDeleteYou're awesome, Penni!
DeleteOh my stars, how fun will it be to have Ms. Ethel and Fred there in 7MSN land always. Good wishes to the "deal" and the couple. xoxo Oma Linda
ReplyDeleteWhat a relief it will be to have such great neighbors....so happy for all of you and I keep positive thoughts that the deal will still go through! Betsy
ReplyDeleteRegarding Ethel and her betrothed: YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY! Margaritas for everyone!
ReplyDeleteRegarding the closing: Oh NO!! Why would a seller tank the sale on the day of closing? It is not like you have a big neighborhood with lots of people who are itching to move in. Hugs for everyone!
I agree. Methinks the argument is over commissions, but like you say, who walks away from a deal on closing day, sheesh! Especially when they have had six months to think about it. I so hope saner minds will prevail.
DeleteOh, gosh, here's hoping everything turns out well! Will they be 4 MSN or 10 MSN? ;)
ReplyDeleteI want to have magic powers to make this all come to a speedy and efficient conclusion so the party can begin. I will reserve comment on the seller and the realtor until such time as they have proven that they deserve thanks and/or forgiveness.
ReplyDeleteHuge love to you and Ethel and Fred.
Here's an idea: They can l̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶b̶a̶r̶n̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶J̶o̶h̶n̶n̶y̶ can live in the guest room until the three of you build a people palace at the corner of your property over Thanksgiving weekend. We've seen what the three of you can do when you put your mind to it. All good thoughts coming your way!
So excited for you and Ethel and Fred (and the critters too!). I can't imagine the stress of having the sale fall apart like that - I sure hope things are resolved now and the moving truck is being unloaded as I type. Jean B
ReplyDeleteWe feel your pain! A friend was supposed to close this week and we were were going to help move her farm this Thanksgiving weekend. (Farm as in horses, goats, sheep, chickens, dogs & cats.) The closing has been rescheduled for mid-December, so we're hoping that there isn't a lot of snow by then. Hope everything goes smoothly from here on out for everyone!
ReplyDeleteAck!!! Hope it all works out!!
ReplyDeleteMy guess was that you were planning on expanding either the ranch or the herd. If I may say so, I was pretty close. :)
ReplyDeleteHolding out lots of hopes for you and Mrs & ~Mr Ethel. One of my dear friends is going through some house buying drama right now, and even though she's only moving a few towns away, it's plenty aggravating. I'm sure they're grateful to be moving so close to a supportive friend and her stress-relieving four legged family!
Great news! Her absence from the comments should have been a clue but I'd completely forgotten to look for it. I thought Danni was finally moving to where she left her heart.
ReplyDeleteFingers and toes crossed that it all works out just right!
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw the moving van I just knew my guess was correct. HA HA.
ReplyDeleteGreat news, bad news. I'm sure it will turn out to be great news.My favorite movie line. Everything will be ok in the end. If it's not ok, it's not the end. I loved all the guesses. I could hardly stand the wait to know what was going on.
ReplyDeletelove that movie! had to google it b/c I couldn't recall which movie but knew I had just seen the movie with that line in it :) it was also in the second one (by the way so no one else has to google.... Best Exotic Marigold Hotel)
DeletePositive thoughts: whatever happens, your friends are not alone in the desert, there are with you and all of you will find a solution. fingers crossed for you
ReplyDeleteTHREE MILES? That's ridin' distance! =o)
ReplyDelete