At the end of a very long and taxing week, I felt like I would keel over from the fatigue of cleaning out a challenging estate several floors up in an affluent high-rise community.  There were many rules: you can’t use the elevator when …, you can’t come before this time, you can’t do any moving on weekends, you can only park here, etc.  The week just wore me out.  As luck would have it, there just happened to be a full moon.  One day when I came home dragging so badly, I spotted a buzzard sitting on the roof peak of my house looking down at me.  I just looked up at him and said, “I may look dead to you, but I’m still alive and kicking, buddy!”

Lately, everything seems to be so complicated.

Yesterday, a friend of mine came over for a visit and spotted a photo of my late father sipping on his favorite strawberry shake from Steak and Shake.  It was an impromptu photo I snapped because Dad looked so cute, like a little boy enjoying the heck out of a $3 shake, even though he was 82 years old.

My friend commented, “This photo is the epitome of your dad!  This is how he should be remembered.”  That got me thinking about the simple things that we all overlook, especially when life gets complicated.

The estates I handle are seldom straightforward and easy.  Each has its’ own unique set of potential problems and logistics to solve, to make the job easier for everyone involved.  The “human” aspect of the work can often cause the flow to be interrupted.  Some clients are terrific and laid back; others have a lot going on that is hard to balance.  But, we love what we do and we do it well.

You know those challenging days that never seem to end.  You come home to a ton of phone calls, the teenager has a problem, your pet has a vet appointment, the lawn needs mowing, bills need paying … you have the feeling of “Calgon, take me away!”  Lately, I’m having many Calgon moments.

On my way home yesterday, ready to collapse on the sofa, I saw a young boy trying to walk his puppy on a leash.  It looked like the first time for both of them.  The puppy did not understand how the leash worked and the little boy could not understand why the puppy didn’t get it.  It was very comical to watch as the little boy talked to his puppy.  “Why can’t you just walk straight like other dogs?”  He said it with the tone of an innocent child, more inquisitive than angry.  All the puppy knew how to do was romp and lick him, which made the boy laugh.  They attempted their walk one more time with giggles and a wagging tail.

I realized that I actually had a big smile on my face, thinking this little snippet of a boy’s life was very cute, just like my father sipping on the strawberry shake.

Ahhh, the simple things.

What a big impact they make, if we just let them!

©2014 The Estate Lady®

Julie Hall, The Estate Lady®, is the foremost national expert on personal property in estates, including liquidating, advising, and appraising. http://www.TheEstateLady.com  She is also the Director of American Society of Estate Liquidators®, the national educational and resource organization for estate liquidation. http://www.aselonline.com.

No part of The Estate Lady® blogs, whole or partial, may be used without Julie Hall’s written consent.  Email her at Julie@TheEstateLady.com.