All Things Must Pass
Everyday life has moments that mark transitions. This past week marked two endings:
- I had an office party to mark my retirement on Thursday night.
- Then, on Friday night, our cat went missing and was found dead on Saturday morning.
The retirement party:
My real estate office held a client appreciation party almost annually. It was scheduled during the week of Groundhog’s Day until 2020. Then it shifted from Groundhog’s Day to Groundhog’s Day in July in 2022.
This year, my company has a new broker, Dave Twombly, who incorporated my retirement party into the annual client party.
My goals for this party:
- Have a good time. Dave is paying for it, this time!
- See people and remind them how much I appreciate them.
- Remind my clients that the company goes on with someone I totally trust at the helm.
What happened that I am grateful for:
- Dave chose Margeaux Supper Parlor in Porter Square. The food was exceptional.
- 4 Buyers Real Estate made me a signature cocktail that reflects that my coworkers really get me!
- The “me” I aimed to be was the “me” that clients talked to me about. Buyers remembered things I did and said that are consistent with who I aimed to be in my work life. I am pleased that is what they think of me.
- No one asked me to give a speech.
Some coincidences of the evening that tickled me:
- I was talking about when an Arlington agent admitted that Realtors thought I was a fair housing tester at the beginning of my career. I started with a special needs focus, so I had deaf, blind, or wheelchair-using clients. Added to that, I worked in my community, so there were LGBTQ folk. Because I am who I am, my clients were also not all white. I was just saying to that person, “The first straight white couple who bought with me was my eighth deal…” that straight white buyer walked up to say hello.
- There was a table with company swag. I was showing one of my clients the change in logo. I had just said, “Dave hired someone to redo the logo, isn’t it cute?” when Dave came up behind me to introduce me to the logo artist.
The end of work is not the end of life. I walked home happy on Thursday night.
Part 2:
We adopted our cat Rocket J. on February 2, 2016. It was the morning after the client appreciation party (that year, at Flatbreads). Rocky was born in Boston. He was picked up by the MSPCA because he was begging door to door in an apartment building. He was three months old.
Rocket J. Fischman — November 1, 2015 – July 19, 2025.
Rocky died suddenly overnight between 10 PM July 18th and 6 AM on July 19th. He had no symptoms at his last annual physical. However, Maine Coon cats are prone to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and his condition at death is consistent with that.
He was healthy and active and annoyed that it was so hot until his dying day.
He is mourned by his family: Dennis, Rona, and Sunshine.
Rocky had no ambition to become the Community Path mayor. It was out of his territory. However, he served his constituents in Ward 7 with his regal bearing and beauty. He will be missed by all, except by the bunnies of Yorktown Street, who can now go about their business, un-harassed.
Rocky spent part of nearly every day in the lush vegetation two doors down. Our neighbor often photographed him there. This one was taken Friday evening, around 5 PM of the night that he died.