Fri, 17 Dec 2010
Dear Nettie.
I don’t know if it’s simply the time of year to reflect back on the past or something just triggered it in our mind. However, the other day, Katherine and I were driving around the Picayune area and she and I said at the same time: “It sure is great to be here!”
Then, the more we talked about it, the more we realized that in no small measure, we have you to thank for our good fortune. And this “Thank You” is very late in coming. I can’t ask you to excuse us for not writing sooner; I can only ask you to forgive it.
Since we were living in the Atlanta area and needed to sell our home over there first before we could relocate to the Picayune area, we knew we needed someone with patience and who would understand our needs and be willing to work with us. And as you know, Katherine’s brother, Brian, recommended you to us. It has been a long time since anyone has done us such a kind deed. But I can only imagine what kind of cross we were for you to bear! Not only were we not ready to act due to the need to sell our house first, we were extremely demanding.
We wanted the perfect house, in the perfect neighborhood, at the perfect price and we wanted it waiting for us when we were ready to act! And never mind about the fact that a few years ago a horrific hurricane blew through this part of the country and played havoc with the real estate market, among other things. And never mind that we wanted a $250,000 house for $150,000. I could go on and on about our “needs” but you endured it all, so you don’t need me to revisit that time and give you a migraine.
At every step of the way through the whole process, you educated us; you were patient, professional, kind and good humored. And, when necessary, you were candid, firm and when we weren’t hearing what needed to be heard, you were blunt.
But no one could have asked for a better friend and a kinder, more generous person to shepherd us and protect our interests. No family member could have or would have done better for us than you did. And if anyone ever says that sounds a little far-fetched, just tell them that they weren’t standing in our shoes.
There is an expression in race horse circles that, to me, pays the ultimate compliment. It is to say that a horse has ‘heart’. That means they just don’t know what it means to give up and will give you their all. So if I can borrow that adjective, let me tell you – you have heart! If you would care to use us or this e-mail as a reference in any way, please don’t hesitate to do so.
Again, thank you so much for your advice, professional expertise, guidance, help and support. But, most importantly, thank you for being such a good friend.
Paul & Katherine Gelpi
