Well, I do not actually miss SMU because I am still very involved at SMU. Chris and I are on campus regularly for football and basketball games; we mentor guys on the football team through the wonderful Life After Ball program; I serve on the board of the Friends of the SMU Libraries; and I am the president-elect of Town & Gown. There's still lots of SMU in my life. 

 

But the top reason I do not miss my teaching is because working in real estate bears many similarities to teaching. A big part of my job is educating the client on the process. This is even true for those who are not first-time homebuyers. The ways and means of searching and buying change really quickly. So I really enjoy helping folks navigate all of those changes. 

 

And then another feature of real estate that reminds me of teaching English is that much of this work involves narrative. What I mean by that is that, as a product, homes are interesting: they have a story. And I love that aspect, and I always try to convey the story of a home when we are on the listing side (or find out the story if we are on the buying side). 

 

We recently listed a home (now Pending; you can see it below) in "the ABC streets" of Lake Highlands. The street, Brentgate, is very pretty, and there is some pleasing topography in the area. But what I really love is the story behind this home. It is the incredibly rare one-owner home. That's right: our client grew up in the home, did his homework there, celebrated holidays with his family there. The story of their family life is in that home--60 years of it! Not everyone can, or should, stay in one spot for that long. But there's something special in being with a property through multiple generations. When we were marketing the house, I really leaned into that narrative because I thought it was distinct. 

 

My own home has had several owners. I know about some of them; others I know nothing about. But I like to think about the times spent here. I even like to imagine that perhaps my mother was invited here for a playdate as a child (Hey, this might not be that farfetched! Our house is in Bradfield Elementary, and that's where my mother went to school!). 

 

Anyway, my point today is this: Part of the fun of real estate is that I'm still working in the areas of education and narrative--just in a different form. And much like teaching, it's a joy and an honor. 

 

 

--Aprons: Lord, how I love an apron! Around 5:30pm most days, I put on an apron and prepare dinner. I can't say I "cook" dinner because often I am just putting dinner together, if you know what I mean. But still, I put on an apron to accomplish this task. I then end up wearing it for a few hours, including when I give the dogs their pre-dinner walkabout. In my head, I imagine that my neighbors think I am an accomplished chef because I am always wearing an apron. They would be disappointed to know that the reality is that I am an "ok" cook, and that's the extent of it. As to why I leave the apron on after I'm done cooking/preparing, all I can say is that the sensation of wearing an apron, for me, is almost like a seatbelt: kind of comforting in a weird way. Anyway, I have a number of aprons in a variety of styles and colors, and they make me happy on the daily. 

 

--Brioche: I have used this space to sing the praises of the pastries at Village Baking Company on Knox (there are others, but that's the cool one). Our go-to has been the "kouign amann" (sounds like "queenamon"), which is like a croissant with double the crusty exterior. It's still good. I'm not dissing it. But move over, kouign amann, because I've discovered the brioche at VBC. For someone who likes a power-punch of sugar (me!), brioche is the thing. It's kind of like a cinnamon roll without the cinnamon or the icing. Thank you to my spin friend Kelly for mentioning it. Brioche & a coffee? YES.