RE.Net Grieves For New Friend
Posted @ 12:33 am - Filed under Sez Me
Been goin’ through the motions all day today. Pretending was all it was though. Acting like myself, both online and off, jokin’ around, bantering with folks. All hollow. Can’t keep pretending. After eating dinner alone tonight, the emotions which suddenly rose to the surface, surprised me. No more pretending.
Bill Lublin and I met online earlier this year. Bill is an east coast real estate broker with offices in multiple states. We began by having a serious online and public debate about some industry issues on which we sharply disagreed. Our give and take was always kept on a gentlemanly level, as we’re both old school guys. Still, we went at it tooth and nail. It was fun going head to head with a real pro.
I was honored to finally meet him in person just a couple weeks ago in San Francisco, immediately feeling I’d met a kindred spirit. While meeting Bill there, I was thrilled to also meet his wife of 34 years, Sheila. Ever met a couple and immediately realize they’re special together? That was Bill and Sheila. After Bill and I shook hands, and I began to make introductions, he interrupted me saying, ‘This must be The Boss’. We talked for almost 30 minutes in the incredibly packed room booked for the post conference socializing. It was an amazing conversation. Someone walked by, and knowing our history with each other, offered to take a picture of all of us, arms around each other, smiling and laughing. It was an amazing night, one I’ll fondly remember always.
Upon returning home from the SF conference, Sheila had some foot surgery done.
She was home recuperating, even chatting happily online with the real estate community. Her friends could be found all over the country. I spoke with her online several times.
Sadly, yesterday Bill came home to discover the love of his life had passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. My heart is broken for Bill and his family. Sheila and Bill were, simply put, soul mates in the truest sense. They’d been together before he’d built his business into what it is today. Sheila worked side by side with him from Day 1. They were better than a team — they were their own entity.
The Boss reacted today much the same as I have. We found we were emailing each other from work. We usually don’t have time for this. But today we needed to stay connected. Bill’s tragic loss reminded me of something very real.
Though I often kid about living in Paradise, anywhere I am is Paradise as long as The Boss is there, and I reminded her of that today.
Bill needs your prayers. He and his family need all the strength we can send their way.
Out of respect for Bill and his family, there will be no post tonight. I urge you to go over to agentgenius and see how many friends Bill and Sheila have. Also, see Bill and Sheila in happier times.
I love you, Honey.
This entry was posted on Thursday, August 7th, 2008 at 12:33 am and is filed under Sez Me. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.