LIFE now becomes a roller-coaster!

Why a roller-caster? Well, I had my home and furnishings evaluated by three sources and the total of all(they said) was between 425K and 475K. In my mind that would take care of the huge new mortgage I now had (having the sale of the Condo included to be deducted when home was sold) plus the high expense of moving "things" some furniture and sending my Suburu over the road. Smart me! I had it allllll figured out!

I searched for a good company to handle the sale which is not fun doing it alone. I had to make all of the decisions by myself. When I had conferences, one realtor seemed to be THE ONE and they not only got me my new mortgage including the old one, but a very good lawyer. I thought I was "in" like Flynn.

Packing was the biggest nightmare, and just opened my home via the local newspaper two nights before I was set to leave for AZ. to check out the Condo and it was swarmed with people picking large pots (gave them away) huge steel bookcases (gave them away) but sold my $1,000 fish tank for $100.00 and did sell a few other good large pieces for a fair price. Now I had some cash to fly with Goldie and three suitcases.

In the meantime, I had to purchase a new Craftmatic bed (a double) since mine was a twin with the lovely headboard and a refrigerator purchased at Sears so the store in Az could ship to my Condo. Mary's hubby stayed two whole days waiting for this stuff, got my tel connected, electricity and stayed for the bed and frig arrivals.

My two realtors who kept telling me they would take care of everything while I was in Az, suggested they take me to the airport. My, but they were so helpful. (AND I WAS A FOOL!)

NOTHING WAS SOLD by the time I left, and I still had the Lake Condo to be concerned about. I received a Real Estate Tax bill evaluating it for $100,000 (almost three times we paid for it) and as I left - no one was interested in even meeting a figure.

I arrived late 1991 to see that the drapes they promised me were thin unlined curtains, and the Condo did not have a hall closet or shelves in the tiny laundry room. The small kitchen, and two bathrooms did not have the upgrade of floorcovering and the developer refused to do anything. Dust was coming down from the three skylights (and had to be fixed). The temperature was still high in the State making my bedroom, the kitchen and the smaller bathroom up to 124*. My car was not to arrive for a couple of weeks, and I needed furniture. Mary brought me to a specialty store that had good but inexpensive new furniture and I - in haste and on credit cards bought what was needed. A total of a tidy sum, but not worried. The house was not yet sold! I ordered a dark drape for the bedroom to keep it cooler, put in a ceiling fan, and had slates made under each skylight to control the heat from the sun. (Charged another $1,000.)

While away, found out my bedroom set was taken by my niece and my nephew's new wife took some valuable items telling the realtor that it was okay.

Went to my nephew's wedding back in Mass. but refused to look inside my house since my son who came with me said that the rugs and expensive wallpaper were torn away. We got important negatives up to the garage for Al to take and send to family and friends. I gave him money, but it did not happen.

Went back to AZ where boxes were still everywhere inside and out only to find out that they HAD to be taken off the patio. Shelves were hastily put up in the 5x5x8' storage area, and friends of Mary put as much as they could in there WITH THE LABELS FACING THE WALL! To this day I do not know what is in them. The rest thrown inside. I felt like I was in a whirlwind.

House not sold! No leads on the Lake Condo! To calm myself, I went to the first Condo meeting to see if I could get wind of how things worked. Found out the developer was in charge with more rules than the U.S. Government. I asked a few questions and the next thing I know I am ON the board. It was a good diversion and started to meet people and get unexpected respect.

The entire community was in transition and I joined the team of 60 professional people and asked to join the financial committee. More meetings. Next came the hopes of making a gift shop, and that started to work, so I worked there as well. I worked two years to have the Real Estate Tax rate for our place changed and saved the community a great deal of money.

Come 1992 - trying to get this tiny pace in order in between meetings and the call came in. An offer for my home: 1/2 of the original value. I tried to figure out their commission, and paying off my big mortgage and other problems - when the second big tragedy came.

I had made arrangements for the same auction house to pick up my custom furnishings and have the realtors let them in. NO ONE SHOWED UP! The famous auction house refused to come back. Now, I find out (form this very nice lawyer) that big objects were missing. My Athena automatic sewing machine (value: $1200.00); my husband's snow blower with cab, the same value and the $6,000 new shed built in back was GONE! I am here, and they are there - telling me they are taking care of everything and to accept the offer on the house. Reluctantly feeling as low as anyone could, I agreed.

Then came the papers. They trashed my furniture (except for my custom dining room set which was bought by a friend of the lawyer for 10 cent on the dollar) and charged me for "taking care of things": $6,000.00. That was in addition to their commission. When I asked about the shed, one of the realtors admitted he took it and offered to add $600.00 to may check. HOW SWEET!

I added it all up and figured I lost more than $300K. Nice way to start a new life. Once the mortgage was paid off, I was left with VERY LITTLE CASH. Suddenly, I was actually "poor". The credit cards were high with all I needed and when the car came filled with my sheets, towels,etc., it had to go to a mechanic so it would work. Now what?

I was asked by the Developer to represent our entire community of Sun Village at a special Tax Task Force being formed by the Governor. That seemed strange since we were not yet self- governing. But I did and was the only woman sitting around a table with some of the most brilliant minds in Northwestern Az. THAT was something. (no, NO MONEY!)

My private life started to get worse, if that is possible, when suddenly I received in the mail a letter which floored me. I was suggested (by someone I still do not know) to send in my resume of my life's work and careers to date to be added to the next volume of : TWO THOUSAND MOST NOTABLE AMERICAN WOMEN published by ABI. I filled out the form thinking I would not be included but out came the volume - with ME in it. For the next three years (a total of four), I was asked to update my resume and included.

THIS, my friends, HAS to be the icing on a lopsided cake! I had been going through personal hell, and suddenly am recognized for my life's work. This came in early 1994, as the Condos were the first to sell 75% of the units and ready to become self-sufficient. Voting came., and after spending my first years there on an unofficial board, I became the first Treasurer voted in.

There was my light in my dark tunnel. Soon after that, I was included in WHO'S WHO in the BUSINESS WORLD and in addition to the volume is a gorgeous plaque.

My personal problems did get worse! Yup! But this was the biggest honor I received and I THANK GOD that it happened. Being recognized by so many is a thrill. I just wish it could have taken away the pain that was about to come my way.

Keep reading, please. I have yet to talk about the Lake Condo, and then my nice 70TH birthday in 1995.

You are all so special to me and I feel it a privilege to share my tale with those who wish to read it.

Marian