Yesterday while I was walking with my friend, I saw a sale sign in front of one house in our neighborhood area.

I was a bit surprised at the sale sign. Because this house was recently sold. The new owner have lived in this house only less than two years.

The good thing about American realty, you can see the price history in the realtors’ websites. According to their information, this house was sold at $128,147 on March 15th 2018.

We went to see this house on January 13th 2018. It was under foreclosure and the bank sold this property as it was. No negotiations allowed to fix the house before purchasing. Inside the house was a real mess. Obviously this house was not taken good care. We saw a tall grass growing even inside the house. We also saw some tears and holes on the walls. The entire house smelled badly.

The list price was $127,400. We made an offer of a lower price than the list price, because we would need to fix lots of things before moving in. Our relator informed us somebody offered higher price than ours. Now I can see the actual price. The current owner offered a price higher than the list price. From my own experience in Japan, a buyer rarely makes a higher price than the list price. 

***

Fast forward to current. In this less than two years, the new owner upgraded the house a lot. The upgraded items include to add a fence around the swimming pool, to re-paint inside and outside the house, to replace a shed to a new one, to add a new garage door and opener, and to add a new covered patio. They renewed the roof and all the windows as well.  

With all the upgrades, the current owner is asking $155,000. Honestly I think it is too much for the area. The house is old, build in 1996. I was willing to make an offer for the house, but our offer price should be much lower than the list price. The current owner has a dog inside the house, so we will need to start a professional cleaning for the entire house. I don’t like all the colors inside and outside the house, so we will need to repaint everything. The current owner loves dark red color. It reminds me of blood and makes me nauseous. I wonder how the current owner survive by surrounding by blood color 24/7 in the house.

My daughter felt some uncomfortable energy inside the house. She got goosebumps in the area. She begged me to stay away from this house. My husband and I know enough that my daughter’s intuition is always right. So, we decided not to make an offer for this house.

In 30 minutes later of our house tour, the realtor informed us that somebody already made an offer for this house.

I am little curious about the final price for this house. Also, I am curious if the new owner likes the blood color and keep it, or repaint into calm color.

This evening I went for a walk with my friend. We originally planned this walk on two weeks ago. I needed to cancel it because I sprained my right ankle in the morning of the day. I could have gone with her on the following Sunday from the injury day, but I didn’t take a challenge. Because, I knew she likes to walk for a long distance.

Since my right ankle completely healed, I thought I was ready to go with her today.

We walked 5 miles (8 km). It was a quite distance for me. I definitely cannot do it without having her. I appreciate her for guiding me this long distance walk.

We enjoyed getting to know each other while walking.

She mentioned about her boyfriend. They have been in the romantic relationship for years, but they never lived together nor talked about a marriage. He lives in a different state. They see each other once or twice a year.

It is understandable. She is slightly older than I. She wants to cherish her current boyfriend, rather than rushing into the further step.

I thought of myself. Now I am happily married and I cannot even think about having a romantic relationship with somebody new. One is enough for me, and I want to cherish what I have.

As we age, we start appreciating for the human relationship we have built since our younger years. Sometimes keeping the current situation is the best solution, instead of rushing into a new one.

In the morning, my family and I went back to the car dealer to pick up my car. They replaced the engine oil light and upgraded its computer system. I was happy to know they also exchanged the engine oil and the engine filter.

***

In the afternoon, we went to two DIY stores. I’ve been thinking about upgrading our shoe rack. Our shoe rack is a three layered one made by stainless steel. I wanted to add two or three more layers with wooden lumber and bricks.

At the two stores, the store workers told us about their cull lumber. Most DIY stores sell some reasonable priced lumber. It is called cull lumber which is damaged or is a piece leftover from trimming. It was great information, but unfortunately I could not find the right ones in their cull lumber shelf.

***

On the way back home, a vision came into my mind. The vision was the local shed store. I thought I should swing by at the store and ask the owner if he has some lumber that he sells in a reasonable price or offers for free or charge.  

***

My intuition was right.

At the shed store, we were welcomed by a nice female receptionist. When I mentioned what I needed, her face lit up. They actually had a “free wood” section that the store owner offers to everybody. The receptionist happily showed us to the free section. There, I found the exact sized lumber that I imagined in my mind.

***

I am pretty sure it was my family spirits to have guided me to swing by at the shed store. I always appreciate them to support me and guide me.

My shoe rack was upgraded perfectly. It turned out just as I had a vision in my mind.

I had an appointment with my car dealer this morning. The manufacture of my car announced a recall service regarding the engine oil light. They told me it would take all day for them to diagnosis and perform the necessary services. They prepared a loaner car for me. I will have to leave my car at the dealer for one night and come back with their loaner car. Then I will need to come back to the dealer to pick up my car tomorrow.

I was planning to go there alone. However, I felt nervous about the fact that I will have to drive 3 hours in a round trip all by myself and that the car dealer is located in a big city. I don’t feel comfortable to drive a loaner car, which is new to me.

My husband sensed my nervousness. He offered to go there with me. I happily accepted his offer. It was very kind of him. He took a day off from work and we went together.  

***

At the car dealer, we left our car and got their loaner car for our return trip.

When my husband and I were guided to the loaner car, we looked at each other’s face, with a wry smile. It is the color that we will never choose to own. It was a vivid orange car.

It was a nice drive with my husband. I enjoyed our drive date.

My daughter woke up all excited. Today was Halloween Day. She had been counting down since last month.

She wore the Halloween dress I made for her. She put on a make-up on her face. She brushed her hair and nicely tied her hair, which is not her daily routine. She looked pretty. Her school allows the students to wear a costume and put on a make-up only Halloween day.

All the students and teachers participated in a parade in the playground. Everybody enjoyed showing off their costumes to others and watching others’ unique costumes. They ended their day with a small party in the classroom. They enjoyed playing games along with some sweets and juice.

***

In the evening I tagged along with my neighbor friend for trick-or-treat.

I felt safe in walking with a pack. We were a pack of seven people. There were three of us; my family, and my friend and her sons. We also had one more neighbor boy who is a friend of her sons’.

It was the second year for my friend and her sons to do trick-or-treat in our neighborhood, so that they knew which house was safe to visit.

It was the very first trick-or-treat for my daughter and me in our lives.

We all had a good time together. We already promised that we will tag along on Halloween Day in next year.

It is 10th day since I sprained my ankle. Even though I could walk around from the second day, my right ankle had stayed being swollen. It had a slight pain every night.

Finally last night I noticed my ankle was free from swollen parts and pain. So it took me 10 days to completely heal my sprained ankle.

I am thankful that my body healed by itself much quicker than normal. I am also thankful that I didn’t need to take any over-the-counter pain killer medicine. I took only homeopathy remedies and Kusuri-e to support my body to heal naturally.

***

When my daughter came back from school, she was upset at what happened to her at cafeteria.

Her school cafeteria offers three or four different lunch options for students to pick. Students make an order in the morning and receive a ticket for the order. 

Today’s lunch menu was one of her favorites; a walking taco. My daughter ordered it and gave the ticket to the lunch lady. However, the lunch lady refused to give my daughter her ordered food as usual. Instead, she gave her a tuna sandwich. The lunch lady said she cannot give her a taco because it contains cheese (contains milk in its ingredients.)

It was weird. At every first day of the school year, I submitted the note to school cafeteria. She cannot drink cow milk and cannot eat peanuts, but she can eat cheese products and ice cream. As a matter of fact, the cafeteria has served cheese related foods for these past five years. She has eaten a walking taco many times previously.

Her teacher witnessed everything because she was beside with my daughter when the incident happened. However, the teacher didn’t do anything to stand up for my daughter. Later on, the teacher told my daughter that she does not want to get fired. She repeated she needs the job to pay for her bills. It sounded to my daughter that her teacher was trying to justify herself by saying that kind of excuses. It’s sad to hear that her teacher cannot stand up for her students.

I received a phone call from the school nurse. The lunch lady justified herself by saying she just followed the guideline book. Now, the school nurse tried to convince me that the lunch lady didn’t do anything wrong.

***

I honestly didn’t want to disturb the school principal, but I needed to get his attention. It seemed to me he is the only one who can solve this issue.

 I went to see him in person at school. I am glad the principal understood me clearly. He promised me he would solve the issue.

***

I personally don’t like going to see the school principal for any kinds of complaints. But all in all, it was good for me to practice speaking up. I guess this is how parents are disciplined on speaking up in order to protect their children.

In the evening I had three unexpected visitors in my house.

It was one of my friends; the mom and her children. Our daughters used to go to the same school and they were classmates. That was how I met her and became friends with her. Her family and my family became friends.

The main purpose of her sudden visit was to deliver an invitation card to us for her Halloween party. I thanked her and told her we would go to her party on Halloween day.

***

After she left, I noticed I was surrounded by unpleasant energy field. I analyzed of my feeling. I noticed two reasons.  

First reason was their sudden visit. I don’t like any sudden visitors at my house in any time frame. No exceptions. They stayed for a while even after I mentioned that I was busy preparing for dinner.

Second reason was their invitation to the party. We attended to the party three times in the previous years. This party is related to her religion. She and other guests believe the same religion. All of them strongly try to change our religion into theirs. They ask us the same question over and over again; why on earth we don’t believe their God. Every time they handed a candy, it came with their religious pamphlets. Their children read the passage out loud to us. They took pictures of us and posted them in their SNS accounts. It seemed like we were the same religious believer as them.

After I analyzed the reasons, I clearly noticed what I should do.

I talked to my family about my honest feeling. They agreed with me on not going to the party. I got relieved. I could cleanse my uncomfortable energy field.

***

I thought I should share my experience with you. Some of you might have hard time to say No to others, just like me. But we have to be honest with our inner self in order to maintain our inner peace.

Some of you might wonder why I didn’t communicate with my friend about my honest feeling just like I did to my family. I have my good reason for not doing so, and it comes from my personal experiences. 

I communicate very well with my husband and daughter. Even though we sometimes have different opinions, I feel comfortable to discuss and communicate with them. There is unshakable trust and unconditional love with them, which we have built years together. 

On the other hand, I do not necessarily communicate well with others. Even with my long term friends, I don’t. Because, I don’t need to change their belief. That is their business, not mine. That is how I respect their boundary and their free will.

I had an interesting dream. I was with my parents at their house in Japan.

Both of them were happy and cheerful. They talked like small children who are always full of energy and laugher. They both told me they have been working on decluttering their house as their end of life project.

My dad said to me “Look what I did” with his sparkling eyes just like an excited little child. He took my hand to the bathroom. He said “Ta-da!!” He opened his both arms wide in front of the bathroom. There was no toilet, but only a hole. We looked at each other’s face and laughed out loud.

My mom said to me “Look what I found” with her sparkling eyes just like my dad. She took my hand to the living room, where all the furniture were completely gone. There was a pile of pictures. They were my mom’s pictures of her younger days. In each picture, she posed like a popular celebrity. She was smiling happily in every picture. She proudly told me she was ready to get rid of them.

They both told me that they are doing very fine and that they are enjoying their life together.

I am glad to know that.