Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Thank you to all

I just want to take the time to thank everyone for helping me distribute 14 payments this last quarter to the Fredericton Food Bank, Fredericton SPCA, Oromocto Food Bank and The Oromocto SPCA. I couldn't have accomplished that on my last quarter without the help of my clients and the great support staff at Re/Max Group Four Realty.

I have received two great letters and a thank you card from the above charities thanking me - but it is you, my clients who made that happen.

I have made a few more "Pay It Forward" monetary contributions to individuals that would prefer their names not be added to the list - but what I wanted to share in regards to this, I have asked those individuals to "Pay It Forward" in the future when they are in the position to do so.

I just love the idea of "Paying It Forward". It doesn't have to be monetary. A great joke, a noval idea or as I have mentioned before - pay forward those books you have already read. Start a library at your office and share those books between other coworkers. There are lots of ways to Pay It Forward - giving a little of yourself to someone in need is just a great thing to do and the feelings a person can feel at helping others can be extremely satisfactory and give you that special glow.

Something that you can pay forward to other people on a daily basis is just a smile - it lights up your face and someone elses as well! Give it a try today.

Again, thank you to everyone that supported me in my Professional Career as a Sales Associate with Re/Max Group Four Realty and thank you for making it possible to help the above charities as well as the IWK (a contribution on every sale is made to the IWK) and we also sponsor the Re/Max Relay for life.

Have a wonderful week!
Kathy

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

A Fallen Soldier

As most of you know, my son-in-law is in the Military. I also have a number of family members and a number of very special clients serving our Country as well. When I read this email a family member sent to me, I had to share it with you. We should be thankful for the members dedication and the families of our military members understanding and all they give up for their family member to PROTECT US.

The story begins:

My lead flight attendant came to me and said, "We have an H.R. on this flight." (H.R. stands for human remains.) "Are they military?" I asked.

'Yes', she said.

'Is there an escort?' I asked.

'Yes, I already assigned him a seat'.

'Would you please tell him to come to the flight deck. You can board him early," I said..

A short while later, a young army sergeant entered the flight deck. He was the image of the perfectly dressed soldier. He introduced himself and I asked him about his soldier. The escorts of these fallen soldiers talk about them as if they are still alive and still with us.

'My soldier is on his way back to Virginia ,' he said. He proceeded to answer my questions, but offered no words.

I asked him if there was anything I could do for him and he said no. I told him that he had the toughest job in the military and that I appreciated the work that he does for the families of our fallen soldiers. The first officer and I got up out of our seats to shake his hand. He
left the flight deck to find his seat.

We completed our preflight checks, pushed back and performed an uneventful departure. About 30 minutes into our flight I received a call from the lead flight attendant in the cabin. 'I just found out the family of the soldier we are carrying, is on board', she said. She then proceeded to tell me that the father, mother, wife and 2-year old daughter were escorting their son,husband, and father home. The family was upset because they were unable to see the container that the soldier was in before we left. We were on our way to a major hub at which the family was going to wait four hours for the connecting flight home to Virginia.
The father of the soldier told the flight attendant that knowing his son was below him in the cargo compartment and being unable to see him was too much for him and the family to bear. He had asked the flight attendant if there was anything that could be done to allow them to see him upon our arrival. The family wanted to be outside by the cargo door to watch the soldier being taken off the airplane. I could hear the desperation in the flight attendants voice when she asked me if there was anything I could do. 'I'm on it', I said. I told her that I would get back to her.
Airborne communication with my company normally occurs in the form of e-mail like messages. I decided to bypass this system and contact my flight dispatcher directly on a
secondary radio. There is a radio operator in the operations control center who connects you to the telephone of the dispatcher. I was in direct contact with the dispatcher. I explained the situation I had on board with the family and what it was the family wanted. He said he understood and that he would get back to me.

Two hours went by and I had not heard from the dispatcher. We were going to get busy soon and I needed to know what to tell the family. I sent a text message asking for an update. I
saved the return message from the dispatcher and the following is the text:

'Captain, sorry it has taken so long to get back to you. There is policy on this now and I had to check on a few things. Upon your arrival a dedicated escort team will meet the aircraft.
The team will escort the family to the ramp and plane side. A van will be used to load the remains with a secondary van for the family. The family will be taken to their departure area and escorted into the terminal where the remains can be seen on the ramp. It is a private area for the family only. When the connecting aircraft arrives, the family will be escorted onto the ramp and plane side to watch the remains being loaded for the final leg home. Captain, most of us here in flight control are veterans. Please pass our condolences on to the family. Thanks.'
I sent a message back telling flight control thanks for a good job. I printed out the message and gave it to the lead flight attendant to pass on to the father. The lead flight attendant was very thankful and told me, 'You have no idea how much this will mean to them.'

Things started getting busy for the descent, approach and landing. After landing, we cleared the runway and taxied to the ramp area. The ramp is huge with 15 gates on either side of the alleyway. It is always a busy area with aircraft maneuvering every which way to enter and exit. When we entered the ramp and checked in with the ramp controller, we were told
that all traffic was being held for us.

'There is a team in place to meet the aircraft', we were told. It looked like it was all coming together, then I realized that once we turned the seat belt sign off, everyone would stand up at once and delay the family from getting off the airplane. As we approached our gate, I asked the copilot to tell the ramp controller we were going to stop short of the gate to
make an announcement to the passengers. He did that and the ramp controller said, 'Take your time.'

I stopped the aircraft and set the parking brake. I pushed the public address button and said, 'Ladies and gentleman, this is your Captain speaking I have stopped short of our gate to make a special announcement. We have a passenger on board who deserves our honor and respect. His Name is Private XXXXXX, a soldier who recently lost his life. Private XXXXXX is under your feet in the cargo hold. Escorting him today is Army Sergeant XXXXXXX. Also, on board are his father, mother, wife, and daughter. Your entire flight crew is asking for all passengers to remain in their seats to allow the family to exit the aircraft first. Thank you.'

We continued the turn to the gate, came to a stop and started our shutdown procedures. A couple of minutes later I opened the cockpit door. I found the two forward flight attendants crying, something you just do not see. I was told that after we came to a stop, every passenger on the aircraft stayed in their seats, waiting for the family to exit the aircraft.

When the family got up and gathered their things, a passenger slowly started to clap his hands. Moments later more passengers joined in and soon the entire aircraft was
clapping. Words of 'God Bless You', I'm sorry, thank you, be proud, and other kind words were uttered to the family as they made their way down the aisle and out of the airplane.

They were escorted down to the ramp to finally be with their loved one.

Many of the passengers disembarking thanked me for the announcement I had made. They were just words, I told them, I could say them over and over again, but nothing I say will bring back that brave soldier.

I respectfully ask that all of you reflect on this event and the sacrifices that millions of our men and women have made to ensure our freedom and safety in Canada.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

yeahhhh Teachers!!

I had to share this one - my husband is a Vice Principal (God love him) and I thought it would certainly bring a smile to a few faces.


According to a news report, a certain private school in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs was recently faced with an unusual problem.

A number of the girls were beginning to use lipstick and would put it on in the of bathroom. That was fine, but after they put on their lipstick they would press their lips to the mirror leaving dozens of little lip prints.


Every night the maintenance man would remove them and the next day the girls would put them back. Finally the Headmistress decided that something had to be done. She called all the girls to the bathroom and met them there with the maintenance man. She explained that all these lip prints were causing a major problem for the custodian who had to clean the mirrors every night (you can just imagine the yawns from the little princesses).


To demonstrate how difficult it had been to clean the mirrors, she asked the maintenance man to show the girls how much effort was required.


He took out a long-handled squeegee, dipped it in the toilet bowl, and cleaned the mirror with it. The silence was broken by a large number of gasps, a few girls vomited and apparently someone fainted. Since then there have been no lip prints on the mirror.


There are teachers . . . And then there are educators.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

An unusual year

I am sharing this because I thought it was not only unique BUT if it works - what a great thing to pay forward - cash.

This year we're going to experience four unusual dates: 1/1/11, 1/11/11,11/1/11, 11/11/11 and that's not all...
Take the last two digits of the year in which you were born.
Now add the age you will be this year, and the result will be 111 for everyone!
This is the year of Money!!!
This year October will have 5 Sundays, 5 Mondays and 5 Saturdays.
This happens only every 823 years.
These particular years are known as 'Moneybags.'
The proverb goes that if you send this to eight good friends,money will appear in the next four days as is explained in Chinese feng-shui. Those who don't continue the chain won't receive, its a mystery, but its worth a try, good luck!





Monday, February 28, 2011

Just so true

Marriage or Relationship
With a Significant Other ...


If you want someone who will eat whatever you put in front of him and never say it's not quite as good as his mother's

then adopt a dog.


If you want someone always willing to go out, at any hour,
for as long and wherever you want ...

then adopt a dog.

If you want someone who will never touch the remote, doesn't care
about football, and can sit next to you as you watch romantic movies

...then adopt a dog.

If you want someone who is content to get on your bed just to
warm your feet and whom you can push off if he snores

...then adopt a dog !

If you want someone who never criticizes what you do, doesn't care if you are pretty or ugly, fat or thin, young or old, who acts as if every word you say is especially worthy of listening to, and loves
you unconditionally, perpetually ..

...then adopt a dog.

BUT, on the other hand, if you want someone who will never come when you call, ignores you totally when you come home, leaves hair
all over the place, walks all over you, runs around all night and only comes home to eat and sleep, and acts as if your entire existence is solely to ensure his happiness ....


...then adopt a cat!

You thought I was gonna say... marry a man, didn't you?


Send this to all the women you know to brighten their day.
Send this to all the men just to annoy them!


You...

.....have a GREAT Day!!!

Monday, January 3, 2011

A reason, season or Lifetime

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime..

When you know which one it is, you will

know what to do for that

person..


When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a
need you have expressed.


They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you
with guidance and support,

To aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.


They may seem like a God send and they are.

They are there for the reason you need them to be..


Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time,

this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an

end.


Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.

Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.


What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire

fulfilled, their work is done.


The prayer you sent up has been
answered and now it is time to move
on..


Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has

come to share, grow or learn.


They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.

They may teach you something you have never done.

They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.


Believe it, it is real.. But only for a season.


LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons,

things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional

foundation.


Your job is to accept the lesson,

love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other

relationships and areas of your life.


It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.


Thank you for being a part of my life,
whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime.