A Sax Send Off

This is my last post on the Saint Paul Real Estate Blog for 2010 and, as it turns out, for the foreseeable future. I won’t get all waxy nostalgia on you about my last two years here, because you probably know little to nothing about me. But I will say that I’ve been honored to be part of this part of the Saint Paul landscape, contributing more than 100 posts to what I believe is one of the best blogs in the Twin Cities, nay Minnesota, nay the country!

I’ll keep checking back on the SPREB and may ask to post a guest blog if the situation fits. From here, I will go into 2011 with a very real goal of finishing a book idea I’ve been stewing on for a few years. I think I have a winning idea, and I need to see it through.

I may also revive my personal blog next year or I may just stick with Twitter for a time. I’m coming up on two years of microblogging, and I find it even more enjoyable and relevant today. So if you haven’t created a Twitter account yet, give it a shot and find me at @gsax and Teresa at @tboard. Through us, you can find an immediate plug into the vitality of what is happening around us in Saint Paul and real estate.

Before I make my final sign off, I wanted to share something deep and personal, because farewells are better from the heart.

I attended my mother’s father’s funeral yesterday. He was an old boozehound and lady killer from an era gone by. He was unapologetic of his nature, and the turnout for his service reflected the aftermath of such things. But my dear, troubled, deceased mother – also unapologetic of her ways – loved him, so I paid my last respects.

What in the hell does this have to do with this blog’s banner? Perhaps this is a stretch, but my prickly and imperfect grandfather was a Minnesotan through and through, and he spent his final days at a fine piece of real estate, the Minneapolis Veterans Home, overlooking the Mississippi River. He received a proud and moving military goodbye at a great plot in our local landscape, Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

He is quite literally representative of the people who serve on our police force, drive our cabs, own our pubs, buy our homes, patronize our businesses, feed squirrels in our parks. He is our neighbor across the street we’ve never spoken to during the 15 years we’ve lived here. He is the guy in the wheelchair that requires extra time to load onto the city bus. He is the annoying guy flirting with the cashier at the liquor store. He is the charmer with a quick joke and a wink at the blackjack table. He is the face your baby is fascinated with at the supermarket. He is us.

And he is the reason for me. And I am here to amuse and entertain you.

I’m glad I went to that service – for my mother, my uncle, my great aunt, and for the perspective of what it takes to make up a full-on, vibrant, urban, interesting, expressive, diverse community, warts and all.

Be cool to each other out there, Saint Paul.

I’ll see you at the Winter Carnival.