Our Mother’s Day this year started a day earlier than planned. Michael and I, still unable to sleep-in after all these years of early rising, were up, chores done and out the door with the dogs by 6:45 AM on Saturday.

After a long hike around downtown San Diego, we ended up in the East Village neighborhood at the wonderful Mission Restaurant. We leashed the dogs to the rail and sat outside to enjoy a glorious morning in the San Diego sunshine.

Our coffees and waters arrived quickly, and at the railing so did an elderly homeless woman panhandling. My incredible husband, whose capacity for love is boundless, saw something in this woman’s eyes (more on this later) and engaged her in chat. She asked for money. We had nothing but plastic. Michael asked if she were thirsty. She was and gratefully downed both our full glasses of ice water.

Michael asked her name. She replied, “Sherri.” She thanked us for the water and told us how tough it is to find drinking water downtown. I asked her if she were hungry. Reluctantly, she nodded and said, “Yep.” I got up and went inside to order her breakfast and lunch to-go. Michael kept talking with her.

I bought Sherri enough food for the day and a tall orange juice on ice. She was so thankful. We chatted with her a few more minutes. She bid us a good day and walked on.

Michael began to recount Sherri’s story to me. She had seven children, to her knowledge all living in San Diego. Our own blended family of seven adult kids drew a quick parallel. She had no plans for Mother’s Day. Michael directed her to a number of shelters within a few blocks. Sherri smilled, and muttered “I stay away from those places if I can. Too much religion, too much praying. I can’t think about God, when what I need is a meal.”

Sherri wasn’t the routine homeless person. She wasn’t overtly mentally ill. She wasn’t aggressively  panhandling or cursing up a storm. She was somebody’s mom. A forgotten mom.

Michael began to cry softly. I immediately knew why. He was thinking about his own mother Jennie Molina. A mom of the first order, Jennie had Michael when she was 45 years old. He was the last of nine kids. His dad died suddenly when he was just six months old. Jennie took care of her family of ten in rural West Virginia on a housekeeper’s salary. Everyone went to private school at the good graces of the Catholic church and parish families who anonymously donated to cover tuition. Those who wanted college educations got them. Michael got a full scholarship to WVU where he completed undergrad and his MBA in four years. Jennie’s children were motivated!

Today, Jennie Molina is 95 years old. She lives in the same home her children were born in. She’s outlived two of them. She’s the apple of our eyes and as I have written often, whenever I am faced with the seemingly insurmountable I say to myself. “WWJD” What would Jennie do? And then I do it.

PART2

Sunday morning dawned bright. Michael and I scurried to get ready, I got a call to assist with a counteroffer and headed over to the office at 8:45, hoping to be at a planned Mother’s Day 10:00 AM brunch at “Bub’s” in downtown San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, just a few blocks from our office.  At 10, the assembled clan of Abbott’s stormed the restaurant and took over a center table for 16 within full view of the video arcade which kept grandsons Dylan and Caden occupied.

My mom and dad arrived. Much joy and good cheer. Mom’s Diane, Lisa and Melissa were quickly relieved of the little ones and given a nice break. Aunts Jessica and Breanne, Uncles Dustin and Cameron took turns entertaining Maddie, Lyric and “D” and “Cay-cay” as the older boys are nicknamed. Michael and I were hosting and relishing our roles as “The Gaypa’s” as our grandchildren lovingly call us.

BIG SHOUT-OUT to BUB’S @ The Ballpark | 715 J Street CA San Diego 92101 | 619.546.0815.  Excellent food, awesome service and a festive ambiance to go with it. You wouldn’t think a sports bar would be the ideal place for Mother’s Day, but as it turned out, Bub’s is. I can’t say enough good about the folks there. Especially, Diane’s husband Chef Stephen Fohl, a man I am proud to call the co-father of our children Lisa, Dustin, Cameron and Breanne. A real gem of a human being. I wish his mom Nancy,her partner Charlotte and Diane’s mom Eileen had been in town to join us. That would have been the perfect Momma-palooza!

The older I get, the more I want to spend time with my family. I laughed and smiled for three hours feeling what my parents have so often spoken of: Pride. I am so fortunate to have the family I have and my appreciation and admiration for each of them grows and grows. I think I finally “get it” and I am glad for the epiphany. What a great day it was.

Yet, after the meal as our loved ones left, I couldn’t help but think about Sherri -our homeless mom from 24 hours earlier. I’d kept an eye out for her during our Mother’s Day celebration hoping she might happen by and we could include her in our little party. I wondered if perhaps one of her seven kids might have come downtown and reconnected with her. I prayed that Michael and I weren’t the only ones thinking about her on Mother’s Day. 

Due to Dan Larson’s recent blogpost, ARG’s business manager Dustin Abbott, decided to try a restaurant in Del Cerro that he drives by all the time, but had yet to try.  He has 3 words for you. Cinnamon. Roll.  Pancakes.  They’re courtesy of The Trails Neighborhood Eatery at 7389 Jackson Drive.

ARG agent and Nicole Hazelton Associates team member Rebecca Roman spent the weekend in Santa Barbara again to see her globetrotting brother who happened to be in town.  “We went on a hike called 7 falls in which we boldered and rock hopped up a creak bed.  There were plenty of tricky parts where we were challenged not to fall in.  I’m proud to say, we all made it up completely dry, until we jumped in the pools at the top!”

Alliance Direct’s Sam Assael was lucky enough to partake in the Kentucky Derby over the weekend.  He tells us “Churchill Downs is one of the most incredible experiences out there.  From the crowd to the people to the never ending Mint Juleps it is a MUST on anyone’s ‘bucket list’ as they call it.”

ARG agents Mike Althof & Maureen Hobs went to “the coolest new restaurant!” Brooklyn Girl is located at the corner of Goldfinch and Ft. Stockton in Mission Hills, and Mike and Maureen won’t quit teasing the office with talks of the ‘Stella Maris’ Pinot Noir the cheese plate appetizer, and the cheesecake desert they finished the night with. Maureen adds “we can’t wait to go back and try other entrées, but we suggest making reservations because by this weekend word will have spread and it will be packed! Trust me.”

Last week ARG agent Nicole Hazelton celebrated her birthday with a downtown staycation.  She and her husband spent the weekend at The Manchester Grand Hyatt, had drinks with friends at Top of the Hyatt, and ate at Gaslamp Strip Club Saturday night, then spent Sunday in the sun at the Padres game.

Recently, ARG agent Alex Esmael volunteered at Cabrillo Elementary School and joined forces with The Point Loma Rotary Club, some fellow parents, and school staff to clean and spruce up the school.  “I was invited by the president of the PL Rotary to their next meeting this Friday.  I love the Point Loma community.

Dan Larson (ARG’s unofficial leisure & lifestyle contributor)

“Beguiling BACARA”

Just 3 hours in the comfort of our car transported us to one of the most beautiful destinations this side of Hawaii – BACARA Resort, Santa Barbara.  BACARA provides the ideal setting and package of amenities to relax and recharge.  Our sample itinerary starts with a hike along a deserted beach (equally enjoyed by our companion, Sterling, the wonder dog)…dip into one of three heated, zero-edge pools…lunch at one the resort’s ocean view restaurants…power shopping on State Street…dinner in wine country.

The beauty of the Santa Barbara region is so restorative.  Combine this with a fabulously well designed resort and it’s hard to imagine anything less than a perfect getaway.  Details available at BACARARESORT.COM.  Photo of Nick and Sterling above resort pools with beach beyond.

Never did I ever see more joy in San Diego football than when Junior Seau took the field. Never. The hometown boy from Oceanside done good. Done great, actually. He gave professional football everything, and I mean everything.

I snapped this photo in front of his restaurant this past Saturday where a makeshift memorial of flowers, notes and the raw emotional sentiments of adoring fans are piled on the sidewalk of a mall within sight of Qualcomm Stadium.

What I loved about Junior Seau was more about who he was off the field. A player who seemed to balance well the stardom and wealth his talents brought him with the obligations he felt to stay grounded to his American-Samoan family and his community. I loved his constant connection to San Diego even after he was cast aside by the Chargers – a move that did more to lower the team’s standing around town than its dismal recent play.

Now the Chargers have a chance to do something smart, bold and in their own interests.

Amend their efforts to build a new football facility by naming it SEAU STADIUM. Sure, they’d forgo a lucrative naming rights spiff, but that could easily be recouped with smarter, less obvious options for rights within the stadium itself. It could be very politically wise as well. SEAU STADIUM has a nice ring to it, right? Think of the pride players would feel each time they took to a field named for a fallen comrade. Think of the positive statement SEAU STADIUM would send to players around the NFL by owners with whom they are frequently at odds.

It’s also the right thing to do; an honor to a local hero who really gave us his all.

Our Marketing Assistant Jessica Turner wrote an article for the Huffington Post last week. Agents Nicole Hazelton and Rebecca Roman helped Jessica celebrate at R Gang Eatery in Hillcrest on Friday. “I’m still trying to decide which was better, the home-made tater tots or having something published on Huffington Post.” Turner says

Our favorite guy in lending, Sam Assael, celebrated his birthday last week.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAM!!!  *screams the ARG office*

Transaction Coordinator extraordinaire Joanne Kerr went to see the Dalai Lama last Thursday. She spent Friday in a constant state of zen. “He has an empowering presence. I feel lucky to have been able to see him.”

This past Saturday ARG Broker Jim Abbott spent most of the day shooting his follow-up video to the Jan announcement that made such a big splash among the real estate community. “I want the conversation to continue, it’s an important one. It’s time to let everyone know what’s been happening since January 27th.”

Long time Jamul resident, and ARG agent Richard Croft spotted the first rattler of the season last weekend.  “4 feet may not sound like an intimidating size, but when you hear that distinct rattler sound, you jump. No matter the size.”

Luke Hanson spent the weekend in Scottsdale at the Culinary Festival.  The 34th annual event is actually spread out over 6 days and 20 different events like “The Tequilla Experience”, “Celebrity Chef Shows” and “The Friends of James Beard Benefit Dinner.” The organization has donated more than 3.5 Million dollars to artists, arts education, and art programs since 2002.

Dan Larson (ARG’s unofficial leisure & lifestyle contributor)

“Hello Del Cerro”

I’m the first to admit that Del Cerro is not the first name that comes to mind when thinking of a nice wine bar.  That was before I discovered KnB Wine Cellars.  Located next door to Windmill Farms on Del Cerro Blvd, KnB places a fully stocked upscale retail store at your table – literally. If taste leans toward beer, KnB offers dozens of outstanding choices on tap.

Wine is best enjoyed with food and KnB offers a nice selection of small plates well suited for sharing.  KnB smartly knows their guests also enjoy themselves when with “man’s best friend” and provides a dog friendly patio.  There were a number of very well behaved dogs on the patio this past Saturday evening.

Hospitality establishments live or die on the quality of their staff.  Our servers Rachel & B.C. were welcoming and engaging and were a big reason you’ll see this fellow in Del Cerro again.  Cheers!

ARG Agent Matt Conser went to a collaborative art show ‘Hostel Takeover’ which coincided with the San Diego Peace Building Conference. If you missed the event don’t fear. The Hostelling International San Diego regularly hosts a collaborative art and performance show and you can stay in loop by visiting their facebook page.

ARG agents Jessica Freeman and Monica Ball were busy getting their new listing at 8476 Midland St La Mesa CA 91942 ready for its debut last week. They will be holding it open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday this week from 12-4 so stop by and say hi!

ARG Agent Rebecca Roman, joined fellow ARG agent Rachel Taylor, along with her fiancé Christopher and the couple’s 3 day old son Pax to his very first baseball game on Monday.  “We walked over to Park at the Park and settled on the grass with him.  I’m pretty sure we had the youngest Padre fan with us!” Roman adds.

ARG’s managing broker Jim Abbott, and his husband Michael celebrated with the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus as they kicked off their 2012 season with the tantalizing, passionate Latin-infused sounds of Ole! Ole! Ole! Last Saturday evening.

17 years ago, I experienced this moment, when I and a naive team of community do-gooders under the guise of the Rancho Bernardo Community Library Association cut the ribbon on the city’s Rancho Bernardo branch library – historically one of the busiest in San Diego. We’d spent the previous eight years patching together grants, testamentary gifts, donations, and a lot of luck to make a dream come true. The moment we handed the branch to the city, and the residents of RB, was among the most satisfying of my life. As a thank-you, then-Mayor Susan Golding appointed me to the City of San Diego Board of Library Commissioners.

You’re familiar with the Board of Library Commissioners, right? No? Well, for me -a not-so-secret lover of libraries and someone who never finished college- I felt like Jack on WIlly Wonka’s factory floor. A rather tiny political plum, the unpaid commissioners advise the Mayor and city council on library operations. Its work often goes unnoticed and under the radar. I took my role very seriously.  My two-year tenure cemented my fervent belief in the need for public libraries, and heaven help to this day, the idiot who says these cultural-educational wonders have all but been replaced by the internet. (That argument is largely unheard nowadays because those who used to make it are buried under a mountain of useless Google search results courtesy of karma. Bully for them. Keep sifting!!)

When I arrived for my stint in 1994, the chair of the Library Commission was a guy by the name of Jim Dawe. It’s nearly twenty years later and the affable attorney is still arm-twisting funds for library construction. Given his level of commitment, it’s hard to say whether the new central library is Dawe’s raison d’etre or vice versa. Right man, right time, right place and right cause sum up his efforts. I also worked with co-commissioner Betty Sherman, a completely tireless advocate and a legend in the library community. And then there was always Robert Magness – often the fly in our ointment, but a fly who was nearly always right. If there is a civil bone in the municipal body, these three people are due permanent recognition in the new Central Library.

Movers behind San Francisco’s new main library near City Hall wrote a wonderful book called “A New Library in This City” documenting the herculean task. Arguably, San Franciscans had it easy compared to us. Lots of big corporate donors and a Library Commission with real teeth that successfully passed a carve-out measure with city voters protecting libraries. No more the sacrificial lamb each year at budget time. The SF library is a lion! Hopefully, Dawe will write the San Diego story. It’s an important piece of local history that should be memorialized and he is the central character.

San Diego, you may not know this but your library system is one of the leanest, best-run large library systems in the country. It routinely operates on half the per-capita funding of other systems. Yet each year come budget time, its head is placed on the proverbial chopping block. Branch hours are cut, positions go unfilled, book funds are raided and yet it soldiers on, marching to a higher calling. We should all be very proud of it. My second favorite day as a Library Commissioner was one where an unwitting assistant city manager brought a particularly draconian, morale-busting budget for our approval. I heard my veteran colleagues nod in grim approval of (another) tough City fiscal year. When my turn came, I made a suggestion that we take the smelly, politically-expedient carcass of a budget, write the words “Go to Hell!” on it and send back to the City Manager. While the expletive didn’t make the final motion, neither did the budget proposal and San Diegans got more books that year than they might have otherwise.

My first favorite day? – the one when the current site for a new central library came to us for recommendation. That was over 15 years ago! The wheels of government work very slowly and we saw library lovers get particularly vocal especially as construction of Petco Park and the first expansion of the Convention Center sapped city coffers and interest in the New Central.

I still sneak a visit to every big library I can get to. Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and New York come to mind as cities that “get it.” Their libraries have become tourist destinations – drivers in a way of their own niche economy and votes-of-confidence in their residents. You can feel the energy of limitless possibilities in these places.They say to a public yearning to learn, “We value you. Your education is important. Come here, and bask in the collected knowledge of the human experience.”

On Opening Day or soon thereafter, you too, should come downtown and experience this marvel. Be proud. Be glad and grateful that Mayor Jerry Sanders and San Diegans like Jim Dawe, Betty Sherman and Bob Magness hung in there for decades. Oh, and if you were one of the naysayers, the internet idolizers, the “not-my-tax-money” crowd, you come on downtown, too. You see, everyone’s welcome at the public library.

Special Congratulations and big ARG hugs to Rachel Taylor and her fiancé Christopher who welcomed their son, Paxton Kelly, to the world this past Saturday morning.  Have you ever seen a cuter newborn?  We can’t wait to see how cute he looks in orange and navy.

In other YourSDHome news, ARG agent Rebecca Roman has official left the beach to become a city girl in East Village.  “I’m excited to be able to walk to work and experience all of the endless amenities of downtown.  This will definitely give me an insider scoop for my downtown clients….and bonus: An east village parking spot on game days!”

As always you can catch up on the whole teams new at their BLOG.

After working through 7 offers in 36 hours on her newest downtown listing, ARG agent Jessica Freeman hiked the Bayside Trail at the Cabrillo National Monument site in Pt Loma on Saturday. “The views of Downtown, Coronado, and Mexico are spectacular from the point and the trail is one of the last remaining coastal sage scrub habitats in the world. It is a must visit if you have never gone!”

Alliance Direct duo Sam and Drew recently visited Estancia’s in La Jolla for happy hour. “If you get there before sunset, the ambiance is so romantic it might lead you to ‘get a room.’”

We <3 The Padres! ARG Agent  Alex Esmael was lucky enough to help a last minute roster addition who called ARG last Monday looking for a place to call home.  Alex had a lot of challenges for our ballplayer -finding somewhere they could move into in 2 days!- but he found the new Padres a lovely home at El Cortez.  Welcome to San Diego!

ARG Agent, Maureen Hobbs, took her granddaughter to see the exhibit for the Titanic at Balboa Park. “It was so interesting! I’ve never even seen the James Cameron movie but after seeing this I’m now really into anything about the Titanic.”  Cool Fact: This Sat they’re going to open it at midnight until 3am as part of the 100^th year celebration.

Dan Larson (ARG’s unofficial leisure & lifestyle contributor)

This past weekend saw the return to one of my favorite get-away destinations – Palm Springs.  Combining spring break, Easter Sunday and the ever popular “White Party” filled this resort town with an eclectic mix of fun loving visitors.

Based on the recommendation of a knowledgeable local resident, our dinner group visited Giuseppe’s Pizza & Pasta located in the Smoketree Village Shopping Center.  Giuseppe’s has a strong following and weekend reservations are needed.  The food was excellent and well priced.

As mentioned, this visit fell during a busy weekend and as luck would have it, the “Easter Bunny” worked overtime and bumped into us after a long day of what I have to assume were adult-themed party appearances.  Pictured here is my partner Nick and our dog Sterling with “Bunny” as the sun sets on this little desert oasis.

CBS veteran Anthony Mason brought Smith back to the very room she and Mapplethorpe occupied at the Hotel Chelsea in Manhattan. Her smiles and tears belied the importance of the place to her as the crucible of her creative process. It was beautiful to watch and I urge you to view it online if you missed the broadcast. Smith’s contributions to much of what my generation holds dear is legendary, yet she remains approachable, plainspoken and so obviously gifted.

So with the show over and at 8:35AM, Michael and I were out the door for a drive which took us back to my home – just 10 minutes from our current downtown digs and yet a place we seldom visit – not sure why. We drove up to the tony Del Cerro Highlands neighborhood where my family still owns a home built nearly 40 years ago by my maternal grandparents. Michael and I toy with the idea of restoring it to it mid-70′s glam, popcorn ceilings, kidney-shaped pool and all. The location is stunning with water views of pristine Lake Murray from it’s perch several hundred feet up the “cerro”  (Spanish for “hill”) after which the neighborhood is named. Patrick Henry High School (Class of ’75) sits at the bottom of the hill. Happy times, there, too. We go through this mental resotration exercise every few years and it’s now time to get serious. The property is too precious, too full of happy memories to sell. And besides,. the property tax basis is at pre-Prop 13 amount of $1400 annually. Yum!

My parents property purchases started at 4860 Glacier Ave in the modest, starter community of Allied Gardens. We stopped in front of that home, too. Still green, still charming and much smaller than I’d remembered. I pointed out the house across the street where I nearly drowned in the backyard pool (My story – which differs from my mom and dad’s) and the sidewalk intersection at Estrella Ave where I received the scar I still bear through an eyebrow when I popped my first (and last) skateboard wheelie.

We tooled up Orcutt Ave past my gradeschool alma mater Stephen C. Foster Elementary and as we crossed Waring road and the tired, maintenance-needy shopping center Michael gleefully suggested an early lunch at the Fosters Freeze. Gosh, I remember when the little burger stand opened its doors for the first time. It was such a treat for us to bike up for a 20-cent cone. What adventure! We were regulars until a new, larger home in San Carlos pulled us east and beyond easy access to our soft-serve Shangri-La. This past Sunday,  and determined not to miss an opportunity-  I ordered a basic Foster burger, Michael a chili-dog. Desserts were something new called “Twisters”, I think.

All delicious and yes, you really can go home again.

DAMN YOU, ALLISON SHOEMAKER!

a poem by J. Abbott

Today, with great sadness and great pride, we send out from our happy midst, one Allison Shoemaker.

She leaves our small family at ARG with the admiration of all, especially me.
You see, Allison is the ideal member of our team, of your team, too.

She is reliable, brilliant and efficient- all in ways she would rather not boast about.

She works, she contributes and she does so cheerfully – as if these things were their own reward.

Be careful, however, should she cross your path! For the bar is now raised very, very high.
Too high for you. Too high for me.

Damn you, Allison Shoemaker!

ARG’s newest  Realtor, Alex Esmael, clicked so well with visitors checking out the property flyers in our 4^th Avenue windows that he began  showing them  downtown condos to buy the next day.  He rounded out the day by accompanying his sons’ 2nd grade class from Cabrillo Elementary to the San Diego Symphony.   Not a bad Wednesday!

ARG Marketing Assistant Jessica Turner has gone Tapas crazy after visiting Romescos in Bonita, before going to see The Hunger Games last Saturday evening. When asked what her favorite dish was she said “I can’t! That would be like asking a mother to choose a favorite child.  Every bite was better than the last: Filet Mignon Carpaccio, Shoestring Fries topped with fresh calamari in a lemon basil sauce, Fresh mushroom Quesadillas… I could go on and on.  It was all so good.  And THIS is why the dishes are served in 2-3 bite increments.”  Did we mention that Jessica is a trained chef?

Dan Larson (ARG’s unofficial leisure & lifestyle contributor)

Aviation History Takes Flight in San Diego

Recently the “Dream Tour” made a stop in San Diego to celebrate the arrival of the Boeing 787. This new generation aircraft has been years in development and highly anticipated by airlines and aviation enthusiasts like myself.

This fascination with air travel started early, at a time when I was allowed to stand at the arrival gate watching aircraft while waiting for a family member to come off the jetway.  Some airports even allowed observation decks for a view of airport operations rivaled only by the view from the control tower.  1960′s air travel was more trusting and certainly more glamorous.

As good fortune would have it, my dream to experience jet travel was realized at the age of 9 when my family traveled to Hawaii.  Boeing had recently introduced an exciting new generation jet that was the buzz of the travel industry and yours truly was walking down his first jetway to board a Pam Am 747 complete with spiral staircase and upper deck piano lounge.

That memorable first flight cemented a fascination with air travel and many years later landed me with an exciting job with San Diego’s home grown airline, PSA.  Careers change, many airlines have come and gone, yet the excitement remains.  Starting in December, San Diego will launch the first non-stop service to Japan on (you guessed it), the 787 Dreamliner.

This photo was taken of the 787 as it prepared to leave San Diego for the next stop on it’s national tour.