Jen Alves, Rhode Island

Who knew that God was all around us. Well you can experience it just by listening to Jen.

You see, Jen Alves is not your average above-average beauty. She is not you run-of-the-mill runner. She is not your typical topical speaker. In fact she is not a public speaker at all–but she certainly speaks the most powerful words the public should hear.
Jen is indeed an ordinary person with an extraordinary gift. A gift that is a gift for all those who will listen. She is not a psychic or a medium.
She is I messenger of messages from above. Ever since she was 13, Jen has received messages from what she soon realized can only be from God. She is nothing less than a Godsend.

Her campaign of hope is being launched called “Gods Love Tour”, and a book of empowerment for women called “The Ten Commandments for Loving Yourself”.  Though she really isn’t the author– she couldn’t write the words that come to her if her life depended on it–yet her words from God are words of hope that all of our lives can depend on.

You can follow her messages at www.GodsLoveTour.com and www.JenAlves.com. I am sure she will have a big following.

Good things come to good people who matter.
Even bad people can wipe their slate clean toward good.

The important lesson here is to love yourself, and you will forever be able to love others. Jen is all about promoting self love for the love of all—without being selfish. For that is who she is to the core.

Mim and Dave-Boxford, MA and Northwood, NH

Mim and Dave came to me first as buyers and soon became friends and neighbors. They had searched for years for the perfect waterfront home.   After five 2-3 hour showings highlighted by frolicking loons at the dock, sun setting skies and a neighbor passing by in her kayak (all of which cost me lots to arrange), and subtle threats of charging for future showings, Mim and Dave purchased this spectacular gem just down the street from me–my very first listing. And the very first great neighbors for me to bring into the neighborhood.

Even though Mim and Dave are retired, they haven’t stopped.  Always looking for every bit of burnable wood for their fireplaces, you see them cutting chopping and stacking wood from the smallest twigs to the perfect split logs.

You won’t find scrap paper–or plastic -or metal or cardboard or glass anywhere because Mim is sure to recycle every bit she can find. Every time I go to their house I am offered food. I call it ” The One Time Diner”–since she can create any “One Time” original meal with whatever she can find in the frig–and she won’t let you leave without leftovers.

Mim was known at “The Knit Lady” to my daughter -teaching her a passion for knitting–I don’t believe there is a factory anywhere in the world that can knit a sweater as fast as she can.

Both are quick to offer a helping hand.  When I was getting my completely unfinished home ready for summer rentals, they came to help with drywall, painting, cleaning.  They moved an entire lumber pile when I went away for a weekend. Dave somehow found much needed space in my shed for storing unbelievable amounts of junk. It was like the “extreme makeover” at my house with them and other neighbors they recruited. 

Many real estate agents do their job, help a buyer buy, or help a seller sell. When it is done, it’s done, with occasional cards sent every year out of courtesy. For me, Mim and Dave are far more important than simply a name on an address label on a Holiday card. They are far more important than even a neighbor. They are true friends.

Jason McElway, Autistic Basketball Hero

Here is a story that proves a condition that to some is considered a handicap can in reality prove to be a hidden talent overlooked. Jason inspires us all.

Reggie Toussaint, Portsmouth

Reggie was an elderly neighbor who I didn’t get to know until the last moments of his incredible life. He was a World War II veteran in the Navy, worked at the Portsmouth Naval Yard–but really worked the cribbage tables in tournaments.

He was the glue in his family, a man who was deeply in love with his wife of a million years. He put himself second to whomever was around.  He never made millions but was far richer in life–even with his ailing body, he still would bring new life to his flowers and vegetables, meticulously care for his yard, keep his garage and home organized and clean, and never stopped.  He loved his lake house in Maine. I remember seeing a photo of him diving into his lake perfeclty horizontal with a dog.

 He had been the only neighbor who appreciated my efforts to improve an eyesore of a duplex which he looked out on for half a century. He meticulously cut my yard. He tended the over abundance of blackberries that bordered our property.  He was always ready to help.

I visited him several times in the hospital, yet while his body was weakening, his handshake was always strong. I will never forget his last words to me. After me dealing with months of struggles no person  should ever endure with abusive tenants, unpleasant neighbors, and bad contractor issues, he simply said to me  ”there is no reason for people to be mean.”

IT is by no accident that his last name has “saint” in it. I saw him just hours before he passed at the age of 83 on July 24, 2009 to join his beloved wife in heaven, leaving behind a legacy and integrity hard to find.

 We all will miss him.

Anita and John-Newmarket

Anita and John met on the internet. I met them in my building in Boston. She is a native Brit with a Tracy Ullman sense of humor, and a brilliant New York Producer with an amazing talent as a decorator and gourmet chef. He is a New Hampshire native with an unsurpassed work ethic, a brilliant engineer and business man who went from transforming junk to money, to making businesses run more efficient, and a rigging business that can move a 10 ton container to a factory or move an entire factory to another country. Both have an interest in the sea with a dream to navigate the planet by sailboat. To be asked to be a Best Man at their wedding was one of the highest honors I have ever received in my life. Individually and together, they were the bright spot for me in my darkest of days. You ask a lot of people to listen to your woes and to continue to listen. It can get old quickly I know. To then get additional help from them is something that goes beyond most friendships and any expectations. Without them I am not sure how I would have gotten through all that I have. They are people who truly matter like no other.

Senator Jack Barnes-New Hampshire

In this day and age, who in their right mind work for 92 bucks a year. Amazingly I have had a bad plumbers who could ring up a bill for $92 in under 90 minutes who couldn’t weld a pipe together with his eyes open. But you see Jack Barnes is in his right mind—because he is in the mindset to really help his constituents in New Hampshire.

I had an issue with my treatment with bogus tenants from Hell who used the legal system to get away with not paying rent. So I appealed to every senator in the State in an email.

The next day, I got a call from Senator Barnes–the next day after that we met with a state attorney to write a change in legislation which I was then able to present to the senate directly. All from an email. One email lead to one Senator to make one phone call to make one big difference in a problem that not only helped one resident in his district, but thousands in the state.

And Senator Jack Barnes happily did it all for 25¢ a day—it cost more for me to park in an hour that I met him.

Of course if you are a Yankees Fan—well he may not respond quite as quickly. Most likely he will be wearing a Red Sox Tie or button. I was very diplomatic in my answer since I lived ib Both New York City and Boston. He will most likely ask you what you think of the “evil empire” I saw his ask a room full of elementary kids if any liked the “evil empire” a few raised their hands—though they thought he was referring to the one on “Star Wars”

Senator Barnes owned five McDonald’s restaurants before retiring—though he never really retired has he—he is now in the big bucks at $92 a year .

He is passionate about eliminating hunger in this country, He stated “I don’t think we should have people going hungry in this country, “This is not a Third World country.” He doesn’t plan on running for President anytime soon stating “If I had the money to campaign, I’d give it to the food kitchen,” You can read all about Senanor Barnes at http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/senate/members/senate17.asp

Even his profile photo sports a Red Sox tie.

Senator Jack Barnes

Ben and Cathy, Portsmouth

When it comes to tenants, I have experienced Hell in my face. The stories can be horrendous, places trashed, circumstances insane–with a common phrase by all those I have met who have had tenants–”I’ll never do it again.”  

For me, I became a reluctant landlord.  Two abusive tenants who felt rent was optional, threats to me in front of my daughter ok, and playing the legal system which supports their intent of destruction a game.

Then came Ben and Cathy.

And like everyone I meet who are “people who matter”, they are a couple who love each other, support each other, adore each other, depend on each other, cater to each other, have fun with each other, and in this case, nurse each other when each has had one of their injuries from an extreme sports passion.  Skiing, surfing, biking, all the things I can do for maybe 10 feet before I feel the pain.   It is by no accident that one is a physical therapist and the other feels no pain.

When couples respect each other, they respect themselves, and can be respectful of others.  They would vist the ailing neighbor Reggie and bring him food. You couldn’t have better tenants than that. For me a small ray of hope in humanity in the troubled world of tenants.

That is Ben and Cathy