The Gold Watch

Most of you know I began my Real Estate career by joining up with my best friend and greatest mentor, Del Rounds, 27 years ago.

At some point along the way, on a trip to Las Vegas, Del and I were in a ROLEX store when Del made the biggest purchase I’d ever seen him make, he splurged and bought himself a beautiful Rolex. I rarely ever saw Del not wearing that watch.

I think it was my 15^th year of working with Del I made a joke that went something along the lines of,  ‘when am I getting my gold watch?’

I made the comment again on my 20^th year, in jest of course, when Del surprised me by taking off his watch and giving it to me, saying he wanted me to have it and that I’d earned it!

I knew he was serious, I also knew I couldn’t and wouldn’t, accept his watch.

Del passed in 2021, quite unexpectedly, and I still feel his loss every day. Around April 15^th of every year, my anniversary in Real Estate, I think about the gold watch and tell the story.

It perfectly encapsulates who he was, how he treated those around him, and the legacy I strive to live up to everyday! I was lucky to have forged my Real Estate path beginning with Del, he was truly an icon in this business!