To those of you that have put up with me during my period of severe house sickness, I am happy to report that (as of 4pm last night) I have been cured by 1601 Gaston.

Jeff, myself, Marian & Richard (the lovely sellers), their daughter, Jeannie, our agents, Paul & Laurie, and mortgage broker, Cameron, came together yesterday to officially pass the torch from one family to another. I want to take a moment to thank Cameron, our unsung hero, who made this possible. I also want to thank our friend, Paul. His optimism and thoughtfulness has endeared him to us. I am convinced that his role in working with Laurie was a significant factor in the sellers choosing us.

The experience of closing was moving. As we signed paperwork, stories and tears abounded. Would you believe that Carl Sandburg came to the home one day w/ Marian’s father, John McCurdy, only to serenade a 10 year old Marian in her living room? Best of all, John, the Exec Secretary of TX Exes, actually founded UT Round-Up, was instrumental in building the University of Texas Union building and Gregory Gym. (We may be inheriting a floor board from the original floor installed in the Gregory Gym – my favorite building on campus!) Richard, whose attention to detail with respect to documentation is only matched by Marian's father John, brought along the original abstract, a family memoire, and the entire history of the house (complete with every tax bill, work receipt, the original application for power from the City of Austin, etc). One thing is for sure, this won’t be the last we will see of the Robertsons.

It was a moment I feel compelled to share with my dearest friends who have supported us through the journey. This is one of those "wonderful occasions" (as Richard has put it) that becomes a life memory.

Now the next chapter begins, as we prepare Gaston for the Subletts. (Please light your candles for the Bonham house now!)

Love,

Carla, Jeff, Quentin + Amelia