Charleston

Our realtors dropped by this morning to take us through the paperwork required to put our Charleston house on the market. They shot pictures and reminded us to hide most of what shows that we live here. By noon the contract was signed and the for sale sign planted in the front yard. By mid-afternoon the listing was live on MLS.

Oddly enough, midway through getting the house listed, a minivan pulled into the driveway, a woman stepped out and approached the house. I walked out to say hello. She said, "You have a lovely house," and pointed to the for sale sign on the vacant lot next door and asked whether our house was for sale. I said yes and sent a realtor out to talk to her. Minutes later, the realtor and the woman and her husband toured the house. This was before the contract was even signed.

If I were superstitious, and I am, I would take this as a good omen. It is a lovely house. And a lovely yard, a splendid view, a particularly lovely new shower and sauna. The peach and cherry trees are flowering pink, and the 20-some azaleas are about to join them.