October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month - My Special Tribute to a Special Lady
There comes a time in our lives when we meet that "Special someone". By that "Special Someone" I'm not talking about your significant other, a famous person, or even one of your family members. I'm talking about someone, who you came in contact either during your professional career or personal life, a person that touched you the most. Well, to me that very "Special Lady" that influenced and inspired me is Dorothy Lasater.
When I was hired as a bookkeeper in 1995 to manage the accounts of a German investor who owned 197 units in Fort Worth, Texas I was introduced to Dorothy Lasater, a leasing manager who leased and handled the daily operating business for all properties. We talked on the phone every day, sometimes twice or three times during the day. Dorothy informed me about the leasing aspect and maintenance issues on a daily basis including how to keep our properties at a high level of an occupancy rate and what is needed to keep our properties in tip top shape. Of course all this could not have been accomplished without the financial support of my client and his consultants.
I started too really like her.... no I really loved her! Not only did we talk about business, but we talked about everything - my family - her family. I always could count on her when I seek her advice; she was just like a mother, a friend, a sister.
Over the years, I had flown to Fort Worth and visited Dorothy, inspected the properties. She always wanted to see where I lived, so one day she decided to come to Lakeland, Florida. I picked her up at the airport, took a drive down to Venice and Sarasota. After a wonderful lunch, I took her out to the pier in Venice where she saw Dolphins playing near the pier - she was so tickled that she could see these fantastic creatures wildly jumping in and out of the water. On the way back to Lakeland, we took a detour over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge driving on and showing her this enormous structure connecting the bay. I even tried to hook her up with a widower here in Lakeland but that did not work out. It was one of my most memorable times spent with Dorothy; she even considered retiring to Florida. A Texas woman retiring to Florida.... nah, not in a million years!
In 2003 she called and told me that she was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was very concerned and asked that if she would want to stop working, she could and I would understand it completely. She replied with an explicit "No"; during the course of her treatment with chemo and radiation, she never once was out for more than two days in a row. She was always there, always dependable, always could count on her even when she did not feel well. She fought through it and with the support of her family she was in remission soon thereafter.
In the spring of 2005, I received a phone call from our part time employee saying that Dorothy was hospitalized with pneumonia. After a week or two being hospitalized, I found out that the cancer returned and spread into her lungs. She was always very optimistic saying she won the fight before, she will win again. She moved to her daughter's ranch started her treatment and decided to retire in June at age 67. I remember flying out there and celebrating her retirement with a nice lunch. Never in a million years, did I think this was the last time I would see her alive. We talked on a weekly basis, always upbeat and happy; one time she was telling me she is looking for a part-time job, asking me if I would give her a good reference - a very relentless Lady. I laughed and told her that she really needs to enjoy her retirement and enjoy life.
The week before her birthday, my leasing manager told me that Dorothy fell gravely ill and Hospice was helping her to be comfortable. I talked with her and all she wanted to know if we had sold all the properties. I told her that I loved her and to take care. On October 16, 2008 on her 68th birthday, Dorothy Fay Lasater lost her battle with cancer and passed on to be with the good Lord.
My sister-in law Sally is currently fighting bladder cancer. To honor Dorothy, fellow Active Rainer Karen George who lost her battle with breast cancer, my sister-in law and thousands of others fighting cancer, please join me, Midori Miller and Mike Mueller and go to The Breast Cancer site to help meet their quota of donating at least one "Free Mammogram" a day to an underprivileged woman. It will only take less than a minute of your time and best of all, it's free!
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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month - My Special Tribute to a Special Lady
Petra Norris - Realtor®
CDV TransAtlantic, Inc.
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker
PO Box 92050 - Lakeland, FL 33804-2050
Telephone (863) 619-6918
Managing Broker - CDV TransAtlantic, Inc.
(863) 619-6918
