No lease or landlord

Removed from NYC and Wash DC by several hundred miles, most of us in Tennessee suffered collectively with the nation if not in first person by the events of 9-11-2001. But effects were felt by extension in all quarters.

On Friday, September 7 we felt about “10 foot tall”. Travis Tritt penned the country classic that has added a new phrase to the mainstream of jargon. We had concluded several weeks of negotiating and creating our dream office building. It was small and unassuming on the outside and safe harbor on the inside. Visitors could spread out in the waiting room to pass time in quiet reflection. A large salt water aquarium was to be professionally maintained. A glass wall opened up on a giant terrarium with water feature, bird sanctuary, and miniature meadow. Privacy was to be maintained by an 8 foot stone wall. I was to have a garden on the other side. Perhaps a Japanese garden with Bonsai and reflecting pool. I think now that it was to be my own personal haven.

With the dream of building equity while providing staff amenities we took home a large folder of plans and the all important contract. We sat on it all weekend while imagining the furniture, lighting, flora and fauna that would make up our retreat. Something delayed our signatures. Perhaps it was because we were still building our castle in the air and had not completed the due diligence with attorneys and financial planners. Somehow we just knew it would all work out in the end. While the television in the day room was bringing the horrors of that fateful Tuesday it seems all the air came out of our project. Perhaps I panicked but the roller coaster of the previous week took a nose dive. I made the call to the young project manager and explained that “the time doesn’t seem right for a venture like this”. This drawing is all that is left. Maybe it was never supposed to be a reality but the fall from ten foot tall was hard. (and did I read the signs right?)-James