Part 4. Make crisis a turning point.

Thank my son's help.

We had Bill Templin as manager from 5/30/1999 to 5/29/2000.
Bill used to work in Suburban Propane division manager. He lost his job after got kidney cancer removal operation. I got to know him when he worked part time as repairmen of gas appliances, He was honest and decent man who needed help some sort of. I decided to offer him a free lodging plus $650 a month job taking care of the motel. Of the job, it was our understanding that his wife will work as receptionist with fee included in the contract.

Both of them were happy about this arrangement due to Bill's capacity being able to work 2 hours a day. Unfortunately, his cancer cell spread to other part of his body. He passed away before his term.

This increased my burden to run this motel by myself.
We had our house in the market about late 2000. California housing was in a stage of taking off. Thanks God, we soon got an offer. The price was good and we made about 80% profit. After tax deduction, we still would have about hundred thousands in our pocket.

I decided that it was time to live in the premises and run the motel our self.Here came the problem.

Mari was tired of this unending retreats and could not see the light in the future.
She wanted out and go back to Japan.

I did not want to force her to stay here to live a life without light. As a man, I had to responsibly point out what possible way of life in front of her.

She will have Japanese National pension at age 65. I never asked her how much. But I figured it would not be a whole sum much for a decent living. With the money she got from escrow, it would not be enough to foot the utilities bill.

She said "This kind of life was enough". I did not think that what ever I persuaded her she will accept it. I made final decision to sell the motel as well so that she would have money in hand to live a poor life at least.

I knew the big guy who being famous in town with money.When I spread the words he immediately came up with an offer.

The contract was signed with 3 months to close escrow. However, I was very much clear that the crisis can be turned into a turning point in our life. All we wanted to do was to try the hard ship for a couple of years. Then the luck will turn into our favor. Of course, there is not guarantee for what think.

She would not believe it. So the deal was in processing as usual.

In the night I called Marco and had father and son talk for more than one hour. I asked him to pursuit his Ma to work with me for at least 2 more years.

Marco spent two nights to analysis the situation and put everything on the table.
I did not know how he did do that.

She agreed to move every thing from Fullerton to Yosemite Muir Lodge.I was thrill that Marco could do such a difficult job.

By the time, Jerry failed in coming up with the money (in private, I deeply believe that he might have the cash, but like most of American business man wanted to squeez more blood out my already poor body.) I wrote a letter to Escrow company to terminate the sales. Barry called me in the same night that he would carry the half million cash and came to my Fullerton home.

I kindly turned him down and said:"The dead line is reached and our decision is final. No deal, period!"

I was told later that Jerry intended to suit me for breach of contract, I could care less.

I think that Jerry would kick himself for not pay me immediately. To day, the market value is over 2 millions dollars.4 times of his offer.