Posted by AngelinaAZ on 2/1/07 12:56am
Msg #173479

Reverse Mortgages... OT... Tales of a Notary Signing Agent

The old woman looked at me with tears streaming down her face. She is whispering into the phone and then hangs it up apologetically.. "I'm sorry" she says, "My daugher doesn't want me to do this."

The old man leans over and grasps her small hand in his large one... he smiles at her and she smiles at him... not as big, but it's still a smile.

I pull out my paperwork and they start to sign... they are embarrassed. Am I discreet? Will I tell anyone that they had to do this? "No" I say, "Your business is completely private". They look relieved...

Their story is told... haltingly... still embarrassed. He was a construction worker, she was a housewife. They built their house... did I notice the beautiful cabinets? He did those himself.... did those just for her.

He had a stroke six months ago... got up in the morning and fell on his face on the floor. He is getting better with the medication, can now move his arms and legs but their insurance won't pay for the medication that is helping him. She can't lift him and they can't afford the nurse anymore. As they look at the documents she says to me... "These payments will only get us through the next six years... what do we do then?" He grasps her hand again and says in slurred speech "I'm so sorry honey... it would have been better if I would have died... I never wanted to leave you with nothing..." She hugs him fiercely and tell him she wouldn't trade any moment she has with him. My throat is tight with emotion... I feel like an intruder and leave the moment to them and stay silent...

He shifts in his wheelchair and apologizes again... he's usually in bed at 8pm. I silently curse the LO that forced this 10:30pm appointment.

He continues to sign with hands once capable and now shaking with the wounds of time. I can tell that he is in pain but he doesn't complain... not a word. He is so proud of this small accomplishment of his name... this man that loved his wife, and built this house... this house with the beautiful cabinets... designed for her.

I will never forget them.

Reply by christiSocal on 2/1/07 1:48am
Msg #173481

Getting old stinks! But a love like that is beautiful and rare. You tell it beautifully as well Angelina. You must have a writers heart. You had me crying with this one and laughing til I cried with your sheep story. Thank you.

Reply by BrendaTx on 2/1/07 6:38am
Msg #173483

In all my travels I have never heard such a tale. Thank you for bringing it to our attention.

Reply by PJM/MI on 2/1/07 7:18am
Msg #173485

Re: Reverse Mortgages... OT... Tales of a Notary Signing Age

Very well written!

Reply by MsRobboPA on 2/1/07 7:35am
Msg #173488

Re: Reverse Mortgages... OT... Tales of a Notary Signing Age

A great tale of how love can conquer some of the larger problems as we grow older. Reverse mortgages can be very sad. I have only done about 4 but these people are struggling to make ends meet. The biggest problem seems to be back taxes and of the 4 i've done there have been family present at 3 of them. Each of the couples involved both understood what they were doing and showed love toward each other. Hopefully the reverse mortgages will help them solve the financial issues and give them security. At least for awhile.

Reply by BrendaTx on 2/1/07 9:37am
Msg #173505

Re: Reverse Mortgages... What? No jokes?

Just had to point out how much better it is that you are not forcing people to be victimized by the telling of jokes during an RM appointment...for Pete's sake. It just blows my mind that anyone thinks it is appropriate to run a comedy monologue on a borrower during an appointment. Borrowers DO complain about such behavior...LOs hate it...arrogance and theater have no place at our appointment tables.

As you all know, I am a big proponent of humor...however, it's likely that if you have to tell a joke to bring levity during a signing appointment you are not funny at all. Humor is a welcome thing in many settings...however, appreciated humor involves timing, personalities of present company and mood...canned jokes are seldom appreciated...it's what bores do in order to hold the stage and be center of attention just a few moments longer.

Angelina, how awesome that you did not try to bring a grin to the table with a stupid, unrelated, condescending joke where people just needed to get back their privacy.

Reply by Pierces Notary Services on 2/1/07 7:39am
Msg #173489

Re: Reverse Mortgages... OT... Tales of a Notary Signing Age

very touching - I had a similar situation like that one a while back. makes you really think about it. thanks for sharing that with us.

Reply by lenelle/FL on 2/1/07 8:06am
Msg #173490

What a story! Thanks (sniff) n/m

Reply by Dorothy_MI on 2/1/07 8:06am
Msg #173491

The really sad part

was the action her daughter was taking, giving her mother a hard time about trying to solve their financial difficulty. First thoughts were: Where were you toots when you parents need help? And Seems like maybe she's more concerned that there won't be any estate left for her to get. All of the RM's that I've done, the family members have been very supportive and always had one there to encourage them. That is the really sad part.

Reply by ColleenCA on 2/1/07 8:37am
Msg #173495

Re: The really criminal part of this....

is that this couple has to do this in the first place. It is CRIMINAL that they have worked hard all of their lives, raised children, contributed to society and now they have to do this to pay for their health care. Good people like this who should be getting the help they need while many others in this country sponge off the system, don't contribute a thing and get all of their medical needs taken care of for free. It burns my hide!

Reply by SueW/Tn on 2/1/07 8:44am
Msg #173497

I agree with Colleen

But more importantly, this has got to be the most well written post I have ever read. I appreciated the post and felt the concern, the kindness cannot be overlooked. TY for sharing and opening a few eyes. Insurance is right up there with oil companies when it comes to "ruling the world". The "golden years" have indeed turned into a nightmare for us. Liz Taylor once said "gettin' old ain't for sissys" and she wasn't kidding!

Reply by Becca_FL on 2/1/07 10:16am
Msg #173509

That was beautiful. Ang, you can really tell a story! n/m

Reply by Susan Fischer on 2/1/07 10:20am
Msg #173510

Well done, Angelina, well done!

Reply by cassiewi on 2/1/07 11:23am
Msg #173523

That was a beautifully written post, I had tears in my eyes n/m

Reply by closerchris on 2/1/07 1:32pm
Msg #173555

i feel you...

That is the sweetest story, it reminded me of my experience last night....

I got a call to close a straight refi at a nursing home. Oh, and BTW, the wife needs to sign with a POA. I show up at the home at the scheduled time of 8pm, meet wifey and daughter in law in the lobby, and we pop upstairs to see dad in his room. After we awaken him, he signs the POA. (A very lucid and competent man, BTW.) We thank him, then he struggled to sit up to "get some suga" from his wife. Then the Mrs and daughter and I retire to a common area to close the loan. Mrs was a trooper, she sat there for two hours and signed each document three times, plus a STACK of complance documents from the mortgage broker. She never complained, we had quite a pleasant conversation, and I determined that they were cashing out on the equity of their little tiny home to pay for dad's medical expenses.

This touched me because my grandfather is in a home as well right now, and I know that its only a few years before my grandmother is pushed into a similar situation, where she's going to have to cash out equity on a property that she owns free and clear in order to pay for his continuing care. Whcih, of course, incurrs a new recurring expense to a family on a fixed pension income.....

As mentioned in a previous post, its a shame that these people who've worked for twenty, thirty years, can't get anything decent back from the government after all that they've contributed.

Reply by Elizabeth Soliday on 2/1/07 11:46pm
Msg #173678

Thank you for that story Angelina...beautiful n/m