My husband and I traveled to Oklahoma City this weekend for my future sister-in-law’s bridal shower. We drove all around the city to a few select areas that used to be nice- SoCo type places to live, and my husband was trying to explain to the children that this ghost town feel on the north side was disappointing and upsetting. He could point out where they used to hang out, where fancy homes used to be, and where upscale furniture boutiques were- but alas, they were no more. We felt called to redevelop areas of the city that used to be the “it places”- if only I had an extra few million sitting around (that’s the 10 year plan). Perhaps just a few houses and buildings at a time…

My husband explained to the kids that the closing of GM, AOL jumping ship, and a future potential for Tinker AFB’s closing was detrimental to Oklahoma, while in Austin it would barely be a blip the news. We have become so used to being in a thriving area that it is saddening to spend time in an area that isn’t flourishing quite like ours. We have become spoiled by new tollways opening, constant commercial developments breaking ground, and it seems like a new home subdivision opens every week! We have become spoiled ROTTEN by being in a city that attracts Barney’s NY, Louis Vuitton, Saks, Tiffany’s and the like. We love our Starbuck’s on every corner living happily across the street from the ecclectic local coffee bars- both thriving equally. It reminded us that we have several friends across the country in the Real Estate Industry that are surely struggling, and we tip our hats to them.

We are spoiled and we know it, but we take pause today to pray for those in our field who don’t have the same annoying bragging rights that we do.