Ruby Rotten and Me

The Story of Ruby

So many people have asked after driving by my billboard, and our For Sale signs, seeing our ads, viewing our company website MoveWithBlue.com, or meeting us at special events and parades that I've decided to include her story.

The golden retriever is one of the most friendly and loyal companions a family can have. Coldwell Banker® embraced this icon when the Personal Retriever® made its debut on coldwellbanker.com in 1997. So as much as I would like to take credit for the idea - it came from Coldwell Banker®.

The joke around our office is that I purchased the Coldwell Banker franchise just because I loved the dog! I have to admit - there is some truth to it. My husband and I had talked about getting a family pet for years, but could never decide on what type of dog to get. It was perfect; we had a mascot and a family pet!

After joining the Coldwell Banker® family in January of 2005, I wasted no time in finding a golden retriever. She was picked out at five weeks (named after my favorite things: gems & the color red!) I anxiously waited for her to be old enough for me to take her home. When that day finally arrived, I put her in a box, rang the doorbell and hid! I will never forget the squeals of delight from my surprised children or the joy that Ruby brought to my heart. It didn't take long; she soon came to be known as “Ruby Rotten”! We couldn't believe the destruction that evil little creature would cause. I remember my husband saying “you had the pick of the litter and you just had to pick her!” I would just smile and say “Yes, I did.”

No matter how wicked she was - she fit into our family perfectly. Her purpose in life was to test us. To see if we returned the unconditional love that she gave us. All she wanted to do was to be silly, have fun, and make us laugh. How do you train a dog to be so tickled with naughty behavior, or to have such a great personality? How can a dog be so happy to see you, when you forgot to pet her before you left that morning? Where did she learn how to smile?

When she was 6 months old, Ruby was hit by our mail carrier. Fortunately, on that particular day I didn't have daycare so I had been working from home. The mail carrier rang the doorbell and told me what had happened. She said Ruby was still alive but it didn't look good. I could see her lying on the ground at the end of the driveway.

When I got closer to her, she lifted her head and looked at me with those big brown eyes and started whimpering. That was all it took for me to run back to the house and tear down the driveway to load her into our vehicle for her first emergency journey to the vet's office.

Ruby returned home battered and bruised, with a broken leg held together by 5 screws and a metal plate. She no longer enjoyed car rides, after so many trips to St. Cloud. No one understood why I didn't just have her put down and get a different dog. Ruby understood. She was part of the family.

From that point on she continued with her rotten behavior. I was grateful! I still had my best friend and loyal companion. Watching her run around on three legs was completely hilarious. The only thing funnier was when she didn't think anyone was looking, she would use her bad leg. But the very second she saw that you were, she would lift it up and start hobbling around. Smart dog.

Prior to her injury, my husband had built Ruby a dog house the size of castle, often mistaken for my children's play house. Ruby had it made, until the Spring of 2006. Unfortunately, Ruby thought that jumping on the trampoline with my children was fun. What are the odds that she would break the same leg right above her metal plate? What kind of dog jumps on a trampoline?

I don't think I have to tell you that déjà vu occurred. Thus resulting in emergency journey number two to the vet. Needless to say the parade season for 2006 resulted in the star of the show wearing a Coldwell Banker T-shirt to cover up her broken leg.

Ruby didn't mind, she loved parades and being around people made her happy. Being around her made us happy. The million dollar dog was worth every penny for SHE was priceless! As deviant as she could be – her motives were always pure.

On Friday, July 21st, 2006 I came home from work a little after 7:00PM. Ruby met me at my car door tail wagging and a smile on her face, tripping me while I tried to walk up to the house. Just a little over an hour later, the doorbell and telephone rang in unison. Our kind neighbors were letting us know that Ruby had been hit by someone and was left lying out on the road, barely alive. I stayed in the house with the kids, while my husband hopped on the 4-wheeler to go see how bad it was.

Ruby's Final Journey

Ironically, one of Ruby's favorite things to do in life was to ride 4-wheeler with us. It started with the broken leg and when that had healed she loved nothing more than to race alongside us.

As I looked out the window, my heart sank for I realized that this would be Ruby's final journey. On the back of the 4-wheeler that she loved so much, my beloved pet lay, struggling to breathe. I could see the paw of her broken leg was dangling, and her injuries were far too extensive to repair. Thankful that I was able to say goodbye, I kissed her on the nose, and prayed for her life to end.

Sharing Ruby's Story

The decision to share Ruby's story wasn't an easy one. However, I felt compelled to tell it for so many reasons. Aside from everyone asking “What's the story with the dog?”  Or “Is that the puppy in your ads?”

I wanted you to know Ruby and know my character. I found it difficult, if not impossible to write about myself. Ruby was a part of me, a reflection and an inspiration. We shared a passion for people.

A resume doesn't seem to capture the essence of a person or what they are truly all about the way a story does. In a business that isn't always the most glamorous - where realtors are ranked just slightly above attorneys, as the lowliest form of life. I wanted to share this experience so that you see me as a person first, then as the best real estate agent you've ever known. I feel the experience has taught me, helped me to grow and reminded me of some very important lessons.

In my quest for being the best of the best, I started my own real estate company as a new agent. Some people thought I was crazy, and maybe I was. But I believed in myself and my abilities. I wanted to live life on my terms and be responsible for my environment. If I controlled the environment then, I, just like Ruby - could do what I loved, and love what I do. I didn't want to just join a company; I wanted to be part of a great company. A company with values. Where everyone who enters through the door of our office is treated like family.

Lessons From Ruby

• Do what you love & love what you do
• Sometimes a “diamond in the rough” is the most precious gem you'll ever find
• Always keep your sense of humor
• Love unconditionally
• Never forget to pet your dog before you go to work in the morning
• Be silly and have fun
• Appearances can be deceiving…
• Even those who dwell in castles get hurt, sometimes repeatedly
• Loyalty is everything
• Humility builds character
• Be true to yourself - never let anyone tell you who you are or who to love
  (Ruby was in love with our stray cat!)
• Live life on your terms, with no regrets
• Never leave the scene of an accident, when you make a mistake - own it - it's yours to keep
• Always have motives that are pure
• Don't assume that you are the trainer
• Be genuinely sorry for rotten behavior, forgiveness will follow
• Money isn't everything
• True friendship is hard to find, cherish it. A true friend will always listen and never give you any bad advice!
• Accept the people you cannot change, have the courage to change the one you can, and be smart enough to know it's you.

In Loving Memory of “My Little Gem”