All Kinds

“It takes two to tango, babe,” said my old mentor KDV, “and it takes all kinds to make the world go ‘round.” KDV was referring to the diversity of people we encounter in the Real Estate job. Soon after, I found an example.

“So you work for The Man, huh?” said my new client Robbie Burns, as we drove toward a property he wanted to see.

“The Man?” I said.

“Yeah, The Man. You know, the Fat-Cats who run the corporations like your Real Estate outfit who are funding the Industrial-Military complex, destroying our natural resources and selling it off for billions in profit, all blessed by our conservative capitalist Government. The system is designed to keep us all distracted. Instead of worrying about our freedoms being taken away, The Man wants us to be happy tuning into a ball-game and eating fast food!”

I reflexively glanced at my car radio dial tuned to 680 AM, the station for Sports-talk radio and the San Francisco Giants. I had been listening to that day’s baseball game on my way to meet Robbie. I eyeballed the floor behind the passenger seat and spied a Taco Bell wrapper peeking out from underneath.

“Have you always been a corporate guy?” asked Robbie.

“Well, I’m originally from Berkeley,” I said.

Robbie looked surprised.

“Telegraph Avenue,” I said, “the riots, People’s Park, the whole bit.”

“Wow,” said Robbie, “and here you are workin’ for The Man!”

I wrote an offer for Robbie on a house on the South end of town, and I visited the Listing Agent’s office to present it to the seller, Mr. Bailey.

“Good riddance to the place,” said Mr. Bailey. “I’m selling off that rental and moving away. No more paying taxes to our liberal corrupt Government for me, you know what I mean? My tenant has more rights to the place than I do.”

I presented Robbie’s offer.

“FHA loan, huh?” said Mr. Bailey. “Another socialist program, if you ask me.” Mr. Bailey went on about our government subsidizing communism. “They’re taking our freedoms away!” he said.

“It all started with those commie-loving hippies with their so-called folk music,” he said. “Even country music has been infiltrated by hippies, like that bearded pot-smoker, Willie Nelson.”

In my mind I shuffled through the cassette tapes in the shoe-box under the front seat of my car, and noted Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are a-Changin’.” Also there was “The Red-Headed Stranger” by Willie Nelson.

I visualized Robbie Burns with his beard and tie-dyed t-shirt, without a doubt a commie-loving hippie in the eyes of Mr. Bailey.

Later, I told KDV of my diverse experience that day.

“That’s Real Estate, babe,” said KDV. “Where else can you simultaneously be hangin’ with the hippies and workin’ for the man?”