While signing the final purchase contract tonight I noticed the title of one of the sub-contracts:

Plain Language Addendum

It’s a two-page contract that states that the signer understands all the words used in the actual purchase contract.  A contract to confirm that you know all the words in the other contract.  Did I mention it was called the “Plain Language Addendum.”  I don’t know about you, but ‘addendum’ was like the thirtieth word in my vocabulary, right after ‘mom’, ‘dad’, ‘plain’ and ‘language.’ Wouldn’t the world be a better place if the plain language was used in the actual purchase contract?  Few less pompous words, few less pages to sign, few less jobs for some lawyers, but they can make things happen for themselves.

The more important thing is that the deal has been executed, and now there is the long and tedious 30-day process of inspections and titles and deeds and escrow and mortgage applications and all the really fun parts.  Yesterday I had record turn-out to the blog and many of you contacted me about the post but apparently don’t know how to use comments on a blog.  Most of the exchanges were congratulations, but a few (read: none) were about how you, the reader at home/work/school/Starbucks, could make things happen for yourself.  I can’t really answer that, but what I can do is impart some ancient wisdom that was passed on to me, today.

A few days ago I had the pleasure of catching up quickly with an old friend of mine who is Chinese over the phone.  I’m not sure if he would be comfortable with me toting his wisdom on the intertubes, so we will just call him C.W. (California Wok).  I let him know what I was getting for dinner (Orange Beef, G. T.’s Chicken), and he just did what he always does, listen carefully and repeat everything.  It’s funny, he always repeats what I say back to me, but when he says it, it just sounds different.  It sounds more authentic, more wise, and when I hear him say it, it all just makes more sense.  Sometimes, after reflecting on my words, he presents me with options in life I didn’t realize I had available to me (like white or brown).  In the end, it’s always short, but always satisfying.

Remember when you were little and your mom/dad/aunt/grandma used to write little letters on your napkin in your lunch box?  Well C.W. always sends little baked goods to me shortly after we talk and each of these baked goods contains a pearl of his ancient wisdom, and although this one was a day late for my post yesterday, I think it sums up how you can make things happen for yourself:

Pearl Of Wisdom

Now you know his ancient secrets, and mine.  Use it wisely, only for good, never for evil.  Never, never, never forget that there is free delivery within 4 miles for orders over $15.