It has been a while since we have talked, or we may have just met, so I wanted to follow up with you to share a little bit more about my story.

I grew up in San Leandro, just down the road from Lafayette. I had a great childhood that was quite normal for any young girl growing up in America.

I was the third of four sisters in a middle-class and hard-working household. My dad was a butcher at the super market and my mom worked down the street from us at the variety store. They bought the house I was raised in right before I was born, and I lived there until I left to go to college.

My best friend lived across the street and we did everything together. I got good grades and had a lot of fun, but never got into any real trouble. It was just your ideal suburban middle-class childhood!

Since my mom was in retail, she often had to work weekends, so my dad would watch my sisters and I while she was at work, and we always had a lot of fun with him. He used to take us to the drive-in movies back in the day where everyone drove station wagons, and no one wore seatbelts!

During one of the weekends, in the summer, I believe, I was playing in our front yard with a neighbor boy named Billy Peppy. My dad was doing yard work and watching over us. I think I was probably five at the time, and Billy was a little bit younger.

Well, the night before, my dad had brought all of us girls home one of those huge all-day suckers. The ones that had every color of the rainbow swirled all the way around in a big circle. You know the ones I’m talking about?

Anyway, I thought it was so cool, so I was showing off my sucker to little Billy Peppy. I could tell that he was also super impressed with it and really wanted a bite, so I told him if he did something for me, I would give it to him. The funny thing is now, I don’t even remember what the duty was, but it was one of those small things between young kids.

So, Billy went and completed the forgotten task right away. Without hesitation. He wanted that candy! When he came back and asked for the sucker, I started laughing and told him, “I was just kidding.” He was disappointed of course.

Before I knew it, my dad came out of nowhere and yanked the sucker right out of my hand. Then he gave it to Little Billy Peppy. 

And he said, “Always keep your word. No matter what.” He wasn’t mean or rude about it. But he looked me straight in the eyes, with all seriousness. And I never forgot that lesson. Never.

So, now I am a person of my word. From that day on! It is the most important thing to me. If I tell someone I am going to do something, I do it.

That lesson stuck with me throughout my life. After high school, I went to a two-year college and became a certified dental assistant. I spent over ten years in that field, working my way up to management roles in several offices. I did well. Because I always did what I said I was going to do.

Then I got married and had kids, so I decided I needed a change of pace. After considering my options, I chose real estate, and let me tell you, it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! That was 34 years ago, and I’m still going strong.

Now that I have been through a couple of careers, I can look back and see how the lesson that I learned in my front yard so many years ago has been so impactful throughout my life, especially in real estate!

I still sit down with my clients and explain everything to them in detail. I treat them as family, and I would not ever have them do anything I wouldn’t have my own parents or children do. I want to ensure that they know that they can trust me with all their real estate interests and needs. And obviously, I want them to know that my word is my bond!

Thank you for taking the time to learn about me and my life. I would love nothing more than to lend my knowledge and experience toward helping you with your real estate endeavors, but I don’t expect your business simply because of our relationship—I only ask that you give me the opportunity to demonstrate my services and interview for the job.

Sincerely,

Melanie Peterson-Katz
REALTOR^®