If you’ve driven around Carlsbad lately and have seen a flock of pink flamingos on some of your neighbor’s lawns, we have a confession… we did that. But why? WHY ON EARTH did two Realtors take it upon themselves to flock Carlsbad with pink plastic flamingos? Because it’s fun. And it’s silly. And we could all use a bit of that right now.
The idea started because we celebrated two birthdays in our family this April, my mom, and my sister. And let’s just say the festivities felt a bit… lacking. We couldn’t decorate or share slices of cake, give birthday hugs, or even be in the room together. It was a bummer, to say the least. If we had that experience, we know many of our Carlsbad neighbors must be going through the same thing. But what is something everyone is happy to see? Not just the person who is celebrating, but everyone else who sees it too. Two words- Lawn. Flamingos. So we placed an Amazon order, and several days later, a 27-pound box full of pink plastic flamingos arrived at our house. Fifty of them. Well… to start, anyway.
We posted on our neighborhood Nextdoor page “Who’s Getting Flocked?” and explained that our job as real estate agents is to be involved and help our community. This crazy situation doesn’t change that, we just need to go about it differently. So from now until whenever we are all out of this, text us if someone you know has a birthday, or an anniversary, or a celebration of ANY KIND, and we will show up late at night and fill their lawn with silly, sassy, irreverent hot pink flamingos. And Carlsbad, you did not disappoint! Within MINUTES of the post going up, we started receiving phone calls and texts. We thought we’d have a day to put our Carlsbad flamingos together, another to start scheduling, and we’d start our endeavor on day three. Nope! The pink parade arrived at our house on a Thursday afternoon, and this crazy idea went into effect that night. The response has been massive, and went from an idea to a movement, overnight.
Since we started, we’ve ordered another box of 50 flamingos, so we can hit even MORE houses! And so far we have celebrated a 3-year-old, a 4-year-old, a 6-year-old, two 10 year-olds, a 15-year-old, an 18-year-old graduation senior (Go Lancers!), a 24th birthday, a 30th birthday, a 50th birthday (though I don’t think she looks a day over 49), and a 72nd birthday. Phew! Coming up- we’ve got anniversaries, celebrations of the completion of radiation, and a 98-year-old named Bea, who I can tell you is going to get an extra car in her birthday car parade because THAT is a lady I’m going to honk and wave to!
All of that is what WE’VE done- but YOU! Carlsbad, YOU have been exceptional! We’ve received pictures from families and neighbors, and screenshots of texts cracking up about our pink ladies. You have left us thank you notes, and donated to charities on our behalf. One neighbor, who may be my soul mate, donated 10 flamingos she just happened to have lying around. Be still my beating heart!! As much as this started as our way to give back to you- I cannot begin to describe the joy you have given us. We are grateful for it. We are grateful for the opportunity to give back to a city that gives so much to us, for the chance to bring a smile to someone’s face, for something to DO instead of refreshing the news channels on our phone. Most of all, to get back to the core of who we are- two people who love nothing more than feeling we get when we help the people in our neighborhood. From the bottom of our hearts- thank you.
With So Much Love and Gratitude-
Kelly (and Graham) Levine
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