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Do you recognize the house in the
photo? If the title of this article didn’t
give it away, here is another clue – it
was featured prominently in a 1993
film starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.
Yes, it is the houseboat from the film,
“Sleepless in Seattle” on Lake Union,
in Seattle.
Back then, before electronic pub-
lishing, most magazines were still
printed and mailed, including the
alumni news from my alma mater,
Syracuse University. When I received
issues, they usually went onto a pile in
the proverbial library (you know, the
one with a tub, sink, et cetera). In the
late 90’s I was browsing an issue when
I noticed a small picture, like the one
shown, near the back of the publica-
tion. The caption mentioned the movie
and the house’s owner, a Syracuse
graduate, named
Jim Healy, who I
didn’t know.
A few summers
later in 2005, my
wife and I vaca-
tioned in the north-
west. On the after-
noon of July 4th,
we had a few hours
to kill so we decided to take a “Duck
Tour” in Seattle. The tours are con-
ducted in amphibious vehicles that seat
about 50 patrons. Off we went
through the streets of Seattle and
eventually drove into Lake Union. As
we passed the houseboat, our guide
mentioned that the owners paid
$425,000 for the property, about the
time of the filming.
When our Duck Tour ended, one
of the attendants,
making small talk
with my wife as he
helped her disem-
bark, asked her,
“What are you guys
doing to celebrate
the 4th?”
My wife replied,
“We are going to
watch the fireworks from the Sleepless
in Seattle houseboat.”
“You’re kidding.”
“No, we’re not. My husband’s for-
mer client is one of the owners.”
Jim’s wife, Loretta was indeed my
client.
We arrived at their home for the July
4th festivities. It was nice to meet Jim
and reminisce about Syracuse. At one
point, I mentioned the home price that
the Duck Tour cited. Loretta said it
wasn’t too far off.
Turns out that I ran a project for a
major printing company in Atlanta,
commuting there for over a year in
2001-2002. The company had a divi-
sion in Seattle, where Loretta managed
the accounting department. Every
month or two she would fly into
Atlanta for status meetings. On one of
her visits we had lunch together during
which I learned about her home.
P.S. There has been a moratorium
on moored houseboats in Lake Union,
so naturally, prices shot up. It was
reported that Jim and Loretta sold their
2,200-square foot home for $2 million
in the fall of 2014.
LOSING SLEEP OVER A CONNECTION
By: Dan Rosenberg
PAGE 50
Tie The Knot