July 21: The $8000 Lesson

Today's post is dedicated to green paper. Ben used to say that money is not real. He was right - money is just our means of living the life we want to live and the means by which we provide for and better the lives of our love one. Money is a construct. It all depends on your perspective and your motivation that holds its meaning.

"Money isn't the goal - Freedom Is." - Savebly

"Don't let money run your life, let money help you run your life better." - John Rampton

"No one is going to stand up at your funeral and say, 'she had a really expensive couch and great shoes.' Don't make life about stuff." - Unknown

I didn't take these pictures of the lightning, but they are from the night of the storm and they are in Granville.

It rained so hard last night. First the wind kicked up and it felt great coming in the windows. Then, at 11:30ish the wind took my dog yurt up onto the barn roof. Luckily it was still attached to the outside table, so I was able to pull it down. But, almost immediately went up again, so I decided to try and collapse it. I couldn't collapse the sides with the top popped up, so I got inside and took the poles out of the top. Next, I started pulling the sides in and before I knew it I couldn't find my way out. I was laughing and of course it started to rain. Found my way out and the rain was coming down sideways so it was coming through the windows of the camper. As I was closing the windows, the thunder and lightning started. Bobby and I got a nice show out our window. Jean-Luc slept.

In the morning, the yurt was full of rain water. I didn't wake up until Terry was back from his football weightlifting duties. He helped me put the yurt back up. He had a lot of work to do on the Halloween decorations for their fall business venture. Jackie and I went to the Ford dealership to get an estimate for fixing the body damage on my Explorer. It poured buckets on our way there. The body specialist, Craig told me that he would try to keep it to $6000, but if both panels had to be replaced it would be closer to $8000! :o[] That was my $8000 lesson. Learn how to back up a camper before you drive across the country. Ha Ha. What can I say? It's only money that you can't take with you and a lesson learned is worth more than money. I also talked to a mechanic yesterday who told me that I was probably damaging my transmission because I was too close to its maximum towing capacity. So, I decided to look at trucks on the lot, which only sells previously leased vehicles. I found one that I liked and gave it a test drive. Very nice. It really had everything I would need to pull the trailer easily. Also, backup trailer assist. I asked them to run the numbers and Jackie and I went to lunch.

It was a really good lunch at a little placed called, Cool Beans. When we went back the very nice young man who was helping me, Sean made an offer. We had a deal. They had to do their twelve point inspection, wash and wax, and fill the tank, so, we went home. Before we left I had to ask Sean if he had a much older brother or a single father who he could introduce me to, but alas he is an only child and his father is happily married to his mother. Just kidding - I'm not in the market for a new man, just a new car.

I decided that I should go over and see the folks and ask about Max's doctor visit. Dad was supposedly sleeping the chair next to her. I said that I planned to come over tomorrow and start throwing stuff away off their counters. I made the mistake of saying, "You guys have a lot of stuff. Wouldn't you feel better getting rid of a lot of it? You'd have more room and less ways to injure yourselves." Dad woke up. He was angry and said he didn't like the inferences I was making about my mother. First of all, I didn't mention that she is not my mother. But, I did say, "I'm not inferring anything. I'm saying it out right - you guys are drowning in the piles of garbage and I'd like to help you get it out of here, while I'm here." He sad that he didn't need or want my help and it was his job to take care of Max. "Well you're not doing it. It's not safe or healthy to live like this." He said he wouldn't be around much longer anyway. I said that I would not go on arguing with an a**hole, and I left. I also told him that he can't intimidate me. I'm not a little girl. I did cry after I left, not because he hurt me, but because I was so angry that Ben and I were cheated out of 25 more years together and these two have wasted their last 30 not participating in life, ignoring their grand children, hoarding their stuff, lying to their daughter, and cheating their son out of his money and his time.

For dinner we went out for ice cream at the Battenkill Creamery. It was really really good. I even had a topping with hot fudge.