EXEMPT

Today was another “castle” day.

With the cost of everything going up, up, up … and Social Security only granting me a piddly 28 cent increase on my monthly draw on the monies Bob & I both worked for and should rightfully expect; I went into town today to apply for Senior Home Ownership Property Tax Exemption – I went for the exemption, because a total deferral would end up with a lien placed against my home: I don’t want that. Filling out the paperwork, and getting the processing started, I made the clerk repeat everything several times: I wanted to be sure I understood my options clearly and that she understood why I needed to understand.

She was patient.

And I was tenacious ;-)

When all was said, and done, I qualified.

I still had to pay the full half-amount for April 2020, but October’s half should be quite a bit lower. I feel pretty good about getting this done, and getting it done without anger, or the frustration of not being understood. Maybe things went smoothly because my emotions are not so raw this year; maybe things went easier because it was a new girl behind the counter. Last time I had to deal with Court House minions concerning Home Ownership, it didn’t go well for anyone. Today was a LOT easier, and a lot kinder: all the way around.

I was every bit Bob’s Queen today.

But I didn’t have a princess attitude ;-)

Bob, if he was watching me, was proud of me.

I also got a workout – not like I do in Castle Rock, Mondays & Wednesdays; but I did get a cardio workout, my lungs got a little stressed, and muscles/joints were put to the task this morning. When I first parked at the Court House, I got a spot right at the door … but I had to run home quick, and grab some required papers to finish the application, and when I returned the second time, there were no available parking spaces close to the building: I had to park down by the bridge and walk back uphill to the Court House. I was huffing and puffing by the time I reached the door. And the stairs were dicey too. The Court House really should have a Senior friendly access to the second floor. I managed – but barely; it wouldn’t have been so challenging if I hadn’t had to walk half a mile straight uphill, first.

I’ll have to reapply 4 years from today.

That finished, I got into my car and drove across the street to Izzy’s for lunch. It’s the only real Buffet in town, and I was hungry.

I always liked cross words puzzles, and word searches: Bob came to like word searches too; there was always at least one Word Search Book in our vehicles, for times like today, where a wait with time to kill put the book into action. So, I did 2 searches; I could have done more, but I am going through the book slowly. I’m not anxious to finish it.

Qualified, and sated, I turned the car towards home.

I went home via Industrial way because I had one more thing to accomplish. I needed to stop at Steele’s Memorial Park (aka.: funeral home), and make some changes to the notations for my Plan. I had made arrangements for my Funeral Plan when I settled Bob’s cremation arrangements, December 14^th, 2018, after coming back home from OHSU, in Oregon. The changes were small; but they are necessary. My husband is no longer here, and I can’t depend on the kids to make sure my wishes are carried out – so, the kids are now exempt from the familial duty they shun. I employed the funeral home to make sure I actually get to Eden Valley when my Heavenly Summons occurs … and I had Merry & Kerry’s names added to the Memorial Park “contact information”: Merry & Kerry both have house keys, and they know where my Cremains Box is waiting for pickup when needed.

My Cremains Box – exactly like Bob’s

Merry is my age, so she said that if she isn’t available to do that, she will make sure her girls follow through. I appreciate that. I’m pretty sure Kerry will do the same with his son, Kasey. I am grateful.

All Merry & Kerry have to do, is make sure the Box gets to Steele’s – Steele’s will make sure my boxed cremains get to Eden Valley to be placed with Bob’s.

September 3^rd, 2019, I placed this marker for Bob’s precise location so I never lose sight of it.

I know I sound like I am obsessed with this, but it’s important.

When my mother died well over a decade ago, her cremains were abandoned by her husband, Alan. Her 4^th husband, and the worst of the lot. Because Alan had talked her into naming him as Executor instead of my brother, Mahlon, who had always been named; when she died ... Alan left her cremains at the Mortuary in Idaho; where they’ve no doubt been trashed by now. Alan was the only person who could legally claim them. And he didn’t. Instead he came back here, to WA State and cleaned the house out. He hauled all the furniture away. Trashed the Photo Albums, antique Bible, and my father’s Military Photo Albums (Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force – those were always to go to Mahlon). The only thing Alan honored my mother with was to make sure Sam got the house free and clear. Everyone else got screwed over. Including my mother.

I don’t want that kind of screwing happening to me.

I do not want my cremains to end up in a trash pile behind the funeral home because nobody claimed them.

So, I set my own Plans in order, in December of 2018 – and again this week, with the house keys given to Merry & Kerry; and the contact info update.

I am thankful and grateful that Merry & Kerry like me well enough to honor Bob’s memory by honoring the woman their brother loved.

And, it goes without saying, that if The Rapture happens … everyone is exempt from honoring my wishes :-D

Now that the dying arrangements have been attended to and settled, it’s time to get living fully underway ;-)