The Dreaded Certified Letter

Dear John,

 

It's been a wet, windy Halloween. It stormed last night, which didn't make Jethro happy, but he was tired enough to sleep anyway. It's still windy and rainy. The town trick-or-treat has been rescheduled for tomorrow night. The trees are a bit past peak, but it was beautiful coming home with the rain falling and yellow leaves blowing across the roads and fields.

 

I had a wonderful surprise this morning. There was a rather unnerving note with yesterday's mail saying that I had a certified letter waiting. I went in this morning and picked up a letter for each of us about an old church retirement plan. They're doing a complete disbursement, and after taxes I'll be getting enough to probably get me through another year. It's such a relief - I was reaching the end of my financial options.

 

I had no idea we even had this. It was one of those things that we didn't go over together when you were in Indy. I know there were things we missed because we were away from home and didn't have any records with us. And things like this were so second-nature to you, I'm sure you never dreamed that I didn't know about it. It came just when I needed it. I'll take the full disbursement instead of the rollover into an IRA, and will waive the 30-day waiting period. As soon as I get it, I'll pay the taxes on it and squirrel the rest away in savings.

 

So I'm looking at solvency for a while longer. And it feels good. I'd been looking ahead at property taxes due this month, car insurance due in January, COBRA going up next year, and wondering how I was going to manage it. Once again, the Lord has taken care of me. If the health care act isn't held up and I can get health insurance for less than $420 a month, I'll be breaking even. If the health care law is delayed I still may gave to drop health insurance and go off all prescription drugs. And that's even scarier that knowing you have a certified letter waiting. We'll wait and see - worrying won't help.

 

Thank you for any role you played in this - I know you pray for me always, and I thank you for that. The God of widows and orphans can't very well abandon me, since I'm both now. Tonight I'm thankful, and a bit amazed. And I'm enjoying listening to the wind and rain outside. It's a perfect night to snuggle between the flannel sheets with you, so join me if you can!

 

Love you always and forever,

Joan.