A Final Good-bye

Dr. Francis (Frank/Pete) Abbott, April 12,1928 -February 25,2010

Dearest Friend and Neighbor,

Yesterday, February 25, 2010 I was told of your death. It saddens me deeply that you will no longer walk this earth. I admit though, it was not unexpected, after all you have been experiencing considerable problems associated with aging.

In particular, your quality of life in the past year was difficult for you to accept without a fight. Especially because you were someone who was so active throughout life. Mostly, I think, the fact that you had to rely on others for basic assistance for your daily routine made it that much more distressing. Your body was failing, but yet you felt you should still be doing the things you did several months ago. Hell, not just several months ago, but years ago. You talked recently about taking my son canoeing in the summer. You really had a very strong will, and maybe it could have happened. I know it must have been hard to reconcile the two, making living each day more unbearable. But yet you fought a good fight. Your frustration was evident in your eyes even when you didn’t complain.

I am sure you appreciated though that you were able to live in that beautiful place by the Ottawa River for as long as you did. I have many fond memories of sitting in the screened in porch enjoying the river view in your company. So, dear friend, I do understand and appreciate why your home gave you peace and comfort.

I want you to know that you were the best neighbor I could have asked for, kind, gentle, and an amazing conversationalist. As soon as we met you made us feel part of your family. I will cherish the memory of our Sunday dinners and the stories of your adventures from near and afar.

I will always be grateful that you were part of our life. Good bye Friend! (inside joke / He sang this on his answering machine)

Happy Dance!!!

This image depicts how I felt on Friday!

Last month, I decided to open my eyes and really look at my spending habits because more than anything I needed to know where my money was disappearing to. It seemed like money was flowing through my fingers like water and leaving no evidence that it was ever in my hand. Part of my plan is to record all spending no matter how small. Which means documenting all receipts and opening all mail and recording even the interest payments. Previously, I would guess what I had to pay, and sometime over paid and other times underpaid the bills. This you can imagine resulted in paying higher interests if under paying bills.

Therefore, in keeping with my plan I have been going through my stacks of mail, sorting, and filing them since the beginning of the year. As it is tax time, I decide to look for and found my tax assessment from last year. I remember receiving it but was in a hurry and placed in on pile of the stack of correspondence where it stayed for seven months unopened, until Friday. I opened it and inside was a check for over $6,000!!! Wow! Let that be a lesson to me, open every piece of mail no matter how in a rush I might be.