April 2020

April came and when, pretty much for us like the rest of the country.  Our weather was mild and very dry.  It ended up being the driest April on record.  Dave is still working from home, and seems to enjoy it.  On the 14th, the governor declared that all Utah schools would not return to classrooms for the rest of the year, and would complete their assignments on-line.  I am still working with Autumn to help her complete the daily assignments.
We were hit with some family tragedy on April 16th.  Dave's brother, Bruce passed away, (he was 66 and had a few medical problems, but seemed to be doing ok for the most part).  We left at noon Thursday, and took immediate possession of the house, (Dave is the executor of the estate).  We changed the locks to prevent people from walking in and cleaning out what very little Bruce had.  On Friday, we met with the mortuary people and walked through the arrangements to have Bruce's body transfered from the coroner to the mortuary and cremated.  It's so sad how they prey on the feelings of those who are in their saddest times, (anything to make a buck at the expense of the love ones of the deceased).  We then met with an estate attorney, walked through the proceedures we needed to do to close the estate.  He was very helpful.  At first it looked like it was going to cost us $10,000., (Bruce had no life insurance, and no other health insurance, just Social Security).  We explained to the attorney that Bruce owed almost as much on the house as it was worth.  We were then advised to get the house appraised, and if the difference between the assets and the liabilities was less than $100,000. we could do a quick estate closing for $3,500 plus cost.  That first weekend cost us $5,000. out of our pocket.  Turned out the difference between the value of the house and the amount owed is about $60,000.  In the meantime, we will have to keep paying the mortgage and utilities, until the estate is settled.  Bruce had a car, (2000 Buick LaSable).  It was estitmated to be worth $1,000.  We needed to bring it to Salt Lake, so it wouldn't get stolen from the property.  I advised Dave to get the oil changed, (since we weren't sure of the last time Bruce did any maintenance).  Turns out, Dave had to have $1,300. work of work done to make sure the car would make it to our house, (brakes, surpentine belt, oil change, radiator work, etc.).  When Dave, called and told me how much, I suggested Dave ask for a "senior discount".  They knocked of $300, when they heard the story of Dave's brother dying, and what happened.  Dave asked them, how much the car was worth - we put $1000 into a car worth $350 - $400. !!!  The next time we met with the attorney, I told him to make sure the papers did not list the car at $1,000.  That weekend, I worked my butt off, cleaning the house and doing 13 loads of laundry.  I bagged up 14 large yard sized black plastic bags with Bruce's clothes and shoes.  Then we took them over to the Salvation Army and donated them to the homeless shelter.  I called them on Friday, and told them that the donation was not to to the the thrift store, but to go directly to the homeless shelter.  They explain where I was to go, to the administration office to make the drop off and who to ask for, and that it would go directly to the homeless shelter.  When we made the drop off, they were extremely grateful, and said a lot of people would be benefiting from our donation.  There were 2 bags with just shoes.  I don't think Bruce ever threw anything away.  I gathered up a plastic grocery bag of glasses, and I'm going to donate them to the Lion's Club.  I remember that they refurbish them for the needy.  I remember as a youngster, my parents had to get me and my brother, (David), glasses from the Lions Club.  It was much needed and very much appreciated.
We are thinking about keeping the house, and possibly becoming "Snow Birds".  We can winter in Vegas from Mid November to about April, and then summer in Riverton from May to Mid November.  We will have to put a lot of money in the house to fix it up, but it is doeable.  We are going down to Vegas every other weekend.  We have a lot of outside cleaning to do, and we want the neighbors to get used to seeing us.  We have visited with a couple of them, and they are keeping an eye out for us, so that if anything happens they will let us know.
Dave's family has been no help at all.  They just want to know, "How did he die?"  The death certificate which will take about 6 weeks, will not list the cause.  The death certificate with the cause of death will take about 3 or 4 months.
On the possitive note, Trevor and Audra have bought a modular home.  It was Audra's mom's house, (she moved into a new house).  They are getting the downpayment from her, and once the closing and all the paperwork is completed, they will be moving, (about mid May).  It will be so nice to finally have our home and our privacy back.  It will be coming up on a year, and this has been very difficult on Dave and I, (financially, mentally, emotionally, and physically).  With all the work I am doing at home, and now in Vegas, and then what I have to go through with them, it is exhausting.  And we have received not one cent from them towards anything.  If you were to estimate, they have saved well over $20,000 to $25,000 in rent and utilities, (plus other little incidentals).  Plus, the fact that when not any family member on Trevor or Audra's side would take them in, (without any restrictions), but we did.
Will it is almost gardening time, and in just a couple weeks, I will be putting my garden in.  I am thinking of cutting back the amount of planting I do this year.  Dave is thinking about hiring the neighbor boy, (Riley), who mows our yard to do the ro-a-tilling.  I am so ready for warmer weather.  When we are in Vegas, the warm mornings feel so good.  I really like getting up early and taking a walk around the neighborhood.  It will feel good, when we have those nice warm mornings here.