My Inheritance

I have become a raving lunatic somewhat obsessive over things that belonged to my Mom. I have a big box (I do wish it was bigger now) of some of my Mom's clothes. I had planned on cutting them up and making lap quilts for myself and my siblings.....and maybe Dad.....But when I pulled them out to begin the cutting and disassembling.....I couldn't do it. No, I froze. These were her things. Does she need them now...? No. Will she be sad if I make them into something we all can cling to...? No. So why can't I cut them? Because I'm crazy, that's why.
Owls...not usually my thing...not even really my Mom's thing. But she had a necklace that my Dad gave her as a gift early on in their marriage. It is a silver and onyx owl. I have seen it around my Mom's neck for as long as I can remember. Did she wear it constantly? No. Did she have jewelry she liked more? Yes. But this wise old bird just reminds me of her. So now what do I do?I buy owl stuff. Lots of it. Mostly at thrift shops and then I paint it....but even my new address book has owls on it.
Earlier this year my Dad gave each of us kids some money that my Mom had been saving to give us....sort of an inheritance, if you will. As far as inheritance sums go....it wasn't a huge chunk of change.....but it wasn't anything to sneeze at that is for sure. I have been saving some of each paycheck I get for subbing. Not a lot....but it has added up. I have been looking for something to spend it on. I thought maybe I'd put granite counter tops in my kitchen here. I had it all picked out. I was ready. But then the thought came to me.....if I move.....part of my Mom (not really but this was the thought...ok) will have to stay behind in this house. ((Remember....crazy)) The money belonged to my Mother....my Mom. How could I leave a part of her in this house in Minnesota. As irrational as that sounds here, out in the open, that was my line of thinking. That money came from my Mom.....I just couldn't spend it on granite. I decided that liposuction was my next option. But...I'm not quite at the fitness level I want to be at (you know....so it doesn't go to waste!!)....so that had to wait. Then it hit me. Braces. I have always wanted to have straight teeth. We didn't have a lot of money when I was growing up and my parents chose to get braces for the child who had the most jacked up teeth. Unfortunately, that child didn't continue to wear his retainer and thus his teeth didn't stay where they were supposed to. Oh well......My sister Kim and I have this one tooth that is crazy. Really, if the angle is right, most people can't see why we hate the smile thing so much. But on the inside....we can feel it and we don't like what it looks like in our minds. So I started the process a few weeks ago. I have a friend of a friend for my awesome orthodontist. She is brilliant, and kind, and just fabulous. She presented 2 treatment options. Plan one involves about 4 years worth of time. Seriously....I'm 37.....I have my man....I don't need to be in braces for 4 years. Plan two....much less invasive. Plan two should wrap up within 7 months....but she is shooting for closer to 5. I have clear brackets on my top teeth and they will be shaving a little off the sides of the big gopher teeth 4 front teeth to make them all fit together nicely. So far...the pain is minimal. I think I was expecting it to be much worse. I just remember my poor kids and how much pain they were in. Maybe age and perspective and the fact that I really want this makes it more bearable. As I was paying the nice lady behind the desk....I felt like I was in the Geico commercial. Paid in full......discount. Paid with cash....discount....Lucky day....discount!! It came to about $400 less that the original price with all my discounts and the surprise "lucky day" discount. My insurance did cover some of the x-ray costs. So I walked out with all the money I got for Christmas in tact. WOOHOO!! Now all I need is a feather boa and I could be Josie Gellar. I look totally rufus!!