Elle and I spent the last week traveling to Apple Valley California to clean out my parent’s house and get it ready for sale. The travel was fun and easy as we broke up the 14 hours of driving with a stop in Las Vegas on the way there.
The house is in a Sun City retirement community and the guard/gate process was completely different, but we worked through. Getting into the house I was surprised at the smile that crossed my face. My Dad and I had strained relationship (I thought he was a jerk. It’s the nicest words I can think of right now) until I decided to change the dynamic in my fifties.
I’m glad I did. He passed in 2014 and it was my step-mom who passed in May. When she had gone into a long term care facility four years ago we did some downsizing so this time was not, thankfully, like starting from scratch.
Still, it’s amazing what we can acquire and keep over a lifetime. One funny example is the manual from a 70’s radar range (microwave). The garage was coffee cans of nuts and bolts, boxes with five screws, and parts of tap and die sets. Lots of old sprinkler parts and weeping tubes. Everything we did not want and thought that someone like Goodwill would not take went into construction heavy trash bags that we loaded into the garage.
One morning when it was only 87 out, I took my battery powered sawzall outback and was going to cut up plastic deck furniture when a neighbor heard the sound and stopped me saying they would take as their neighbor had none. Turns out it hopped two fences in the exchange and went to a Vietnam vet. I couldn’t have been happier as I went back to work inside, in the AC.
We spent one whole day driving down the hill to San Bernardino to deal with the State of California. Death certificates are printed on a “heavy stock paper” that is required by the banks. I got an extra copy of my dad’s and we found out that Mom’s had not reached the county records facility. Evidently, in this age of real time speed of light digital systems it would take 45-60 days for it to get to them. The helpful lady told us to go to the health department.
Only Four miles away, Google maps tried to get me to enter a parking lot through the out exit. Good thing I stopped short, the spikes were facing my way. After a short drive down the sidewalk I started to enter the lot but it had a bar and it said restricted. Turns out Google wanted me to park in the employee parking lot. So, after getting turned around… I went around the block and parked in an appropriate place and entered a small building where we were able to get a copy of her death certificate.
Expecting an APB for a nutcase driving on the sidewalk we packed up and headed back up the hill to Apple Valley.
Another day was spent trying to get an appointment at the bank. The days of walking in and getting help seem to be gone, at least at the bank my parents used. Death certificates, EIN numbers and more are needed to close out accounts that I have to be added to, etc.
Tired and worn out from sleeping on the floor, Elle and I headed home where we are now waiting to see when we can get back into the bank to close accounts. The house is getting paint and new carpet. Our agent is excellent. There are steps to go but I’m happy that my parents set up their passing to make it as easy as possible on us. I knew my Dad was smart, I just never knew he gave a damn. Thanks Dad!