a little qualification

On the state of my father. In retrospect I fear I made him sound worse than he actually is. Which is bad enough, but I should have pointed out that he does have at least a little excuse for being so, ummmm, crazy about the mortgage payment. He has never had to pay the bills – my mother always took care of everything like that. He dropped out of school when he was 13, he left home and went to a WPA work camp when he was 14, he joined the Navy when he was 15 and I’m pretty sure he’s a little dyslexic. He thinks he’s not smart, even though he can do pretty much anything. He built their house when they got married. He built this amazing set of steps and platforms and railings and flower boxes down the hill in front of their house a few years ago, and didn’t even sketch a plan out. Just went out and built it. So yeah, he’s smart, but he doesn’t think so. He’s never read well, can’t spell and doesn’t like to have to write anything. So he’s very paranoid about things like doing the bills. I don’t think it’s because he can’t do it – I think it’s because he doesn’t think he can do it. He’s afraid of them.  

And when he hasn’t paid a bill in, well, his LIFE probably, why start now?

Of course his weird stories that don’t make sense aren’t a good sign. But it’s not like he’s taken this sudden alarming turn for the worse. I also think that living with my mother and her total lack of short-term memory makes him prone to not making sense himself. I know when I’ve spent a few days with them, I make no sense at all. It’s like you go into some strange alternate universe. Anyhow, I think they’re both functioning very well overall. It’s just stuff like the mortgage payment brouhaha that drive me completely nuts.

So Saturday I did indeed go down to Asheville. And spent a couple of hours with them, and filled out the mortgage payment.

And while writing the check I looked at the statement and realized that it’s due…. May 1. Which would not be the next first of the month we experience. That would be April. It’s due May 1.  It’s not due for a month and a half!!!  

So yes! Yes, I did make a trip down there for nothing!! Apparently it’s always been due a month and a half after they receive it, but I never ever noticed. Neither did Daddy, who does at least try to keep track of the due dates on things. We both saw it’s due on the first of the month, and just assumed that meant the first of the month after he gets the bill. Although I did think it was really odd and inconvenient that they would only give him a week’s turnaround, since he never got it till the middle of the month. I took a deposit slip so I can set up online payments in case I need them anyhow. I noticed that the numbers he was rattling off to me Friday were actually the ones I needed, too. Never did figure out where the first bunch came from.

Well, now we know. And I actually had a very nice day. I wandered around downtown, I took pictures, I went to Biltmore Village where I rarely go. It’s this really cute little historic area near Biltmore House, with little cottages and outlandishly expensive shops. It’s lots of fun to wander around, although parking is a nightmare which is why I don’t go often. And I took a leisurely drive home the back way, through a more remote area than I usually go. And it was hot!! And springlike! And things are blooming madly! So that made me very happy.

And since I can’t think of a thing else to say, I’ll post some pictures. Of the arrival of spring! Not that it can’t still snow, but at least it’s encouraging.

Phlox in Biltmore Village. I LOVE phlox.

Blossoms in front of the Flat Iron Building!

Things turning green in Biltmore Village!

A little of the pretty village streets.

Odd tree ornaments. I didn’t think this would come out well at all, but I kind of like it.

One of the parents’ trees in bloom.