Swistle: “I dreamed we were getting married.”
Paul, without glancing up: “You can’t trap the wind, baby.”
********
Our yard is divided into little gardening plots. Without really thinking about it, earlier in the spring I flung the last of the winter supply of sunflower seeds for the birds out over an area that included part of Paul’s garden. When a whole bunch of little two-rounded-leaves plants that looked just like sunflowers came up in that area, I tried to cover my mistake by transplanting them to my own garden plot. Yesterday Paul asked why I’d planted peppers in my garden plot—and wondered why his own peppers weren’t coming up.
********
I’m trying to motivate myself to do some sort of plan with the kids this summer. My mom used to do a Summer Regimen with us: we had a list of things to do each morning, including a couple of worksheets, some sit-ups and push-ups, a journal entry, and a cleaning chore. On one hand I hated the regimen (including the word “regimen,” which was pronounced with an exaggerated zh sound in the middle), but on the other hand it made the rest of the day feel so much more vacationy: it was like still having school, but only having it for an hour and a half a day with no homework.
********
Paul’s mother’s estate is still not settled (it’s been one year and seven months, which I gather is not incredibly long in estate-settling terms). The last we heard, the lawyer said back in January that everything was just about all set, and that all that was left was for the estate to file the taxes so anything due/refunded could be handled by the estate. Silence since then is making me fret: WHO filed the taxes? It wasn’t supposed to be US, was it? We don’t have anything we’d need to file them; Paul’s sister is the executor, unwise a choice as that seems. Was it supposed to be Paul’s sister but she just finked out because she didn’t feel like it? Were the taxes filed by Paul’s sister or the lawyer, but the lawyer just knows that “several months” in estate time is like being on hold on the phone for a few seconds so there’s no reason to update us? Will we get a packet in the mail any day now because everything is going just fine?
Oh, yes, obviously we could ask the lawyer. Except it’s not “we,” it’s “Paul” who would have to ask the lawyer. And I suppose I could ask Paul to do that, but perhaps you can wincingly imagine how money-hungry and unfeeling it looks for a wife to casually inquire about her disliked mother-in-law’s estate. And although I AM curious if there will be any money, my main concern is the disparity between “when I thought this would be wrapped up and we would in no way be attached to that situation” and “now.” I KNOW estates can take a long time to settle, I KNOW they can—but the lawyer said all that was left was the taxes, and tax time is long over, so…PLEASE FREE US FROM THE HOUSE/SIL ALBATROSS KTHANX.
That estate stuff sounds annoying and stressful and I would be fretting too!
That’s hilarious about the pepper plants…..
You are so prolific on the blogging. You are putting me to shame….. I’m too lazy!
Ha! I love Paul’s comment. Do you know the Donovan song “Catch the Wind”? It’s beautiful.
Either the lawyer or the executrix should have filed the taxes. Despite the fact that these things take a long time, its not a bad idea to prod the lawyer and ask for a status update.
Alternatively, in many states you can check online if your taxes have been filed, if you have the social security number of the filer.
Eesh, maybe you could just casually mention that it seems like it’s taking a long time and hopefully there is nothing WRONG with the taxes. Would that prompt Paul to call?
I think also that suggesting to Paul that while it was (possibly) his sister’s responsibility to file, you are concerned that her demonstrated inability to deal with reality makes you wonder whether she stepped up, and the longer she waits, the worse it will get, and you don’t want things to be worse then necessary for her, so could Paul please check — doing that does not seem like vulture waiting to snack. It seems like weary sister-in-law playing through a worst-case scenario.
“Vulture waiting to snack”—LOVE THAT.
You could also wonder whether there might be any penalties involved if you don’t file within a certain time…just pondering, of course.
Hilarious about the peppers!
I leaked water out of my nose reading about the peppers. Gah, that sounds JUST LIKE something I would do!!
Hilarious!
I love the idea of a regimen. I too have some of those things I HATED from childhood – abuse! I’d think – and now I look back on them fondly as “character building” as my mean parents promised they would be.
All I seem to grow well these days is poison ivy. Apparently I do that real well because it. is. everywhere. Thankfully none of this kids have played in it. Yet.
We have plans for a regimen, but so far the kids have been at my moms. I bought each kid a workbook that transitions to the next grade. It must be sad to the children of two teachers, I am sure they will complain long and hard as teenagers.
Paul wins the day with that answer.
The IRS has a substantial estate backlog right now. Even filings that won’t be audited are staying open for eight-ten months after filing. You should feel free to confirm that the filing has occurred, but no need to fret about the timing!
The IRS has a substantial estate backlog right now. Even filings that won’t be audited are staying open for eight-ten months after filing. You should feel free to confirm that the filing has occurred, but no need to fret about the timing!
Garden story: Hilarious! My peppers didn’t really come up in any bed.
Also, didn’t comment yesterday but wanted to say that I feel sad you couldn’t take the writing job because you are such a great writer BUT maybe that will give you time to work on a parenting/life/advice/memoir/funny book for us all to read more swistle? Hope so! ;)
The pepper transplant tidbit is hysterical. I can see totally imagine you giving a Leslie Nielsen look (a la The Naked Gun or any of his movies, actually) when Paul wondered this. I hope the estate stuff is settled soon so you guys will have it behind you. Happy Friday!
OK, my wish is that the estate stuff has somehow magically already been settled and the lawyer forget to send the paperwork/money and tell you, and now he’s just embarrassed at his gaffe. And I love the regimen idea for both myself AND the kids. (SIt ups and push ups? Your mom was hard core!)
Nolita- Yes, YES! My eyes went darting over to one side, and my face composed itself into guilty-looking innocence!
“You can’t trap the wind, baby” – best line ever.
Did you cop to moving the peppers?
A couple weeks back I planted some cilantro seeds in pots because the little plants in there had dried up and died. A few minutes later I spilled half the bag of seeds over by the fence and decided, oh why not, and covered them with dirt. There are dozens of little cilantro sprouts by the fence now and none in the pot.
Wind comment = +10 awesome points.