- We’ve gotten to know the road between our house and Soda Springs very well. We’re actually quite entertained by the road construction between McCammon and Lava and between Fish Creek Pass and Soda Springs. It’s interesting to see what has changed since we were through there last. Last usually means yesterday.
- Life insurance companies definitely aren’t interested in talking to you. I’m sure it’s because they will have to pay out money. In every case they send a claim form in the mail, which we should receive in seven to ten business days. After verifying the claim, they’ll make a payout in six to eight weeks.
- Of all the agencies and companies I’ve talked with in the last several days, the most helpful, courteous, and quick was the Veterans Administration. They had the shortest wait time before answering the phone, and were very quick and efficient. Kudos to the VA!
- Social Security was an interesting phone call. I was put on hold six times during the conversation so the guy on the other end could enter some information in the computer. While on hold, music would play for about ten seconds followed by an announcement that they’re sorry I’m having to wait so long, but stay on the line and I’ll surely get helped. However, maybe I could do whatever it was I was doing using the internet. Then ten seconds or so of music and a repeat of the announcement. Each of the holds was fairly long, six to ten minutes, and it didn’t seem like it should take the guy that long to do something. I got very tired very quickly of the announcement.
- A Power of Attorney isn’t much help if it doesn’t have language that provides for survivor rights. Otherwise, the power of attorney becomes immediately null and void when the principle dies. The lawyer in town is doing up some new power of attorney forms for mother on an emergency basis. We need them right now.
- Funerals, particularly those for people who have lived long, good lives, are great family reunions as well. It looks like sixty or seventy relatives will show up for the funeral and burial on Saturday.
- Dad’s absolute favorite beverage was Caffeine Free Diet Coke (and his most disliked beverage was plain old water). Mother, being the frugal and prepared person she is, has six cases of Caffeine Free Diet Coke in the hallway. No one else there drinks the stuff (who wants water that has been artificially carbonated and then laced with chemicals to make it taste sweet with a Coca Cola flavor?). The suggestion on the table is to take it down to the nursing home so they can have a party….
- It’s impossible, I think, to write an obituary that is absolutely correct. Errors of omission are much more difficult to spot than mistakes in what is written. I got a phone call from someone in Blackfoot, Idaho this morning. Dad’s obituary was printed in today’s Idaho State Journal where that person had read it. They called with condolences and to point out two errors of omission. The obituary is posted in this blog … but I’ve already corrected it so you’ll not know what I left out.
- My sister Eileen suggests that proof reading has to be done by the most obnoxious person associated with whatever is being printed. They’ll be sure to ridicule every mistake. On the other hand, close friends / relatives don’t make good proof readers. They assume I know what I’m doing.
- Nina and I have been called as Ordinance Workers at the Idaho Falls Temple. On Friday mornings, starting tomorrow, we need to be in the Temple, dressed in our white clothes, and in the chapel ready for prayer meeting at 5:00 a.m. That means getting up at 3 a.m. and driving away from the house at 3:45 a.m. I’m not looking forward to the early mornings, but I am really looking forward to working in the Temple once again.
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Roland; Congratulations on being called as ordinance workers in the Temple.
As for the obit. and the supposed errors, don’t sweat the small stuff. Having worked as an assistant editor for a genealogical magazine I quickly learned that it is impossible to catch and fix all the errors. Our eyes no matter how well trained will make assumptions as to what is written. I remember we had a picture of General Eisenhower that had been reversed and he was then saluting with his left hand rather than the right. I looked at the picture nearly a dozen of times and the day the material was to go to the printer I happened to look at the picture in the course of doing something else and realized the error.
You have not begun to have fun with the aftermath of a death and waiting for Social Security is just the beginning. Now isn’t that a bit of comfort? Have a great day tomorrow and we will see you on Saturday morning.
Glad so many family members are going to be with you’all. Bobbie and I even talked of making the trek, but decided you would be so busy with family and everything else, now would not be a good time. Know that we remember you in our prayers and the best to you during your remarks tomorrow.