Can We Talk 2

Headaches

         It's hard to believe I went over a year without migraines, but this year, I am on my third round, which will last 2 to 6 weeks. Take too many prescriptions for any pain killer stronger than Tylenol. And I'm limited on those! There are other kinds of headaches, too.

         I've been paying probate taxes for several years because we haven't sold my dad's house. I'm living in it, per the instructions of his will. I can't afford to buy out the others, and my share won't get me another place to live in my state. I hired a lawyer to take the house out of probate. He charged me a lot of money and said I could do it myself. I think he misunderstood something. I can't find an accountant experienced in computing probate taxes to let me know what to pay, and the county is not helpful.

         I'm having solar panels installed, but that is in stages and will take about a month. I'm leasing, not buying. It might help the sale of the house once I see whether it really reduces my electric bill. I'm all about saving money now that I am on a fixed income. Everything costs more than it did last year. In two years, my auto insurance doubled. Everyone is in the same boat on paying out more than they have coming in. So we all have that headache.

         I'm trying to help my church plan a first time ever community event where we provide food, music, a bouncy house and games. We'll have door prizes for anyone willing to give us an email. We'll also have face painting and beer pong, make that church pong, with small prizes. It will be outdoors with several popup canopies, chairs, and porta-potties. There are so many details. It could be a big flop or we might not have enough space. But it's an exciting kind of headache.

         On the other hand, I've been reading Walt Whitman. Page after page of depressing stuff, no matter how beautiful the language or the great imagery from nature. Then my head hurts too much to keep my glasses on, so I stop.

         At least with a headache of some kind, you know you're still alive.