Sigh of Relief

Today the court approved the final accounting and distribution of my dad's estate.

And a new chapter begins.  When we are children, we think the world is going to crumble if our parents don’t let us have ice cream after dinner. The obstacles continue as we get older – and then become progressively more difficult. Moving to Ohio as a teenager and struggling to pay bills – therefore finding comfort in a piece of plastic and then climbing our way out of debt. Learning to function as a military spouse – the lonliness of deployments and pressures from a boss that will have his way no matter your justification for what is more logical. I could keep going. But the past two years have been, by far, the most difficult. My Father died. I could be selfish and say that I wish he had fallen ill so I had the chance to say goodbye and so he would have had the opportunity to get his assets in order. Though I got to say goodbye. Just not in a sad or mourning way. Instead I got to walk a few miles with him every morning, cook dinner while constantly avoiding chicken – it wasn’t his favorite – so we ate steak at least twice a week, operate his business together – hand in hand, him teaching me to be a better wife – taking my hubby cheese, crackers and a beer before dinner, sharing stories about his experiences as an engineer and my favorite, baking all sorts of yummy things – pies, cookies, banana pudding.  My Dad made me feel like a saint when it comes to making dessert. (Someday I’ll attempt his famous cheesecake.)  Quickly after my Dad passed away all hell broke loose. I could moan and groan about the last 23 months. I could explain the chain of events. I could explain the spite of an individual who is biologically a relation to me.  Instead I have decided to thank my AMAZING husband, sister-in-law, mother, brother and each and every friend. You have been the ears to listen. You have been the backbone when I wanted to waver. You have been the shoulder or the ear on the other end of the phone line when I am crumbling. Thank you. Thank you for your strength. I promise to be there when you need me. Because I’ve used more than my share of emotional and physical support over the past year. Thank you. Mike and Kristi are strangers to me. As I am a stranger to them. Based on the past 23 months, we’ll never know one another. My only explanation to their actions, Mike in particular, is his desire to punish our Father by expressing hatred towards me. I’ve approached everything as fairly, morally and ethically strong as I possibly could. I hope that Mike and Kristi have found the peace in their hearts to put their relationship with our Father behind them. I am incredibly lucky to be able to place my relationship with my Dad in front of me and know that I have made him proud and I will continue to make him proud.  It’s time for my energy to be on the future. Today marks the end of the Estate. A new chapter begins.