A New Life Plan

I decided I need to clarify what my priorities are in my new situation beholding to no one. First of all, I have to take care of business: Mom's estate, her accounts, propery and taxes. This includes filing insurance claims. So far, claims have been filed with five different insurors with more to be done. It is time-consuming and tedius, but I am motivated because I am looking for sufficient benefits that will tide me over until June when I will begin receiving Social Security Widow's benefits and begin monthly draw down on two annuity plans. Also lumped into this 'taking care of business' category is the writing of thank you notes to the dozens of sympathizers who reached out in very real ways during mother's brief hospitalization and subsequent death. I find I cannot dash through these notes. Each one is different and a genuine expression of my appreciation. It's a good day if I can write five of these.
My next major priority is to revise, expand and edit the collection of stories Mom wrote about her days in the American Red Cross stationed in Burma. A first draft in published form was produced by my son Aron five years ago with an online publishing website. The results were a smashing success, but there is a bit more work to be done adding a few stories and photos and making some minor edits that Mom wanted. The book is called "I was There: Memoirs of the forgotten theater of WWII--China-Burma-India." I have promised to complete the work by this summer when we make our pilgrimmage to Michigan to scatter her ashes in the presence of her immediate and extended family.
Priority number three involves my taking a few road trips over the next few months to visit specific friends and family. The first of these will be to Chattanooga in April to visit my friend Pam. I also plan to visit Arkansas, Iowa and Florida in the coming months. I hope to take a few other excursions for other purposes as well.
The fourth major priority is to continue work on my book about...my two extraordinary sons. More about that in future posts. I completed three chapters nearly 5 years ago, but had to put it aside while I was busy being a caregiver.
Another major priority is to find ways to be useful to others. I have volunteered to go on a mission trip in April to poor areas of the Cumberland Plateau near the Big South Fork area of Tennessee. This is an opportunity through my church where I will be helping to do home repairs. "Have toolbox will travel" type thing. I'm enjoying my renewed relationship with my church and have spoken to church leaders about improving disability access at the church.
The last priority on my list is home improvement: painting a room or two indoors and making some changes outside as well.
Well, so that's what I have on my list of priorities. I suppose I should write a mission statement to capture desired outcomes for my life. It could be as simple as, to be happy, be useful and to live within my means. :)