Sometimes the dithering between couples, the lack of decision, the refusal to take the helm, is for a reason. I have learned to listen to that nagging feeling of dread. Sometimes. Cause I almost always have a nagging feeling of dread and one of these days I may go get a prescription for it.
But back to the point: we didn't go away and the following reasons proved us right:
- heavy rain followed by heavy wind even through last night;
- Mr. Pom got a major flat, which would have been a blow out on the highway; and
- our 25 year old furnace bit the dust, causing a racket, alarm, and expensive overtime Sunday morning visit .
And if all those things are destined to happen, I'd rather deal with it from home than from 240 miles away.
The bad news is that we have to decide about buying a new furnace for a 100 year old house that will cost almost 5 figures; or spend a low 4 figures just to replace the motor on a 25 year old furnace; or spend just over 5 figures and get a 97% efficient furnace AND CENTRAL AIR.
For once, I was the one saying: Are you out of your mind? Just replace the motor! We have a wedding to pay for!
Then The Son The Engineer (a/k/a Mystery Man) phoned and said, "Mother (oh he's so grown up now!), Dad's right: it is an investment in the capital of the house. You're not going to live there another 25 years and it will make it more saleable." Yeah, whatever. We still don't have the money.
And then he said The Magic Words: "You won't have to hassle with those stupid window a/c units anymore".
Be still my heart! No more being locked in the bedrooms, the only cool places in the hot summer? No more yanking the units in and out and dragging them one flight up to the attic or two flights down to the basement? No more sweating to death trying to fry a burger in the kitchen because there's no a/c in there? No more having guests feel like they are eating next to a jet engine when the monstrous downstairs window unit is on?
OH well, what's a retirement fund anyway? I could get hit by a bus tomorrow!
If you need me, I am under the covers, sitting atop our heated mattress pad. I have a pot roast in the oven just to have it turned on; Mr. Pom has claimed the chair next to the fireplace; The Princess has an electric radiator heater; the dogs will lay on top of me, double the warmth; and we will keep the hot water running after we get out of the shower tomorrow so we can get dresed for work without turning into popsicles.
Of course, a few more 62 degrees would solve all, but it's 31 right now and last night while it was snowing, we noticed that our neighbor's cherry tree had flowered. The magenta blossoms looked pretty with snowflakes on them.
The winter when no one knew whether they were coming or going.
