Today 17Oct2023: Tuesday

We are just back from Portland. I wanted to try out the Brazil place while Linda is here, a chain restaurant, but still a fav: Fogo de Chão. This is the less formal and slightly less efficient but extra friendly Portland, come as you are, version. The food was endless, served by the slice on a shaft, some excellent and others good–none boring. I got a text from a friend from work in Brazil, and I ordered the recommended drink, sweat, and good: caipirinha. Linda had not done the Brazil steak experience and soon drowned in meat and the salad bar. The wine was good, too; we picked a Malbac. Linda loved it all.

We enjoyed an excellent dinner, and the folks next to us kept saying no more, then saw what was offered and called it over. It’s fun to watch. We did not do dessert or the shrimp cocktail–too much! It is an excellent time and a good distraction. Recommended, but be hungry and bring friends.

Before this, we were at the house; we unloaded Air Volvo and placed the boxes of Susie’s stuff in the house to be unpacked later. I spoke to Barb, Susie’s sister, and she suggested we hold back the t-shirts and other shirts as folks turn them into a quilt or pillowcases. We had stopped by the hummingbird house and picked up the last items. I also reset the Alexa and let Jennifer have that. I don’t need that one for the house. I was surprised to learn, as we were headed in (I called ahead), that apparently, I had purchased the bed and wheelchair–that explains the high rent cost and why I was not paying now (I thought I had reached some insurance max, not that I bought them). How bizarre.

I had forgotten about the rocking chair, and we managed to squeeze that in with the boxes and the bookshelf Barb bought for Susie. I put the wheelchair carefully over the stuff. Susie’s room is now ready for some paint and the next person. We wish them well; it is excellent care, and I am happy to pass the room to the next person.

Michelle Nixon found a home for the bed, excellent. That was not fitting in Air Volvo!

We delivered the wheelchair to Goodwill, and last we saw, the folks were playing with it, pushing each other in it as Goodwill. A happy new beginning for it. Good vibes, I think.

Before this, we were at the house, and I connected with the insurance and printed out all the documents. I hand-filled out a printed copy. I had opened a bank account in my trading account in my name and social security number. Our usual checking account is in Susie’s name and SSN. This was a marriage agreement; all the money would be in Susie’s name. But for payments to me from independent entities, like insurance companies, the name and SSN must match–thus, I have a Morgan Stanley bank account. I had to use that for this.

I called the funeral home, Ron, at Threadgill’s in Beaverton. I gave the final accent to Susie’s last trip. Ron asked about my tests. I forgot we had mentioned it, and he was relieved to hear that the cancer scan was negative. Susie’s ashes will be returned to me in the future. We have no plans yet for them.

I connected, by email, with John Nilsen on future plans. He believes he could do some concerts as a celebration for Susie. He is booked mostly until Feb 2024, but that works for us. I will work with the church folks and pastors to set dates and a plan. We hope to do a concert at First UMC in Beaverton and one at Grace UMC Lansing. More to follow, but do not expect you have to suddenly plan for a memorial for Susie.

Linda made me a bagel, missing the NYC in the freezer and instead finding a bagel-like product there, but it was still kind. I ate that, with cream cheese, while writing the blog this morning. Linda also made me lunch by reheating the pasta from the previous dinner out. It was still excellent.

Nike sent flowers to the house. Very kind.

I assembled the insurance papers and a card for Michelle Nixon and her staff.

We stopped by the post office and sent the papers cheaply, under $2. The first inexpensive thing! We must wait for the death certificate (the long version) before completing the process. That will take a month. So, there’s no rush.

That is my lovely bride, ready for the next adventure in her black hat, favorite coat, and the luggage behind her at the airport back in 2006 @ PDX. Our first trip to Las Vegas for a computer conference.

Thanks for reading!