I was born in 1954 which in Chinese astrology is the Year of the Horse. This year is the same animal, however they’re vastly different horses. The year I was born, it was the Wood Horse, but this year it’s the Fire Horse. I had wondered why I was feeling this intense burning desire to get things done, and then realized wood feeds fire, so this is going to be a hot and turbulent year.

Not only am I the executor of mom’s will, so have to figure all of that out, but I want to list and sell her property and when I think about the amount of stuff in that house beads of sweat form on my upper lip. So what I need to do to calm down, is to hang around with Goat people, and that includes those born in 1967.

The Goat is the Horse’s best friend. This is perfect as Margaret was born that year, and we’re off to the hot Yucatan and Belize next month so we’ll see if she can provide a cooling effect. In general, though I have to be mindful of not acting in a speedy manner and have to be strategic in all that I do. If the property doesn’t sell, it doesn’t sell. I have to be patient.

The one incredible ace in the hole we have is that the property can be used for short term rental.

I want to write a memoir of life with Mom, but I’m avoiding it entirely and have written a book for kids ages 7 – 9 instead. This makes sense as I figure just like with cold water, I need to slowly ease myself into it. It turned out to be quite enjoyable to write this little book as I used Louie and Frieda as dachshunds who fancy themselves the crime stoppers of the neighbourhood.

Because of the age group I’ve asked Trevor to show me ten illustrations that would go with key points in each chapter. As usual, it’ll cost hundreds of dollars to put this little book on Amazon that may sell a dozen copies. I’m obviously not in this for the money.

I’m relieved and celebratory to have made it to the 30 days past mom’s death date so that I’m now in charge of everything. This is a normal stipulation in a will, but with mom and her voodoo it was always spooky. Once Freddie had died, she was all cocky and would say “we’ll see who’s gonna die next.”

I would get crazy with ire and tell her to stop putting a curse on me, to which she’d shrug and sniff, “I’m just saying, you never know.” Then I would reply “please stop it.” To which she would say “These days anything could happen.” And this would go on until I would leave the room and go outside to scream. I say to people, I argued with Mom until five days before she died.

A few weeks ago I was driving my neighbours to the airport, and as Jim has mechanical skills, and in fact has replaced all four of my brakes, I said to him my headlight dimmer isn’t working. I said it’s fine on low beam, but when I want high beam I have to pull the lever toward me and hold it. He said “um, push the lever forward.”

I said, “Oh my God I’ve had this car for almost nine years, and I’ve been pulling the lever toward me to get the high beam.” He said, “that’s for flashing your lights to warn drivers.” I’ve laughed so hard since then thinking of all the times people must’ve thought there was some hazard up ahead and slowed down looking for it. I’m a complete idiot.