Wife appreciation day

Sunday, I think, was supposed to be the national day to appreciate your wife. Well, I found out late and haven't gotten around to it until now.
If you have a wife, you know that they should be appreciated every day. It's only right. But on special occasions, the appreciation should be cranked up a little, at least. Here's my feeble attempt at appreciating my wife.

Coco,

Thank you for many things. In no particular order:

• For being on a domestic mission since the fire. I think the washer, dryer and dishwasher have been running nearly constantly since Aug. 9. I could probably count on one hand how many times I have turned one of those machines on.
• For being the good cop to my bad cop routine. Not that you're soft, but our kids definitely need their mommy to keep things a little more fun and loose. Otherwise they would be sentenced to Daddy's Hardcore Training Camp for Kiddos. Only slightly kidding.
• For caring enough about your work to get stressed and feel responsibility. You know I've always admired the career you've built for yourself.
• For being my partner during the chaotic time pre- and post-fire. Having babies is chaotic enough. Dealing with the aftermath of a fire is enough. Combining the two is insane. I couldn't conquer insane without you.
• For knowing what a young Fitzgerald looks like and caring enough about literature that you talk to me about it every chance you get and swoon when your students are getting it.
• For listening when this post-fire business gets to be, well, shitty. And for venting right back.
• For just being a solid mom and person who doesn't do things you shouldn't do.

That's all I've got for right now. I'm five minutes late coming home and you're cooking spaghetti. I don't want to miss that.

Love you.

Personal contents inventory

We had at least 1,747 items in our house. That doesn’t include clothes, even. Doesn’t that seem like a really large number?

Today we received an inventory of items that the insurance would pay to replace. If you want to try a fun game, review a print out of every item in your house that now resides in a land fill or exists as a pile of ashes. Fun times!

I was beginning to think I had this situation emotionally whipped. I’ve seen the house as it has entered the demolition phase and I’ve adapted. I’m used to seeing a dumpster full of wall fragments in our yard. Today though, after going over this list, I’m a little out of sorts.

First of all, how much of that stuff can we live without? Half of it? A quarter? I’m in the mood to simplify but I acknowledge that we have to furnish a house for four people.

Secondly, we want to be good stewards with the money we receive to replace these items, as well as the money we’ve received from many, many generous people. Scrutinizing a list of 1,750 items while trying to be a good steward is a dizzying task. I’m happy that I don’t have to replace all of these items today.

Third, what didn’t make the list? I look through it and think of something here and there, but it’s incredibly difficult. I do know that the liquor bottles (especially a bottle of Blanton’s that was given to me as a wedding present) were not listed, as they were residing on a high shelf in a room that was hard to access after the fire.

Fourth, are things that we need to replace adequately priced on our inventory list? I’ve found a few things already that aren’t in line with the actual cost or are an incorrect item. I lost an iPad in the blaze, but my replacement is listed as an iPad mini. Nope. It was an iPad. That’s what I want to replace it (I’m not criticizing anyone here, as I’m sure it’s easy to make a mistake or two on a list with over 1,700 items. I’m also sure it’s easily fixed with a call or text to my adjuster).

My head is swimming today. Look at all this stuff. How can I be a good steward? What can we live without?

I know one thing: I could use a drink of the Blanton’s that was left off the list. You better believe I’ll be emailing that change over.