Transitions

Life is full of many transitions, which vary greatly in terms of magnitude. Earlier this month our bodies needed to adjust to a three-hour time difference. When we traveled to Seattle on August 29, we arrived at the airport a little after midnight PST, which was even later according to our bodies. Although it wasn't pleasant to stay up that late that night, it did assist us in transitioning fairly quickly to the time change. On our way home, we left San Francisco around 9 am (PST), and by the time we arrived at home it was almost 1 am (EST). It was hard to get up the next morning, but otherwise the transition hasn't been difficult. We did two days of schoolwork that week. Last week we had a field trip to Curtin Village and Bald Eagle State Park on Monday, and this week we have a field trip to the Lumber Museum on Friday so the week of October 2 will be the first week of this new school year that we'll have five days of school. 

Paul has been undergoing a more significant transition lately. He and his brother sold the company at the end of July. Al's last day at work was September 13. Towards the end of our vacation there was a problem at the plant which meant Paul had to make a lot of phone calls to try to be of assistance. He went back to work on September 14 and was able to solve the problem the following day. We are very grateful he has been able to sell the company. The two benefits we knew we'd miss were #1 the company paying most of the cost of Paul and I having cell phones and #2 our dental insurance. I took the kids to the dentist on September 14. It was the first time in 20 years that we haven't had dental insurance as I had it as a professor and then more recently, we had it through Paul's business. I had a bit of sticker shock as the bill for the three kids came to a little over $700. I wasn't anticipating it would be that high. We thought that what we would save in gasoline once he stops driving to the plant would cover the additional costs for cell phones and dental care. I was wrong. We're still very grateful that he was able to sell the company. Paul has had very little time to invest in what he plans to make his new career (day trading and such), but he did have success (his biggest to date) right before we left on vacation. Currently, he's receiving a salary from the new owner. 

Yesterday Paul decided not to go to work. In the afternoon I suggested that we go to Verizon so he could close the business account and open a personal account. I was thinking we'd sign up for the plan that would cost $25 per line per month if we had four lines. Well, it turns out it's going to cost more than that partially because the cell phone Nadia has been using for 15 months (which was Paul's mom's phone prior to her passing in 2021) is now too old to be used on a Verizon plan. We were given some $ by trading that phone in. And the phone that had been Shawn's that we were going to give Ian was WAY too old to be used and wasn't worth a dime as a trade-in. We were there for hours because it took time for the guy to make all the changes. Paul kept his phone, but it had to be moved from the business account to our new personal account. What has been my phone for 2.5 years became Nadia's phone yesterday. It's an iPhone 11. We got Ian an Android (Samsung) that was "free" (not really because our plan is costing more per month because we didn't bring in four phones). I wasn't thinking I needed a new phone, but as of yesterday evening I now own my third smart phone. I started with an iPhone 5, went to an 11 in 2021, and now have a 15. We made the mistake of getting the accessories in the Verizon store. Ouch was that expensive! We've never done that before and hopefully won't do it again as it's much cheaper to buy a case on Amazon. Two things we purchased were because they've changed what type of cords are used by phones since the last time any of us got a phone. And we splurged and got screen protectors for my phone and Ian's phone. The kids and I have never had one before and never had a cracked screen, but the salesperson was very convincing. So, we spent about $400 yesterday, and soon we'll start having a monthly cell phone bill, which we haven't had for a little over 7 years. Ian wasn't supposed to receive a phone until December 12 so he's getting his phone 2.5 months early. We have about three years until we will be getting Oliver a phone.