Janet's San Diego Scene, Part 2 -- from Mortgage Broker to Widow: Lake Almanor

Showing posts with label Lake Almanor. Show all posts

Depression Addressed, A New Venture in Fall 1998

Dec 9, 1998 I can't believe I have not written in her for so long. it was extremely hot in this apartment last summer and I was so depressed. Nadine and I did buy bicycles, hers is red, mine is yellow and at first we were riding and walking on alternate days and then we just rode our bikes and it has been great, down by the ocean, around the bay. But, I have been eating too much and putting on lbs and it is very cold out.

In summer went to WMA in Las Vegas, enjoyed that very much. In August had a Hardy FamilyReunion in Nevada and then went on to Zion with the Pulsipher and stayed at Buffalo Bills. Meagan and I really had an enjoyable time, visited Alan's summer home and Miriam's, too. Both very comfortable and nice.

Then I got so depressed again I decided to call Kaiser and I met with a therapist and he put me on Elavil and met with several times in the last three months and then for Thanksgiving I went to Susanville and Maria drove me to Clear Creek and Lake Almanor Country Club and I fell in love with the area!!!! The drive up the snowy hill with tall snow covered trees on each side was magic!!!

It is a gated community on a huge lake. The tranquility, the beauty, the peace! We drove around and looked at a few places for sell in my low price range and I was attracted to one especially, so Maria made an appt with a realtor.

We went back on a beautiful snowy day, the realtor was very pleasant and the house I was interested in..1248 sq ft with large pine tree lot..front and back deck..three bedroom. I felt an immediate "good feeling."

I asked the realtor, "Why do I like this one so well?" He said, "It has a more woodsy feeling." Anyway I just felt this area was perfect for me and this house was perfect for me but I did not want to think too rashly so I slept on it and prayed about it. By now I had stopped taking the Elavil and I was feeling pretty good. Anyway two days later I told Mark how I felt about the area and my need to leave the city and get on with my life and how I felt it was for me.

Then I called the realtor and told him exactly what I wanted to offer ($110,000) though it was listed at $129,000) and since I was leaving that night he said he'd run a verbal by them. I felt so in control of my life, so certain that I was needed in the Branch there, so sure that that house would be perfect for me and I should be there and I would feel the peace I am seeking and the area was all I had hoped for, a kind of getting back to my roots, a small town, I felt energized and such gratitude for finally getting an answer to my prayers of where I should be. I would still have to work it out. but it certainly a lot cheaper there.

Anyway the people did not respond. It was owned by four children that had to make a decision and they would be taking a loss. I did not see how I could afford anymore. I am praying we can compromise some way. Jeanne said she would loan me money and Martin said he would help if needed. I was grateful for both.

I felt Richard was helping to make it happen for me. He always wanted me to be able to keep my house and probably will not rest well until I have my house in the mountains. Camber said she can imagine Richard talking to the couple up there and telling them how much I need that house. Everyone is rooting for me, I think.

Dec10, 1998 I talked to John and he does not see how I can afford to do this!

Oh, and the people came back at $118,000 and I said, "Yes". I feel so right and clear. I feel it is an answer to my prayers. Here's hoping I can figure out the money!!!! I am pulled my money out of the investment I put the proceeds from the sale of the house in as it has grown so amazingly and I do not want any surprises to change that!!! I need every penny I can get. With a 25% down the underwriting is a lot less stringent.

I called Maria and told her about the acceptance and about talking to John, he made me cry, and Maria made me feel better!

My News About Lake Almanor to Meagan and Christmas 1998

Meagan is attending college at UCSD, Davis near Sacramento and we email quite often. I tell her all about finding the house I want to buy in Lake Almanor, Northern California!!

Lots of good information so I am saving it here.

I enjoyed the emails back and forth with Meagan while she was in college. I usually gave her a message for the day at the end.

One I certainly find to be true as I get older was this, "Middle age is when you have two choices and you choose the one that gets you home earlier."--Old age is when you have two choices also--TV or Bed!"

Christmas 1998

Christmas at Park City was so good. I enjoyed being with the grandchildren so much. We did tubing and ice skating and eating. I have not skied in years, too hard on my knees. I so appreciated the family being there. I did manage to get some pictures but not of everyone...duh.

Pix from their home

Surprised I could still skate with my old ankles. Skating was a big part of my life as a child and teenager...both roller skating as a child on the sidewalks, then roller skating as teenagers in the barn to music and ice skating every winter at the baseball field. Great memories of skating but no skiing.

They played a fun game here, kept having everyone change positions and then snap pictures. Who was snapping pix?????

The Start of a Good Life Again! Jacob Is Born-My Mother Passes Away 1999

January 6, 1999 I had two weeks in Utah. Cold in Park City and I stayed with Meagan and John. Wish I had made Meagan's Christmas better but we did have a tree and nice get together. John brought pies and rice jambalaya and polenta.

John looks good, lost weight. We had fun with Maria and Linda's families though Linda was having lots of car trouble.

Will a San Diego Bandido like the Snow???

The second week I went to Jeanne's and James and Camber brought Bandido up. I had a lovely lazy tine, helped feed and care for Mom some. She is sleeping so much now but her skin looks beautiful. Carole came down and Jeanne took us to a Club she belongs to. There were lots of nice couples with lovely lives and homes it appears.

I am having problems getting the loan from Washington Mutual. They want 3 years distance from my bankruptcy. I am sending copy package to Maria's bank and I sent one to Dr. W. I surely don't like taking care of all these things by myself. I am feeling uneasy and uncertain and eating lots of candy.

I talked to my realtor in Lake Almanor and told him I am determined to make it work. He says he is taking 10 days off and coming down to see me? I think he is just being nice. I like him very much as a person and friend but surely I am too old for anything else. A friend is nice anyway. He is feeling lonely and sad. I so want to be up there. It is so hard to figure this out by myself. Maria is being very helpful though and with all her experience I really appreciate that. Have not seen any money from M so probably they changed their mind.

I have had to get into all the old bk papers and it is hard to remember those terrible months after Richard died. Why did all this happen to me? I pray I find the peace and joy I am seeking.

January 8, 1999 Dr. W will not be a back up for a private loan. Too far away. I was so sure I could make this work but it does seem impossible. This is why I hate to want for anything, because then I get disappointed. I feel so alone and unable to deal with this. Dr. W never knew Richard had to do a bankruptcy because of that deal he tried to save. All I heard about was the problems Dr. W had with his money. Richard really took good care of him and he was a very good client for Richard. Why do some people have so much and some so little. Have I not worked hard? Richard said you have to work smart, not hard.

If WM won't do it or Tri Country, then I do not know what to do. What will become of me? I should have followed the fortune cookie advice and kept my plans secret instead of blabbing to the whole world and actually being happy for a change. I really thought Dr. W might say he would be my back up. Me, who never used to cry, now I cry all the time.

January 8, 1999 Washington Mutual just approved me for 8.5% for 3 years and then rolls into an adjustable--not bad for a 574 Fico!!! My loan officer said I must have been an excellent loan processor because I presented such good documentation. I feel so good, I thank my Heavenly Father for answering my prayers. I can proceed with my plans, maybe my "mission" is up in Lake Almanor.

January 16, 1999 I went to breakfast with Joanne, Doreen, Esther and Doris from 7th Ward. It was my "birthday" breakfast and I shared with them my plans to move. It was very nice of them all and I think they think I am crazy but wished me well.

Meagan brought me over three books for my birthday "to start me on my reading the Classics project". When I get all our stuff ready for the tax people, then I can start reading.

Frank S called and wanted me to work for him! Richard's good client Mr. L called and said he would be my back up on my house purchase and he would come and see me up there. Evidently it is a favorite fishing place of his. He said his children would not like it but he appreciated Richard so much he wanted to help me!!! Wow, I feel so happy, I can proceed without fear and know it can work!!!

January 31, 1999 I enjoyed going to the fireside honoring the new Stake President and release of the present one. I saw many of the people I had known from the stake and enjoyed talking to them. Jolene's husband had to get a pacemaker and has had more dementia, so hard for her. Seems we all have our problems. Enjoyed talking to Ed, his wife died in January 1996, such a good man, I really enjoyed working with him in Stake Primary.

I talked to Ray and then John, they are going to do a septic and clean up debris. I will have to take care of the rest after taking possession.

February 1, 1999 Feeling great joy and gratitude for everything and so excited about the new adventure. Just read through here and how my feelings have evolved over the last two years. I really feel a part of 7th Ward now and have enjoyed the people and teaching the Brigham Young lessons. They have all been so complimentary and say how much they will miss me. Diane told me they probably have never had a teacher as good as me at Lake Almanor. Note: I will find out that most all of the Clear Creek Branch are excellent teachers!!! Really outstanding!

Nadine and I have been eating out on Sundays and I have enjoyed that. She has been such a good friend, I will miss her a lot!!! The stake president's wife told me she admired how much I have grown since my original depressed state after my husband died. She said all people do not do that. I hardly know her but appreciated her observation. She said she appreciated my lessons and was very nice.

I certainly have come out of my depressed shell and have such a feeling of gratitude. I can't believe how much more confidence I have in myself, how beloved and happy I feel most of the time and how I fill my life with activity and don't mind being alone. I told Ed that I just need a laugh a day. I feel so right about this move.

February 2, 1999 Camber and Jimmy are at the hospital!!! They started Camber's labor because the heart rate of the baby slowed down. I have been praying all would be well. I had this terrible dream a few weeks ago. We were at a pool and everyone was dressed in white and a woman and a man (Richard?) were tossing a baby back and forth and the baby boy fell under the water too long and did not come up and I was so upset and could not do anything. I kept trying to get the man to help the baby up out of the water and it wasn't happening and I woke up so distressed.

I tried to put the dream out of my mind and I did until l went to the Temple and then it all came back to me so vividly and I have been praying ever since for Camber to have a good birth and all well with the baby. I was not sure what it all meant and I worry too much I know but now is the time and by morning we will know if all is well and now James called with this. I better pray some more.

John left a message on my answering machine that he would call in the morning.

February 3, 1999 James called and said they would be doing a Caesarean because of the cord around the neck. I drove as quickly as I could praying all the way. As I neared the Linda Vista road I saw the vision of Richard in my mind reaching down and pulling the baby up out of the water and I realized he had been trying to pull him up and now succeeded and I knew all would be well with the baby.

I got to the hospital and found where they were and a nurse told me to watch in the window and I would see my son bring the baby out. Sure enough he did. I went in a little later and saw him. A beautiful healthy son stretching and stretching. So thankful!

Jacob, a little older than a newborn. Such a cutie.

February 5, 1999 Mom passed away in her sleep. Jeanne was working and did not hear her make a sound. She had been eating less and less. It was a blessing. I had put her name in at the Temple on Thursday night along with Camber and James.

February 9, 1999 We had Mom's funeral at 11 today. Yesterday Jeanne and Marilyn and I went to the funeral home and dressed her in beautiful Temple clothes she had selected some time ago.

Norma, Jenny, Stan, Brian and Missy Thayne

Angel in the Airport, 1999

Trying to attend my mother's funeral and yet getting back in time to San Diego to catch the plane to go to Chester for an important escrow meeting was extremely difficult and I do not think I would have made the connections if it had not been for this college girl who helped me at the airport. It was most extraordinary.