When it rains ...

Enough already! The old adage about problems coming in threes certainly isn't holding true for us. I think the needle is stuck on the record (an analogy that won't make sense to anyone younger than 30, because the CD was introduced 26 years ago in October of 1982!)

Several weeks ago Mom and I decided to replace our garage door because it was so water damaged. I did this against my better judgment, because we had not saved the total amount of cash to pay for the new door. And wouldn't you know, this apparently unleashed the following avalanch of unplanned expenses:

• the water heater failed and had to be replaced
• a tire on the van picked up a nail in the sidewall and had to be replaced (punctures in sidewalls can't safely be repaired
• the battery in the van failed and had to be replaced
• the Honda Laura drives needed four new tires
• the radiator in the Honda had to be replaced

Rarely have we had so many things like this happen in such a short period of time. That said, I am so grateful that the battery in the van failed two blocks from our house and not in the middle of Nebraska or Wyoming. Our neighbor very graciously helped me quickly replace the battery and we were back on the road in no time.

I am re-learning the lessons of financial viability -- avoid unnecessary debt and always have a cushion for unexpected expenses. It looks like for Christmas this year Mom is getting a garage door and a water heater, I am getting a tire and a battery, and Laura is getting tires and a radiator. Merry Christmas!