I'm More Surprised Than You!

Late Friday afternoon I applied to USAA for a VA mortgage, and said the requested amount would be roughly $50,000. At 9:27 this morning, a nice young man in their loan department told me I was approved for up to $50K, with 100% loan-to-value. That means zero percent down payment. As we were wrapping up the call, he said something about $350—the whole transaction will probably cost me around $350. Dollars, not thousands of dollars.

Y'know, when John and I got married twelve-and-a-half years ago, I just knew I was insanely happy, contented and loved. I had no idea that within a few months he was going to turn out to be very, very ill. I had no idea that the next 21 months were going to be consumed with caring for him—for the rest of his life. But he turned around and has cared for me ever since and will continue to do so for the rest of my life. The continued survivor's benefits he provided for me enable me to qualify for a mortgage even when I'm deeply in debt, and the nature of his death and our having been married at the time of his death qualifies me to this VA mortgage.

We loved watching the full moon. Every full moon for the past ten years and three months, I have looked up and told him thanks for all he does for me. I am blessed.

I imagine I'll make an offer on the house on Wednesday. You'll hear it here first.