Death and Taxes

Everyone has heard it before. There are two certainties in life: death and taxes.

Two days ago I pulled myself out of my bed to go to work. I had only gotten three hours of sleep the night before (partly because I really wanted to stay up to blog, but mostly because I had had pre-birthday drinks), but I didn't care because it was my birthday and I was pumped.

WARNING: Proceed with caution. This post is more serious than not. Do not pass go, do not collect $200 if you cannot handle it.

I was born on 9/11. Which most of you probably knew (thanks for the wonderful bday wishes). When I was born it was a totally cool date. Ten years ago it turned into a totally sucky date and yesterday I officially dubbed it a cursed date.

It was 10:30am, the phone rang at work. I picked it up. When the person on the other end of the line started to speak everything froze. "Jillian, it's your mom."

Silence. "What?"

Again. "Jillian. It's your mom. You need to call your dad. Your grandfather has had a heart attack."

She keeps talking. Probably telling me what has happened, any details she has, but I can't hear anything. My ears just start buzzing and a huge unpenetrable cloud envelopes me. Unconsciously my elbows and forearms drop to the desk. This can't be happening. This CANNOT be happening.

I cried a lot. My boss asked me if I needed to sit down. I went to the back office and dialed my dad. I wanted to be strong for him, its his father, but I can't keep my voice from shaking. He tells me they, my gpa and his wife, are at the Grand Canyon. Get on a plane now, he says.

My grandfather is the healthiest person I know. He is 81 years old, but he is probably morefit than I am. No joke. He works out 5 days a week, spins, lifts weight,and is on a next to no cholesterol diet. He is freaking ripped. So for my father to tell me I need to get on a plane stat, I know its not good.

Two and a half hours after I get the call I'm headed to LAX to catch a plane to Flagstaff, AZ. Ten hours later I'm next to my grandfather at Flagstaff Medical Center.

To be continued.

NOTE: I thought about not sharing what has been going on the past few days. I thought hey, it's really personal. Is it inappropriate? Your blog is about money, does it even have anything to do with that? But then I thought, you know what... This is the whole reason I started the blog. Family. Friends. Yah, my monetary rehabilitation is probably for the most part amusing... So its easy to lose sight of the real reason for financial responsibility. I need to be financially stable, because I need to be there for my family and friends at the drop of a hat. I need to know that at any moment I can just get up and go anywhere.

Everything is ok- no need to respond or offer condolensces. I'm not telling you for that. I just hope it puts into perspective what is truly important in this life.

Xoxo. Jildo