Successes

 It's been a long day. For me it stated before 6. Once up, I headed out of my room and went online, checking emails.

Not first in line, but first to catch my attention, was from the DMV. Somebody named Carrie demonstrated she can not only actually read, but knows how to locate the records referred to in previous correspondence. Yes, they have a valid record of Steve's new driver's license. It will be mailed to him in just a couple more weeks.

Having verified it existed, and as of the time specified, the title for the home was no longer being held up. It too should be in the mail in a couple weeks. In reply I thanked her by name, and stressed again our appreciation because of the importance of Steve's need not to go stand in long lines unnecessarily.

Today it was necessary, however, though most of it was done from a chair. For about the 15th time in a couple years, his Wells Fargo debit card had had its number used for bogus purchases. Each time they refund the money, so that's not the total issue. It takes them over two weeks to get the new card to him, during which time bills he pays via his card cannot be honored, creditors have to be called with new numbers for this latest time around, and he has to show up in person to withdraw any cash for spending, a 25 mile round  trip.

He'd finally had enough. A recent upgrade of his computer with new security had recently been done, but still it happened. So the logical conclusion is the Wells Fargo's security isn't what it needs to be. After several years of trying, I finally managed to talk him into switching to my credit union.

We left the house at 9:30, for a stop along the way to his bank. He got a call while we were halfway there that they guy he had his appointment with was going to be late. So we took a scenic detour on a country road. It still gave us 20 minutes sitting in the car in their parking lot. I stayed there while Steve went in. A full hour later (!!!) I went in to see what the &*%$(*^ the holdup was. They were still signing paperwork, but about to finish. For all that delay, Steve was still in a great mood. He was done with them!

He was also a bit apprehensive that he might not get into my credit union. He had a suspicion, which turned out to be well founded, that since he operated for many years on cash, he wouldn't even have a credit score. He bet me a dollar as we went in that they'd turn him down for a new account on that basis. I promised him if they did that, we would just wind up with a joint account, with separate savings accounts to keep our finances separate. Turns out no credit score is not a terrible thing. A low one shows one is not managing money wisely, not paying off accounts promptly and having to pay interest. No score often means just what Steve had been doing, cash basis. No black marks. I got the dollar.

I haven't decided how to spend it. Yet. For sure, it won't be getting framed! I will spend it, one way or another, probably with other cash in a purchase where it's leaving isn't even noticed.

A bonus for Steve is that the credit union paid him $150 for opening his new account. I'm pretty sure he'll find that easier to spend than a single dollar, though it likely will sit in a savings account for a while. He likes to collect enough to get something a bit expensive. There have been enough low budget times in his life, just like in mine, that pleasure can be found in buying something one could never do before.

Tomorrow the other hassles begin, starting with calling Social Security, always a major headache, about them depositing his monthly funds in a new financial institution. After that come his bills, and after that a bit of shopping. A few prescriptions need renewing. He already has the new card to buy them with, having walked out of the credit union with it. No more waiting for the mail. But now, finally home at 3:30, it's off for a nap.