I ALREADY said that six years ago when I realized that my late husband disinherited me of monies from his estate.
My husband didn’t opt for a pension with survivor’s benefits either so that’s that as far as my inheritance was concerned.
But I ended up getting a house.
It wasn’t a great house.
But it was mine.
***
I think the house was valued only at $170,000 to $180,000 on the year that my husband died.
But I kept the house for six years.
To give me some sense of stability in the United States.
I stayed in Reisterstown, Maryland for six years after my husband died.
Now, on the seventh year, I decided it is time to move on.
***
Well, actually, I have been thinking during all those six years.
In November of 2019, I was already considering to move back to the Philippines.
I wanted some businesses that play to my artistic and literary sensibilities.
I wanted to develop the real estate properties that I have acquired while I was gainfully employed as a nurse.
***
There was a serious first offer for my house.
Actually, it was the very offer that made me decide that it was the right time for me to head back to Iloilo.
We started the sale proceedings: finding realtors, doing the house inspection, the appraisal—the works.
***
My house was appraised at $190,000 in December 2019.
It was a price that I liked because I really just wanted a clean $170,000 for my house.
My idea was: The house wasn’t really in good shape so if the buyers make a loan of $190,000 for which they have been prequalified, I can give them $20,000 in cold cash to upgrade or renovate the house according to their schedule.
Everyone I told about it said that it was a very good deal.
That I was very generous.
And good hearted.
And well-intentioned.
***
But the buyers wanted the house for only $150,000.
Now, I wasn’t very happy with that price.
I didn’t make a counter-offer.
You seen, I wanted a mere $170,000, no bullshit.
I didn’t price my house higher so that I would get $170,000 if the prospective buyers haggled.
I do not like long negotiations.
I’m not a businessperson that way.
***
I gave the price as I thought fair.
And I thought I was being very fair.
(And some people insist that I’m even very generous!)
The prospective buyers walked away from my $170,000 deal in March 2020.
They bought a $247,000 nearby house instead.
***
Imagine yourself all psyched up and ready to sell, and losing that prospect in a Covid year!
Did I feel depressed?
Did I feel betrayed, abandoned, rejected, worthless?
Like a jilted lover!
***
But I can’t feel depressed for long.
My will power is just stronger than my feelings.
I am smarter that way.
So I planned my way up.
(I’d like to say, I planned my revenge.
But what revenge?
Revenge for what?)
ThePSN does not do revenge.
I do things with a vengeance, but I don’t do revenge.
Revenge is for losers.
***
I don’t react. I act!
I don’t revenge.
I don’t do revenge because in the first place, I don’t allow people to hurt me.
My husband may have hurt me by disinheriting me, but I don’t allow that to hurt me… for long.
On the first month he died, I invited a lover in our bed.
You see, my husband was a jealous spouse.
I didn’t want revenge.
I wanted him to turn in his grave!
***
In July last year, I consolidated my resources.
I dug from my personal savings, and hired contractors to renovate my house for a $20,000 maximum budget.
I hired “cheap” people.
They were pretty good workers, they know what they were doing, but slow; so they were cheap.
The full story was: They worked a salaried job most of the week.
When they are off from their jobs, they would do me (my house, silly!) as a side job. (To be continued)/PN
