Two years ago, when we made the decision to go on this epic
bicycle trip, we identified several commitments which had to be met before we
could leave. Some were big and scary;
some would take a long time; others would require a bit of luck. Before we could go, we had to:
1.
Be completely out of debt: no mortgages, no car
debt, no personal debt
2.
Wes had to be retired and have secured his
pension;
3.
Matrix had to be put on secure footing, so it
could run without me.
4.
We had to have our estate planning done
Two years ago, we still owed tens of thousands on our
mortgage, had just purchased a newish vehicle, and were carrying a small amount
of personal debt. For months upon
months, we paid a double note on our mortgage.
This was no fun, I can tell you.
When Wes would get a bonus for his teaching overages (the result of his
giant sized classes), we would pay more on the mortgage. We set up extra payments on the car. This meant that we were just working and
paying bills. We were happy to use the
excuse of our exchange daughter Louise staying with us to give ourselves
permission to spend some money on recreation and travel.
I think we would have just made it out of debt in time, but
we were given a great boost from a sad source
After a long decline, Wes’ father passed away, leaving his house to his
sons. Unfortunately, selling the house
caused a huge rift between the brothers which still has not healed. Wes’ share of the proceeds allowed us to pay
off the mortgage and the car, to our great relief. There is something poetic about this. George was a great outdoorsman. He would spend months each year in the
mountains, happily living a tent, and riding horses into the back country with
“Eastern dudes” who thought they wanted to kill elk. It is nice to think that George’s final gift
to us was a chance to fulfill this lifelong dream.
Getting Wes retired was actually pretty easy. We had been growing increasingly concerned
both about his ever increasing work load, the never-ending drumbeat of
anti-teacher press, and the constant incursions on teacher pensions. Truly, the writing was on the wall about
retiring sooner rather than later.
Making the psychological adjustment was much more difficult. Wes is an excellent teacher who has invested
his identity, his heart, and his time into this work. Now, that he coming to end of this phase, he
can be moved to tears to think he will never again have the chance to teach The
Scarlet Letter. Now that’s an
English teacher!
Securing Matrix: now there’s a notion. This has been a complex, scary, upsetting,
difficult, and ultimately hopeful endeavor.
Just the other day, the board signed a Memorandum of Understanding with
Andrea, Jake, and Megan to take over the day to day operations of Matrix. I am very happy to see the company pass into
the next generation. I would be lying,
however, if I didn’t also admit that it has grabbed at my heart to not be at
the center of things. But I also know
that every child has to head out on their own and make their own life. I have always, rightly or wrongly, thought of
Matrix as my child. I feel as though I
have successfully seen my child “married”.
Both Wes and I laugh that it is appropriate that our “child” would end
up in a non-traditional marriage.
When
we return from the bike trip, I will serve as Matrix CEO with two primary
responsibilities: getting that damn kid a trust fund and place to live. With those two key pieces in place, I feel I
will have done everything I can to make sure that Matrix can survive into the
future. This is still Mom-thinking,
which has been both a blessing and curse.
Like a Mom, I have always been willing to do more than any employee would. I truly believe Matrix would not have made it
22 years without some heavy duty parenting, but if I have done my job well, it
should never require that kind of care again.
We’ll see.
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