Payback!

A lager and a little lunch after a long line

Finally, the husband's contribution to his retirement has been maximized. In May he will receive his first Social Security check. Now he must live long enough for the delay of benefits to make financial sense. Even if he doesn't, the additional benefit amount will help me--if I outlive him!

An incorrect code had been entered in his file and would need correction in the Chicago office in order to process, but we were assured that it could occur within a month. We also were told the amount the benefit would be, before medical deductions.

Yes, on Tuesday he undid his file and suspend status in order to receive money back from the government.

It was impossible to do online or by phone. I went with, just in case, but I was not needed except as a lunch companion after the three hour wait for our number to be called.

We were quite thirsty and he was seriously hangry by 3:00 when we hit the Applebee's on the way home for a burger and a beer--not much of a big celebratory lunch, but tasty and adequate.

The featured beer of the month, a draft PBR, was only $2.50 for a tall glass. PBR is not my usual snobbish micro-brewed choice, to be sure, but it went down surprisingly well.

It is a big moment ... when finally you arrive at that time in life when you get a return on your investment with the government!

Our children, sadly, have no such promise of return, but they are now paying for part of our benefits.

It probably beats having us move in with them!

That, not global climate change, is their real fear!