The $50 Decision: Building a Legacy

Last year, on December 22, 2023, I lost someone incredibly dear to me: my father-in-law. He was like a father to me. We were fortunate enough to have him come and live with us during his last summer and fall, and during that time, we grew incredibly close and were able to have SOOO much fun with him.

A few days before he passed away, as we exchanged gifts for Christmas, he gave me $50. That $50 bill has remained in my wallet ever since, waiting for the perfect moment to be spent on something meaningful, something that would last forever.

Fast forward to this week, and my family and I are in the final stages of starting our pressure washing business, Legacy Pressure Washing. This venture is not just about starting a business; it's about building a legacy for our family, creating something that we can pass on to our children and their children. It's about helping other family members and, most importantly, creating a better future for ourselves.

However, starting a business comes with its challenges, especially when finances are tight. We had already invested all our available funds in purchasing the pressure washer and other necessary equipment. When it came time to purchase the business license, I found myself short of the required amount.

The business license in Enderby, where we are based, costs $75 and is perpetual, requiring only an annual non-monetary renewal. When I arrived at the City office to pay for the license, expecting to use my credit card, I was informed that only cash or debit were accepted.

Feeling a little defeated, I left the office wondering how I would come up with the cash. It was Wednesday, and I needed to have the license by Friday as we would be starting our first job then. That afternoon, as I sat at my desk in my regular 9-5 job, I began to scheme about ways to scrounge together the money.

I went to bed that night, and as everyone knows, your best ideas come when you are trying to sleep! I thought, "I'll use the $50 that dad gave me, it's perfect! I will have the license forever; it is for building our family legacy. It'll be like framing your first dollar." I could easily scrounge together the other $25; we had change kicking around, and I would purchase the surrounding area license when we could afford it.

The next morning, as soon as the city office opened, I went back. I pulled out my half-completed license application form and requested to purchase the Enderby business license. I made a special request to the clerk to let me take a picture of the $50 beside the application and receipt. I told her why it was important to me and where the money came from. Despite my best efforts, I started crying during our interaction. I knew that when I spent that physical $50 bill that had been handed to me by someone so special, that it would be a monumental moment in my life and that I would break down like a blubbering fool.

Thanks dad, your gift will start our legacy and will live on.