Ominous Find
Okay, I slacked today, there are 10 minutes left until midnight, and I've got to stick up something to keep me in the NaBloPoMo thing. I promise this is the last post about the stuff I've found digging in my boxes. My parents' will. My mom stuck it in there back in 1997 with pages and pages listing what of their possessions go to which kid. It's funny to read through and see what they consider of enough worth to have to assign out to the kids and what slipped through the cracks for general grabbing after they are gone. Things I never even knew existed have been carefully designated out and other items that I am very attached to don't appear in the will at all.
I've seen so many cases of families really getting into trouble with this division of property thing after a parent dies. I'm hoping of course that my family is immune from this but you just never know what your emotions will make you do after someone you love that much dies. And then factor in greed that you didn't know you had and there is a huge potential for disaster. Some families just liquidate everything and don't hassle with division of belongs.
Other children just stake claim on certain items and whoever calls something first gets it. I don't know what the best way to do it is. It seems like there is potential for disaster no matter what course you take. So I'm glad they have a will, but really don't want to think about tearing up their stuff like wolves. They are both still pretty young and the idea of them dying isn't a concern anyone has yet. It's all so hard to conceive right now.
The will planted in the middle of my junior high report cards really threw me. I've been strolling around the house all this week looking at all their things and it really only seems fitting to make a huge pyre when they die and burn it all with them so we don't have to think about profiting from their death. Do any cultures to this? Anyway, just a quick post but it's been nagging at me all week.
I've seen so many cases of families really getting into trouble with this division of property thing after a parent dies. I'm hoping of course that my family is immune from this but you just never know what your emotions will make you do after someone you love that much dies. And then factor in greed that you didn't know you had and there is a huge potential for disaster. Some families just liquidate everything and don't hassle with division of belongs.
Other children just stake claim on certain items and whoever calls something first gets it. I don't know what the best way to do it is. It seems like there is potential for disaster no matter what course you take. So I'm glad they have a will, but really don't want to think about tearing up their stuff like wolves. They are both still pretty young and the idea of them dying isn't a concern anyone has yet. It's all so hard to conceive right now.The will planted in the middle of my junior high report cards really threw me. I've been strolling around the house all this week looking at all their things and it really only seems fitting to make a huge pyre when they die and burn it all with them so we don't have to think about profiting from their death. Do any cultures to this? Anyway, just a quick post but it's been nagging at me all week.
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Actually, we don't need to worry because as long as mumsy comments on hollywood flakes, she will never die, and we'll never see her stuff torn up amongst wolves.
Smart man.
In the end, I said her jewelry -- I figured that would be an easy one. Imagine my suprise when my dad said, "OK, let me just go through and take out all the valuables."
Wow. He totally blanked out on this and has no recollection of it. Earlier this year he did send me her wedding ring, which was what I most cared about. Although I do wear the casual jewelry too!
Then, when his mom died, it was amazing to see his and my aunt and uncles' attitudee (he is the oldest of 5). I always thought the purpose of dividing specific belongings was to distribute remembrances, but they were all into the take-the-valuables-and-sell-them approach. My favorite moment was when, at a Christmas family gathering, my dad passed around an eBay photo and valuation of something my uncle had claimed (valued at about $4000). As my step-grandmother (my dad's new wife, who was 89 at the time) asked what it was, he explained that it showed how much my uncle was going to get when he sold the piece. As my eyes met my step-grandmother's I felt myself cringe.
Guess that is what preview is for.