Til Death............

We might need to take a longer walk today so that you may be able to help me redirect my way of thinking about an incident that left me somewhat disturbed.

Sometime last year I found myself directly confronted with the "Green Monster", better known as Greed.  It came out of nowhere, or at least to me it seems.  I learned, however, that this greed had been brewing for quite a while.  I was asked to put myself in another person's position and resolve a situation that concerned "the inheritance".

Now, mind you, the benefactors are still alive and well, so discussing their demise as if it were to be in the immediate future was somewhat unsettling to me.  I am neither a lawyer, nor a counselor, and do not understand why I was selected for this particular conversation!  In retrospect, I wish I'd had the good sense to bow out immediately and explain my uncomfortable position in having such a conversation.

I suppose I need to explain to you at this point of my story, that I have had the good fortune during my lifetime to not be contaminated by the green monster.  Neither of my now deceased parents left anything of value, nor anything to argue over as their meager acquisitions were chosen by the four of us.  Even some thirty plus years later, I find myself feeling a bit guilty for having taken a large brown jug that no one else wanted.  On the other hand,  my former Mother-in-law left me a substantial sum of money when she died, but I immediately gave it to my two children who at that time were in financial distress.  Having lost their father at an early age, I felt it should have been his inheritance and passed to his two survivors.  It was the right thing to do and I have never regretted my decision to do that.  In fact, it felt immensely good!  It was a relief on my part, and prevented me from having to get into the greed game as so often happens during the loss of a matriarch or patriarch and their will.

Having said that, I was taken aback when suddenly I was asked to enter into a conversation in regards to how a certain inheritance would be dispersed, and an inference that something should be done now!  Wow!

If I remember nothing else, I will always remember what a friend, who was a wise attorney once said to me.  "Never show the will to the survivors!  That will be seen soon enough after you die.!  At least you will not be involved in the fight and greed that almost certainly follows a substantial inheritance!"

Once again, one of the many happenings to us as we age.  Whenever others begin to feel comfortable discussing the demise of others in your presence........................Well, in addition to accenting the fact that I, too, will be departing in the near future, it does leave me with a strong determination to remain here a while longer!

Oh, the pondering of it all.......................................................................Enjoyed the walk!