Pickles by Brian Crane for August 23, 2020

We own a lot of “really good stuff” like fine china and sliver serving bowls that I’m pretty sure our kids are really hoping will just go away before THEY have to cope with it all. On the other hand, when I’m outa here, why would I care how they feel about it? Besides, maybe some antiquarian will buy some of it…

From my maternal grandfather when he died, I got his copies of Jesus the Christ (by James E. Talmage, copyright 1922), Articles of Faith (Talmage, (1952), and Sunday: The True Sabbath of God (Samuel Walter Gamble, 1954).

Never satisfied.

My sister-in-law looked at what my mother has accumulated over a lifetime and declared it would take three dumpsters to get rid of it all. Mama decided she didn’t like that treatment of her treasures.

When we told my other sister-in-law about it, she said, “Not before I see how much I can get for it on eBay.” At least SHE believed it had value — even if only to others.

Daddy said make a noise like a frog, ’cause when you croak we can all go to Disneyland!

I have my paternal grandfather’s pocket watch. The times that I have wound it up and used it it kept excellent time – as long as I didn’t put it in my pocket. Then it would stop.

Nelson not quite the needed amount of EQ yet.

Darned if you do, darned if you don’t, Nelson!

I have an incredible sea shell collection, I keep it on all the beaches of the world!

Perhaps you’ve seen it!!

Earl you blew this one . This would of been a good time to explain to Nelson what a Will is and how it works .

Oy! From bad to worse in “0” seconds….

…kid couldn’t read the watch anyway…it’s analogue…..

Sad . Once again today no Roscoe or the kitty Muffin . They could fit in somewhere . And I’ve been giving a lot of things away before I’m called to answer for my sins . Let them have fun well they are young .

When my ticker stops, dumpsters and Bobcats will immediately arrive to out-load everything. It’s in my will.

Each time someone in the family dies, I get their things. No once else wants them, but they are going to go to the grand and great grandchildren along with stories about each thing. One story: each time my grandmother had a child my grandfather give her a gift. I have one of those gifts. For the last child he gave her a car. Neither knew how to drive as it was the first car in town. wish I had that as it would be 100 years old by now.

We used to joke with my mother about “When you die, can I have…?” When I first started dating my husband and he heard these conversations, he was appalled. Until he got to know all of us a lot better. Then one day while visiting my mother, he askd “Granny, when you die, can I have…?” He was then one of us. (We all called my mother Granny when my daughter was born. It was her choice)

At least the kids honest he doesn’t want his junk

Give things to people while alive.No fighting then ;)

It’s a no win Nelson.

When I was very young, I got my grandfather’s transistor radio when he died. As I didn’t really understand this situation, I was very happy… ☺

Nelson you have years of growth.My mom was not a packer, when she was ready, she wanted stuff threw out, except for her dolls. my dad did not have much on keep sakes, except for his Louis LAmour books those I have. Then selling what we could of both. For me I have not much of value except books I accumulated, most will tear up and be trashed when I finish.

My mother has labels on EVERYTHING, and she rewrites parts of her will almost every month. She’s 93. As her roommate and one of her heirs, I know what I’m going to do with it – take the stuff that’s supposed to come to me, and dump the rest of it on my sister. My own kids won’t have it nearly that easily; I’ve got a lot of junk and none of it is labeled. They have instructions to take what they want, provided two out of three of them agree to it, and to trash the rest. The house goes to my eldest. I’m pretty sure my middle daughter is going to end up with most of it because she’s the only one who cares about old stuff.

I could have written that!

He sounds like a woman.

After my dad died; my mother was talking about where some of his things would go. She then said that my sister and two brother would have to draw for the grandmother clock. That I was the only one that didn’t want it. I asked, who said I don’t want it . She said that I had never said that I wanted it. I told her I had never said I wanted anything of theirs but that didn’t mean I didn’t want it. I just thought it was rude to be telling someone you wanted there stuff when they died. She told me that if I wanted anything I should put my name on the bottom of it. I went outside for a while and she asked me where I had been. I told her; writing my name on the bottom of dad’s pickup. I didn’t get the pickup, but I did get the grandmother clock.

My ex-family was extremely blase about talking about this sort of thing around the dinner table – “I’ll get this bowl, you’ll get that tea pot”, sort of thing, when having dinner with the parents. It just made my skin crawl. I just wanted them to enjoy their things and when they passed on (which they haven’t yet, over 90 and going strong!) give it to whom they wanted. I’m sure on the one hand it was pragmatic, but to me it always seemed a bit morbid.