SLEASY ATTORNEY

Last week I sent a registered letter to the attorney who both drafted my Mother’s will and was the executor of the will. I asked when he would send me the $25,000 that my Mother had willed to me if my sister continued living in my Mother’s house. She bought the house when the two of them moved together to Las Vegas in January, 2008. However, last spring my sister surreptitiously convinced my Mom to give her a quitclaim deed to the house. As joint owners on the deed, when my Mom died, my sister became the sole owner of the house. As a result, I had my doubts that I would receive the money. Nevertheless, I wanted to find out for sure. And so I wrote the letter.

Yesterday, I received a response from the attorney. As I expected, the stipulation was no longer subject to the will. The quitclaim deed overrode it. Thus, I was not surprised. And since the real estate market in Las Vegas has taken such a dive, the house is worth less than the mortgage. But the attorney had the audacity to include with the letter a bill for $175. I was livid. I did not write him the letter to consult him or ask for his advice. I simply wanted to know when I might receive the money. In addition, the letter was only five sentences long. Certainly it took the secretary less than ten minutes to prepare it. And so, if I did owe him any money, the fee would hardly add up to such a large amount.

I have no intention of paying him. But on Monday, I will call the Wisconsin Coalition of Aging and ask their attorney, a service they offer for free, what they suggest I do.

By Hannah --www.FunnyPhotosContest.com a photo contest for cute or funny photos and photo captions.

SAD DAY

On Monday, Feb. 23rd, my 91-year old Mom died. She was fine just two weeks earlier, but a hospital-stay infection led to her death. Early Sunday morning, Feb. 8th, a doctor successfully removed a blood clot from her arm and when I spoke with her that day she was fine. On Monday, the doctor successfully inserted a stint in her arm. And again, when I spoke with her that day she was fine. But when she awoke on Tuesday morning her condition had taken a 360 degree turn for the worse. She developed a bladder infection and a blood infection which exacerbated her congestive heart failure. It was too much for her system and she passed away. I was stunned and heartbroken to lose her.

Both my Mom and I grew up and lived in Madison, WI all our lives. For 40 years, we enjoyed playing duplicate bridge together once or twice a week. And when my grandchildren (and her great grandchildren) were born we babysat for them once a week. She even helped me with my website, www.FunnyPhotosContest.com a photo contest for cute or funny photos and photo captions. And so my Mom and I were very close. But my Mom and sister moved to Henderson, NV a year ago. I promised we would speak on the phone every day and I would visit her twice each year, on Mother’s Day and Thanksgiving, which I did in 2008. I am so grateful that I was able to spend that special time with her. In addition, during the two weeks she was in the hospital, we spoke every day and on several occasions told each other we loved one another.

Although, I grieve that she is gone it is what she wanted. Since the day my Father died 13 years ago, she told me often that she didn’t want to live anymore. Furthermore, it was not pleasant living with my sister who has a terrible temper and would pick fights with my Mom almost daily. In addition, a couple months before she died she even said, “I wish that just one day, Marcia wouldn’t pick a fight. Maybe I should just take all my pills and be done with it.” It is so sad that she is gone. But in my heart I want to believe that she is finally with my Dad again in heaven. At the very least, her body was flown back to Madison, WI and she is buried beside my father and so once again … she is next to him.

DENTIST APPOINTMENT

I can’t believe that I forgot about it. I pride myself on being well organized, responsible, and dependable. So I was shocked to look at my calendar this morning and see that I had forgotten my dentist appointment yesterday. At the same time, I have had a lot on my mind. My sciatica flared up a couple weeks ago and on some days I can barely get out of bed in the morning. My 91 year old Mother, who lives in Las Vegas, had a blood clot in her arm a couple of weeks ago. And although the doctor took care of the clot, she subsequently developed a urinary tract infection, a slight case of pneumonia, and a blood infection that has made her very ill. In addition, my sister has set up a password at the hospital, making it impossible for me to get any information from the nursing staff and at times to even call and talk to my Mom. But luckily, the good news is that my Mom is making a little progress and hopefully on the road to recovery.

Meanwhile, not only did I forgot my dentist appointment, but I haven’t had much time to work on my website, www.FunnyPhotosContest.com a photo contest for cute or funny photos and photo captions. So first thing today, I’ll call the dentist to reschedule my six-month cleaning and start working on my website.