I went by Mom's bank to transfer the contents of the savings deposit box to a closer branch. I looked in the envelope where "my" savings bonds were stored and found this note, from Mom, beyond the grave.
She started off impersonal and then went straight for the personal.
"I had these changed to remove Dan's name and add Ellen's. 10/91. (You need a death certificate.) They handle it at Boatmen's - no charge. Put Gary's name on as beneficiary - not joint - Ellen L S______ P.O.D. [payable on death - Ed.] Gary S______. If Gary isn't around (!) and you are alone it's your call. M.D [Mom]."
Gary - dissed by a dead woman. That's cold.
Blood is blood. Even if it's cold.
Posted by: Big Dot | April 12, 2010 at 11:34 PM
Arrangements like this are always cold, but believe you me, they're absolutely necessary. Anyway, maybe she was dissing his health, and not your marriage's staying power.
I realize that's really depressing. Jeez, now I'm sad.
Posted by: Tami | April 13, 2010 at 08:36 AM
That kinda made me laugh out loud, tho. In a weird I-shouldn't-laugh-but-I'm-laughing kind of way.
If Gary's not around...? He'll probably outlive us all! :P
Posted by: Erin G. | April 13, 2010 at 04:44 PM
I'm curious whether she expected to outlive Gary or your marriage.
My mom wrote her will basically to exclude any spouses. I guess in case she died in a car crash on the way to a divorce hearing...
Posted by: Caroline | April 13, 2010 at 06:24 PM
Big Dot - Yup. Final words of my Granciel: "DON'T LET HIM GET THE MONEY."
Tami - I think the "(!)" speaks volumes. She expected Gary to be around.
Erin - Thank you! I laughed! I called Gary and told him Mom wanted to be sure I was financially independent of him.
Caroline - Knowing Mom and her history with husbands, she was thinking I needed those bonds in case Gary ran off with some hussy named Suzanne like Jerry did.
Posted by: TheQueen | April 13, 2010 at 07:19 PM
I love how your mom managed to photoshop out your last names.
Posted by: 3 | April 15, 2010 at 04:29 PM
3 - she was very good with her Apple Cube.
Posted by: TheQueen | April 15, 2010 at 09:24 PM
I was smiling before I got past the title of this post - thanks for that, on one of the hard days. I also love that the (!) was her doing, not just yours. That speaks volumes about her, as well as about your marriage. Hah, I see you've already noted that. Funny. Love.
Posted by: gaoo | April 17, 2010 at 07:31 PM
Gaoo - She was a hoot. I love how she tried to be official and then that just fell apart.
Posted by: TheQueen | April 18, 2010 at 12:21 AM
Tonight we found the notes you made in a street guide when #3 moved out to our neck of the woods. They were enjoyable, but not quite as epic as notes from the grave.
Posted by: Caroline | February 11, 2011 at 09:33 PM
Caroline - Was 3 adding "Here there be Jews" to the West County area? Now that she lives there insttead of our neck?
Posted by: TheQueen | February 12, 2011 at 07:18 PM