I read a Berenstain Bears book to my children titled "The Berenstain Bears Get a Case of the Gimmies". I often think about that book when I hear real life stories about what happens in families when it's time to distribute the "goods" after a loved one dies. A case of the greedy gimmies isn't pretty. Possessions can bring out the worst in people.
Don't be one of those greedy people!
Several years ago, my beloved Aunt Leticia died suddenly and was buried next to her husband in a quaint cemetery plot on Nantucket Island on a very stormy afternoon. For whatever reason, I started thinking about where I might want to be buried. This had never before been a topic of conversation at the dinner table.
Thanksgiving is a special holiday. Besides the great joy derived from gathering family members together for a scrumptious feast, channel surfing between football games and the Macy's Thanksgiving day parade on TV, and, in our family, many rounds of competitive ping-pong matches, it is a time to reflect upon being grateful for each other and for giving to others who may be less fortunate.
Happily, my Mom was not in any way, shape, or form interested in or engaged in anything on the internet. In fact, attempting to teach her to use a cell phone was futile. We tried. We even had the grandkids attempt to teach her. She had no interest in technology and actually frowned upon the growing scene of the young and old with cell phones glued to their ears, speaking way too loudly, and ignoring others while walking out in front of cars oblivious to the dangers.
Have you ever thrown a family reunion at the very last minute with no advance planning for details including where your reunion will be located, where you will house all of your incoming family members, how you will provide transporation to and from the airport at all hours of the day and night, what kind of food and how many meals to plan on, what the appropriate attire should be, and what the other forms of entertainment for the weekend will be?