A post lacking in any real information concerning MFM and "planning"

[Kali]

I am sure people are wondering and I have had several sweet PMs/messages as well. I have been waiting for some real information - I wanted to wait until I knew something concrete before I made a post here. However the time is just dragging out and I know people would like to know what is going on.

Basically, I know NOTHING. We had to wait 15 days (!!!) before the funeral home could even start anything. Just yesterday I signed papers giving my OK to proceed with the cremation. This was because there was no real next-of-kin. I can sort of understand, but jeebus. I hate that he has just been "waiting" for so long.

As soon as I know when I can go pick up his ashes I will make plans for a MFM day in Tucson/Picacho.

Obviously it isn't going to be until sometime in February. I have a name to contact at UMC to see about doing a gift to the nursing staff if people here are still interested. I am not sure how we will handle it - I need to call and see if that person has any particular ideas and go from there.

I am sorry to keep you all hanging on this but I am hanging too! Sheesh. And may I take this oportunity to suggest that if you don't have plans for yourself, at least write down a few notes of your wishes - and for fuck's sake write any various passwords you think survivors might need for computers, banks, etc!

[hedgehog]

1. kick with good wishes and thanks!

[Dystopian]

2. Thank you Kali

peace~

[panader0]

3. Out of curiosity, why Picacho?

[Kali]

4. He lived out there for a year or so before his health started to fail

and he freaking LOVED it. He was working on the NW side of Tucson and riding his motorcycle in to work. It seems like the perfect place. I need to find the posts he wrote about it - he had his cat with him and I know he wrote a couple stories about living out there. He had a view of the peak from his bed and told me about watching summer thunderstorms from there.

He never made it out here to the ranch.

[catrose]

6. Is someone taking care of his cat? <eom>

[Kali]

7. she died a couple of years ago

her name was "Noname" and pronounced noNAHmay

she was a tuxedo. He was heartbroken and was finally wanting to maybe get another cat. The place where he was last living did have a cat and 3 dogs so at least there were some animals around.

[femmocrat]

5. Thank you, Kali.

Thanks for taking such good care of MFM.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. Thank you so much, Kali...

You have a lot on your plate these days.

We will stand by you as time progresses.

[HipChick]

9. Thanks Kali

you are a true friend

[Tuesday Afternoon]

10. Thanks for the update, Kali.

I wish I could be there.

[orleans]

11. k&r and thank you. n/t

[Sherman A1]

12. I think this speaks to the need that

we all need to do some planning of our own prior to the inevitable event(s) of our lives. Everyone sees things differently and while hardly a fun topic, it is a necessary one for each of us as no one gets out alive. A Will, a Medical Directive, funeral planning (if there is to be one) Insurance Policies and final wishes should all be written, signed, notarized and ready. I am in the midst of doing some updating and revisions of my own and these things will not be left for others to either guess or burden themselves when the time comes.

[Jim Lane]

13. A valuable aid to such planning

Before my mother died, she bought a workbook titled Before It's Too Late. You mention insurance policies but this book is much more comprehensive -- it has pages for writing down all your different bank accounts, CD's, location of jewelry, list of people who should be notified of your death, etc. You could do this without buying the book but the book puts it all in one place and helps make sure you don't overlook anything.

My mother and I were both kind of reluctant to deal with it. Finally, however, we forced ourselves to go through it together one day and cumulate all the information. When she did pass, having the completed book was very helpful to me.

In plugging this commercial product, I represent that I have no financial interest in it. This is just an unsolicited testimonial. You can check it out here.

A couple things they should add to the next edition (I keep meaning to write them): list automatic transactions (which utility bill is automatically charged to which credit card and which credit card is automatically paid from which account), and the point Kali mentioned about computer passwords.

[Sherman A1]

14. Sounds like a great resource

that everyone should have. i think your ideas to add are good ones as are the ones Kali mentioned about passwords.