JumpStart by Robb Armstrong for November 30, 2021

Although it is easer to ignore the future, and leave all the problems for “others” to handle when you pass on, it is better to plan out and leave everything organized, so it goes the way you want it to.

No, Joe, trust me, you guys need to sit down and talk about it so you know exactly what to do.

My Dad prearranged everything and made sure we all knew about it. When the time came it was SO much easier because we didn’t have to do much at all. We knew exactly what his wishes were and he had prepaid everything.

Another relative passed away suddenly with nothing arranged and he had never told anybody what he wanted done, leaving the rest of the family to just guess at what he might have wished.

My mom, 89, has told me she wants me to speak at the service. (She authorized me to find someone else, but sure – who’s going to volunteer? Tried passing it off to oldest grandson and he laughed at me. Hoping Mom and Dad will hold out until great-great-granddaughter is old enough for the job.)

Pre planning is the absolute greatest gift you can give your family. Trying to make those decisions, and pay for it, on the worst day of your life is the hardest thing you will ever have to go through.

They’ve got their burial grounds all planned out, too.

If not now, Joe, then when?

Accidents are as likely to take a life as old age. There are specific documents other than a will that save a spouse or family member stress at those times. They vary by state; so check.

Since nobody in this comic ever gets any older, there may not be much to worry about there.

Maybe it’s about moving to a senior care facility like Pine Run (look it up) and not a pine box.

It NEVER seems like the right time to discuss your parents croaking, at least, not ever for the kids.

My parents are dead, I haven’t spoken to my siblings in more than a decade and I have no family of my own. Just roll my corpse into a ditch somewhere and get back to work.

We took a little time. We pulled the Xmas decorations down over the weekend. We will check the lights today and tomorrow we will put away the Thanksgiving specific decorations (Having been out since early October). (I love having two different Thanksgivings) And Thursday start putting stuff up and out. And Friday baking brownies and making Nanaimo bars.

….demise.

Because they want to

I’ll pass on month old soft cheese for Christmas.

My mom (still around at 88) had everything spelled out at about age 65. Told my sister and I what she wanted. She reviews and updates her paperwork regularly or as necessary if things change (like when my dad died or she moved or the trust needed to be updated, etc.). I have started on that process, but am no where near as ready (but I do have my medical directive done and have talked to my daughter and sister about my wishes). I was ready to work on other stuff just before the pandemic, which put a crimp in my workflow – a lot of this stuff I need to do face-to-face with an attorney (for MY peace of mind).

It is actually because since both are retired, they have nothing else to do so they do stuff like that to keep busy.

my family set up our christmas tree a few days ago