Do this before you leave this World.....

2655 Views 76 Replies 23 Participants Last post by chrisn, 2 mo ago

.97391

Discussion Starter · 3 mo ago

This may be a rare Post, but since I started dealing with Dads Passing, the most difficult part has been the Emotional part. Working on a Machine, cleaning and restoring is the easy part. The hard part is all the memories, all the things he left behind, all and each had a meaning to our Father, thus they are very difficult to be even moved or touched. Plus, he left a ton of things !!! Today, while I was going through some of his stuff, I made a Promise to myself, and to my sons...... Before I depart from this World, I will clear each and everything I own, either by throwing it away, selling it, giving it away, or whatever it takes to clear my Shop, the Rooms, the House, the Yard, etc. Think about that for a second, why not doing with those things exactly what you want ? In my House, I already filled three bags with stuff, for the trash. Tools that I no longer want will be given away or sold, it will take time, but it will happen with my stuff. Do your sibblings a favor, do not leave stuff around, they wont even know what to do, and good stuff will probably end up being wasted probably. One day I will say, “here are the keys to the bikes, the cars, the House, but just the keys”, nothing will be left for them to have to throw away or give away. This is like retirement, you have to know when to start planning for it, perhaps this will ring a bell for you... I started preparing for Retirement 10 years before, I will start planning for my Last Departure, today, Im 60.

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Jared

· #61 · 3 mo ago

Going through your parent's things is not all fond memories for those that actually have to do it. It's been a mixed bag for me. My mother passed away almost 20 years ago and my dad never did anything with her things. I sometimes suspected that he expected her to walk back through the door. My mother was a selfish woman who only really cared about herself. My sisters and I went without for her to have. We wore hand me downs as she told all of the neighbors that we were poor while she worked on collections of junk. I honestly can't even figure out how she paid for all of this stuff. Worst part of it is so much of this crap was bought, opened once, then stuck in a closet.

Don't leave your kids with this to deal with.

Shipping box Wood Interior design Floor Flooring

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67ventwindow

· #62 · 3 mo ago

Jared said:
Going through your parent's things is not all fond memories for those that actually have to do it. It's been a mixed bag for me. My mother passed away almost 20 years ago and my dad never did anything with her things. I sometimes suspected that he expected her to walk back through the door. My mother was a selfish woman who only really cared about herself. My sisters and I went without for her to have. We wore hand me downs as she told all of the neighbors that we were poor while she worked on collections of junk. I honestly can't even figure out how she paid for all of this stuff. Worst part of it is so much of this crap was bought, opened once, then stuck in a closet.

Don't leave your kids with this to deal with.

My Mother-in-Law married a widower. His wife stayed up late at night shopping QVC. Her favorite thing to buy was Rachel Ray cooking items. She usually bought at least three duplicates some times it was a lot more. They unloaded boxes to us, we passed them on to kids getting out on their own from the foster care system. I thought we were rid of them and we found more boxes getting ready to move ourselves.

My Grandfather died in 1973. My Grandma lived until 2013. I think she still was waiting for him to walk through that door. Not that she had his belongings. Just how when she would opened a photo album it all came back to the day we lost him.

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armyadarkness

· #63 · 3 mo ago

67ventwindow said:
My Grandfather died in 1973. My Grandma lived until 2013. I think she still was waiting for him to walk through that door. Not that she had his belongings. Just how when she would opened a photo album it all came back to the day we lost him.

Life can be a tremendous burden, when you're alone. Im sure her family helped her through the dark days.

67ventwindow

· #64 · 3 mo ago

armyadarkness said:
Life can be a tremendous burden, when you're alone. Im sure her family helped her through the dark days.

I am sure that was her thorn in the flesh going on with out him. But she rarely dwelt on it. There was not any getting there fast with her. She greeted and hugged everyone from church to the check out line. This wasn't anything she faked. Us grand kids would spend the night from age 5 well into adulthood. From sun up till bed she enjoyed her life and made the most out of it.

Yes she always had family close to her.

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toddb

· #65 · 3 mo ago

Jared said:
Going through your parent's things is not all fond memories for those that actually have to do it. It's been a mixed bag for me. My mother passed away almost 20 years ago and my dad never did anything with her things. I sometimes suspected that he expected her to walk back through the door. My mother was a selfish woman who only really cared about herself. My sisters and I went without for her to have. We wore hand me downs as she told all of the neighbors that we were poor while she worked on collections of junk. I honestly can't even figure out how she paid for all of this stuff. Worst part of it is so much of this crap was bought, opened once, then stuck in a closet.

Don't leave your kids with this to deal with.

View attachment 163507

Two words for ya, facebook marketplace

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Jared

· #66 · 3 mo ago

toddb said:
Two words for ya, facebook marketplace

I've been putting off doing anything with that mess for now. Getting dad settled in his new place and figuring out his finances and medical needs has taken priority. I'm hoping to off load all of that junk in one lot rather than selling one thing at a time. I just don't have time for that sort of thing. What helps is my oldest has moved into his house so there isn't an immediate need to deal with this to sell. I'll get to it soon. More pressing was dealing with his vehicles. One sold right before the insurance and registration expired, the other needs a looking over before I put it out there. He has a Corvette that hasn't been started in about three years. I need to charge up the battery and see if it'll fire, then figure out what a fair price for everybody involved would be.

Reactions: 1

geeteeohguy

· #67 · 3 mo ago

67ventwindow said:
My Mother-in-Law married a widower. His wife stayed up late at night shopping QVC. Her favorite thing to buy was Rachel Ray cooking items. She usually bought at least three duplicates some times it was a lot more. They unloaded boxes to us, we passed them on to kids getting out on their own from the foster care system. I thought we were rid of them and we found more boxes getting ready to move ourselves.

My Grandfather died in 1973. My Grandma lived until 2013. I think she still was waiting for him to walk through that door. Not that she had his belongings. Just how when she would opened a photo album it all came back to the day we lost him.

I had a co-worker who was the senior mechanic where I worked. He was born in 1929, and a real gentleman. 30+ years older than all the rest of us in the crew. His wife was addicted to shopping at QVC in the early 1990's. Unbeknownst to him, she spent his entire retirement savings on dolls mostly, and a bunch of statuettes and dust-collector items worth essentially nothing. When he was about 62, she dropped dead of a heart attack, leaving him alone in a 5 bedroom house filled with dolls, unopened boxes of potpouri, glass figures, 'collector' plates and bottles, you name it. The whole house. He spend months trying to get rid of the stuff so he could sell the house and move to Reno and enjoy retirement. 6 months before his retirement date, he had a routine rotator cuff surgery to repair his shoulder before he left the company. Operation went great, but he died the next day of a blood clot. He was 64 years old. I think people shop and hoard compulsively because they are unhappy and are trying to fill a void. I do know that this guy had a pretty miserable marriage, but stuck it out because that's what his generation did. Life is short, guys.

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Jared

· #68 · 3 mo ago

Well attempted to charge the battery on the Vette. The charger I have indicated that the battery took a full charge. Got in the car to very dim interior lights and it won't even turn over. The tack pegs to full RPM and nothing else happens. Tried turning on the lights and that's a no go too. I was going to try putting a jump pack on it and noticed that the battery compartment was pretty warm. Touched the side of the battery and it was more than warm. Scrapped the jump pack idea and removed the battery and put it outside. I don't have another side mount battery on hand to try so I'll pick one up soon and try again.

One good thing is the Pontiac took a full charge after sitting all winter and turned right over. I didn't bother starting it yet but she should be good to go.

Reactions: 2

66COUPE

· #69 · 3 mo ago

Jared said:
Well attempted to charge the battery on the Vette. The charger I have indicated that the battery took a full charge. Got in the car to very dim interior lights and it won't even turn over. The tack pegs to full RPM and nothing else happens. Tried turning on the lights and that's a no go too. I was going to try putting a jump pack on it and noticed that the battery compartment was pretty warm. Touched the side of the battery and it was more than warm. Scrapped the jump pack idea and removed the battery and put it outside. I don't have another side mount battery on hand to try so I'll pick one up soon and try again.

One good thing is the Pontiac took a full charge after sitting all winter and turned right over. I didn't bother starting it yet but she should be good to go.

I considered chiming in on this while visiting my 87 year old snowbird mom last week in Florida, & my dad died last May, as of right now all I can really say is my kids are going to have their hands full when I go. My wife’s dad used to say “he who dies with the most toys wins” my wife is on me a bit to start selling some stuff but secretly I keep adding 🤣😎

Reactions: 1

armyadarkness

· #70 · 3 mo ago

Jared said:
Well attempted to charge the battery on the Vette. The charger I have indicated that the battery took a full charge. Got in the car to very dim interior lights and it won't even turn over. The tack pegs to full RPM and nothing else happens. Tried turning on the lights and that's a no go too. I was going to try putting a jump pack on it and noticed that the battery compartment was pretty warm. Touched the side of the battery and it was more than warm. Scrapped the jump pack idea and removed the battery and put it outside. I don't have another side mount battery on hand to try so I'll pick one up soon and try again.

One good thing is the Pontiac took a full charge after sitting all winter and turned right over. I didn't bother starting it yet but she should be good to go.

I miss a lot of things about my corvette. The battery location isnt one of them.

Though, when setup right, its a forgotten area

armyadarkness

· #71 · 3 mo ago

66COUPE said:
I considered chiming in on this while visiting my 87 year old snowbird mom last week in Florida, & my dad died last May, as of right now all I can really say is my kids are going to have their hands full when I go. My wife’s dad used to say “he who dies with the most toys wins” my wife is on me a bit to start selling some stuff but secretly I keep adding 🤣😎

My friend, please dont waste anymore precious moments, worrying about this burden! I promise, if anything ever happens to you, I will take all of your stuff.

You're welcome!

Reactions: 2

Jared

· #72 · 3 mo ago

armyadarkness said:
My friend, please dont waste anymore precious moments, worrying about this burden! I promise, if anything ever happens to you, I will take all of your stuff.

You're welcome!

You are a prince among men Amy.

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armyadarkness

· #73 · 3 mo ago

Jared said:
You are a prince among men Amy.

It's a sacrifice, but someone has to do it.

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Jared

· #74 · 3 mo ago

armyadarkness said:
I miss a lot of things about my corvette. The battery location isnt one of them.

Though, when setup right, its a forgotten area

Dad's has a minor battery draw. The battery goes flat if the car sits for a couple weeks. I've never bothered trying to trace it because it wasn't my car and I don't really want to bother with it now. Dad's solution was to unhook the battery between uses. He forgot the last time so it was REALLY dead when I tried to charge it yesterday. I'll put a new battery in it and cross fingers that the car will start so I can figure out what to do with it. We all know that a runner is worth way more than a ran when parked.

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66COUPE

· #75 · 3 mo ago

Jared said:
Dad's has a minor battery draw. The battery goes flat if the car sits for a couple weeks. I've never bothered trying to trace it because it wasn't my car and I don't really want to bother with it now. Dad's solution was to unhook the battery between uses. He forgot the last time so it was REALLY dead when I tried to charge it yesterday. I'll put a new battery in it and cross fingers that the car will start so I can figure out what to do with it. We all know that a runner is worth way more than a ran when parked.

Just have Amy come pick it up, easy peezy 😎

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Jared

· #76 · 3 mo ago

66COUPE said:
Just have Amy come pick it up, easy peezy 😎

I've considered marketing it as buy a Corvette and get a terrible Mustang for free. I have a smaller sized two car garage. I'm looking forward to having room to work in it for a change.

Reactions: 3

chrisn

· #77 · 2 mo ago

well i take the next and last step today i sign the final papers and close on the sale of dads house its the last piece , im glad its over but id rather have him back , tomorrow i meet with the builder with the plans to build my new garage , so i can get back on the gto build but im looking foward i seen a 50 chevy in a yard by my docs office ive watched it set there for 6 yrs and im going to stop and ask if its for sale the next build one i dont have to worry about putting it back to original one i can color all over the page chopped dropped channeled pancaked and lots of ratfink metalflake

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