As I mentioned last week I have been reviewing estate documents. I’ve been thinking about what I want to do, and how to convey my testamentary wishes to my lawyer. I have some technical questions for him, too.
***
Speaking of heirs, my nephew Kevin invited me to Sunday lunch at 3:30 p.m. His brother Alan picked the spot, a sushi joint, which predictably proved to be geographically advantageous for Alan. I had called Alan to say I might be as much as 30 minutes late arriving. I had to drive cross-town and left my house a few minutes later than ideal.
When I arrived, I saw the best free parking spot you could hope for and snagged it. The restaurant was mere steps away from my car. Stepping inside, I immediately realized we had met there at least once before today.
***
I am considering making Alan my medical agent. He has experience as he was involved in my sister’s medical care before she passed. He works in social services for a private company. Alan has a good heart. That’s good enough for me, even if Alan ordinarily tends to his needs first.
Walking into the room I see Alan sitting next to Kevin. After several minutes, Alan rises from his chair, and without saying a word to anyone but Kevin, makes a dramatic exit from the restaurant. I guess he wasn’t feeling well.
Alan had been sitting between Kevin’s son and daughter. Across the table sits Kevin’s girl, Michelle, next to Kevin and Alan’s 96-year-old father, Ed. I notice Ed’s walker, folded up and resting against a wall. I take the chair at the table next to Ed.
I haven’t seen Ed in a couple of months. To hear Ed, his major physical complaint is that he’s stone-deaf. It’s not too shabby for somebody his age. However, these days his hearing deficit is so pronounced that it is making him feel uncomfortable being among friends at his senior building. He feels like an outsider. He still manages to play dime poker games and bridge.
I keep my voice up for his benefit. However, I don’t know whether Ed hears me or is pretending.
The big news is that Ed is preparing for a hearing device implant. Earlier this summer, doctors removed Ed’s ear innards, and now that he’s completely healed, his doctors will surgically implant a hearing device in about two weeks. Two weeks after this surgery they will activate the device. We all have our fingers crossed for Ed. I’m afraid that if the procedures fail, he eventually could die from sheer boredom.
***
I currently plan to name Kevin as my executor. He is smart and has a level head. I know that he can be lackadaisical, but do I care? I’ll be dead.
(I also plan to nominate Lee’s oldest nephew Andy as Kevin’s successor. Being an attorney, Andy is well-qualified to serve the role of executor. Hopefully, Andy’s services won’t be needed, like the first runner-up to Miss America.)
At present, Alan, Kevin, Andy, and Joe, who is Andy’s brother, are my sole heirs. Alan, Kevin, and Andy have agreed to my proposed designations for them per my will.
***
Gradually, I am coming to know Kevin’s two kids, who ultimately stand to benefit from my demise. Nathan, who is Kevin’s oldest, is known as “Charlie.” I couldn’t tell you why.
Nathan or “Charlie” is just starting high school. He is intelligent, having been admitted to what is possibly the top public school in the entire city. The annual city-wide competition for limited seats is a very heated affair.
Several years ago, I was concerned for Nathan, who struck me as an especially socially awkward youth. Overnight it seems, he exudes self-confidence and is self-expressive. These are positive developments, to be sure, particularly given his small physical stature. However, Nathan occasionally is sardonic, which is not an endearing trait. In this regard, he reminds me a little bit of me when I was his age. I would caution him to be a kinder person than I was.
As for his younger sister, Alyssa, my understanding is that she has exhibited emotional problems in the past which have required therapy. I found this news disturbing because she is still only in grammar school.
I detect a bit of my sister in her. Alyssa, like my sister, has a pretty face but is overweight. She looks remarkably like my sister when she turns her mouth down into a sour-faced expression, which she does too often. I imagine the popular girls at school make fun of Alyssa behind her back or even tease her to her face.
Recently we’ve connected over baseball, of all things. Alyssa was playing softball in a league with other young girls. I was surprised to learn this since she never struck me as an athlete.
Robyn and I went to one of her games where Alyssa got on base twice, once on a soft, clean hit. Watching her run to first base made me feel happy. Alyssa says next season she will try out for second base or shortstop! She claims she has a strong throwing arm but tells me she has more difficulty making an accurate throw from second to first than from short to first. When I tell Alyssa that, in baseball vernacular, they call her condition the “yips,” she giggles at this term. I say seriously that even professional baseball players get the “yips.” I take a mental note to toss “pepper” with Alyssa before next season starts.
***
I offer to drive Ed back to his building rather than force him to order an Uber. Ed assures me a ride is unnecessary since he possesses a senior pass for greatly discounted rides, but today I insist. I take another mental note to get my senior ride pass as soon as I am qualified. Meanwhile, Kevin, Michelle, and the kids are heading for Alan’s place to drop off the meal he ordered but left behind at the restaurant.
As we part company today, I get warm hugs from both kids. I call this progress.
