We all talk about having “core memories” as children. There is one pertaining to my Mom that always sticks out, mainly because that memory had to be put to “use” in my adulthood.
For as long as I can remember, at the most random times, my
. I could have just finished riding my bike and she would utter these words (que the randomness!). I remember my adolescent self thinking “ok mom, please stop being weird”. However, throughout the years, I can always remember her saying this.
First, let’s talk about this notebook. It was literally a blue binder that she kept in a cabinet that sat over our microwave. This particular cabinet went from the microwave all the way up to the ceiling. So while I knew where the notebook was, I never thought to climb up there to look. I would’ve needed a chair to even reach that high so I just never cared to try.
Well years go by, life happens, and my Mom passed away on March 13, 2017. I remember days after we left the hospital, my family and I are at home (where we all grew up) and we are sitting around talking about funeral arrangements, life, and a bunch of other things. It was like a scene out of a movie where at the exact same time, we all look up in slow motion at the cabinet where the infamous blue notebook was. The notebook my mom had talked about ALL of my life. Of course we all gave each other the look of “ummm so who is going to open that?!?”.
My Dad, who admittedly said he never thought to look through the notebook either, grabs it and we open it. Like a well oiled machine, my Mom has listed every insurance policy, bank account, password, phone number, bill payment, access code etc. to any and everything that had to do with any of us. Anything we needed to make sure we didn’t miss a step in life or to keep affairs in order was in this notebook.
I can’t tell you how much this saved us at the time. And because I do estate work, I can’t tell you how much I wish people did this more. My Husband will tell you I’m the exact same way today. If something were to happen to either of us, everything we need to know for the other or our children is at our fingertips.
When dealing with the death of a loved one the last thing you want to be scrambling to find is-
Do you know the value of the car they owned?
Who did they bank with?
Who is their mortgage through?
Do you know where their original Will is?
Because these are the types of questions I have to ask. I’ve seen time and time again where people honestly just don’t know. So beyond having an estate plan, make sure you or your family have a “blue notebook”. I promise you in time of grief, it makes things a lot easier.
Miss you Mom!❤️
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