I've known for most of my adult life that I would one day be getting some kind of inheritance from my Mother. I used to daydream,somewhat unrealistically evidently, about how much that would be and how I would use it.
My Mother was a saver, a penny pincher, a tightwad to the end. She worked hard all her life, lived frugally, and saved every penny she could get her hands on.
I really had no idea for a long time just how much she had managed to sock away or how well she had invested it.
In the end it turned out to be not all that much money, received in installments as CD's and annuities matured, that wound up being spent on practical things like paying off loans and retirement accounts.
The last of it came and went today, leaving me feeling a bit disappointed in myself.
Disappointed at the way I felt all those years that I had it coming, that somehow in my mind I deserved it and it was her responsibility to leave us an inheritance. In my defense, I did try to get her spend some of her money and enjoy the fruits of her labor, but, she would not hear of it.
As much as I do appreciate what she did, it somehow leaves me feeling dirty.
...and wishing that she had enjoyed her life just a little.
4 comments:
I think that is a fairly common way to feel. After all an inheritance is benefiting from someones death. Somehow that seems wrong even though it really isn't. Your mom obviously wanted her children to have that money or she would have spent it. I'm glad that you were able to pay of loans and bills, but I wish you could have enjoyed a little of it too.
I bought myself some photo paper and ink, does that count?
You sound like me! David always complains when I take money that should be spent on something fun and buy something practical. A girls gotta do what a girls gotta do! :)
Hi A (&sandy)
i too am a practical-spender. one time I got so bad that I would only buy things at the grocery store and then I would only buy it if it was under five dollars. yikes!
these days, i try to make a little room for fun. sometimes I succeed.
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