Or Exiting This Life Gracefully
by Jonathan A. Ward
Generally, we living in Lake San Marcos thrive. It’s a beautiful, safe, and friendly neighborhood. But how about our exit out of Lake San Marcos — either physically or metaphysically speaking? We’re predominately a senior community, so we should consider our transitions as well as our everyday lives. In this article I’ll share some exiting information I found online and some tombstone epitaphs to perhaps inspire your own.
Sage Advice 1: Will/Trust: Have your material desires memorialized through a Trust and/or Will. Designate an executor, trustee, and a designate someone with your Power of Attorney. Keep heirs and beneficiaries up to date by reviewing them occasionally. You can also create a memorandum attached to your Will delineating your wishes regarding distribution of things and money. It may not be legally-binding, but at least your desires would be known.
Tombstone 1: ‘I WAS HOPING FOR A PYRAMID”
Sage Advice 2: Finances: At some point entrust your executors, heirs, and attorney with all your financial information – bank accounts, credit cards, revolving debts and subscriptions, investments, titles, and insurance policies.
Tombstone 2: “HERE LIES LESTER MOORE,
FOUR SLUGS FROM A .44,
NO LESS, NO MORE”
Sage Advice 3: Documents: Have all your important documents and records organized in a safe place, and make sure your heirs and executor know their whereabouts. Consider using a fireproof safe lockbox. These documents may include: birth certificate, passport, social security card, marriage/divorce records, deeds, financial documents, insurance policies, investments, and titles to lands and vehicles, etc. Consider your cell phone and computer as items to be safeguarded and passed on to trusted others to take a sledgehammer to. The Apple Store will return a Mac to its blank/original state.
Tombstone 3: Leslie Neilsen: “LET ‘ER RIP”
Sage Advice 4: Final Shangri-La: We all, pretty much, love Lake San Marcos and want only to only leave sideways. But if that’s not possible, it may be good to have a Plan B. Thankfully, there are plenty of Plan B’s around in the form of senior/assisted living facilities. If those won’t work for you, perhaps consider The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel in India (I heard the food is wonderful).
Tombstone 4: “HERE LIES MAJOR PAYNE, D.D.S.
I’M FILLING MY LAST CAVITY”
Sage Advice 5: Advanced Directive or Living Will: The experts suggest making a Living Will or Advanced Directive, and Power of Attorney stating your wishes if you are incapacitated so that you can’t articulate them. Give copies to your healthcare providers, relatives and trusted friends.
Tombstone 5: “HERE LIES THE SHELL. THE NUT IS GONE.”
Sage Advice 6: Make peace with yourself and others: Do your best to leave this world on a positive note — say the unsaid. Others may not return your friendship or attempts at understanding, but at least you tried. If others are abusive or unreasonable, then a mental forgiveness may be all that’s possible, and then move on into your physical and mental Shangri-La.
Tombstone 6: “HERE LIES CLYDE. HIS LIFE WAS FULL,
UNTIL HE TRIED TO MILK A BULL”
Sage Advice 7: When You’re Gone: Document your desires for your physical self – buried, burned, frozen, planted, or shot into space. Also write down your personal preferences for a memorial service — to have one or not. If so, consider speakers (you may need to bribe a few people to say some great things), music, and maybe even food choices. You may want to have a contact list of those who you want informed/invited. Rodney Dangerfield said, “I’m donating my body to science fiction.” If you want that, document it.
Tombstone 7: Rodney Dangerfield: “THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD”
DISCLAIMER: I am not an attorney, medical care provider, financial counselor/fiduciary, etc. I’m just a neighbor organizing and passing on some information found on the internet. I make no claim that this list is complete or even accurate; it’s just my attempt to be helpful.
Tombstone 8: Mel Blanc: “THAT’S ALL FOLKS!”
