"Mama"
Hard work characterized my mother's life. As a teen-ager, she had to drop out of school to work in a shoe factory to help support her family. My parents moved to Maine from Massachusetts and began farming.. My mother worked at Bath Iron Works ("Rosie the Riveter") where the destroyers were built and then for 20 years at Sylvania Electric. How hard for us to see her give way to the ravages of Alzheimer's and spend the last 2 years of her life in a nursing home.   

Legacy: A "Can-Do" spirit.
Remaining assets: $ NONE- Went to nursing home.

 

"Daddy"  My father loved to be with his family above all else.

Holidays, especially HIS birthday always called for a
family reunion no matter how we scattered....
or who we were in love with!
A farmer and political fundraiser, "Gramp" went downhill after "Gram" died. To keep him at home, we did a reverse mortgage.

When Mama ended up in a nursing home for the last 2 years, "Gramp" went to be with her twice a day.
Even when he had no business driving a car! (He was the one person she knew till the very end).

His legacy: family love   
His remaining assets: $ NONE

 

My sister, Ruth........
Now divorced, at age 61, with a grown daughter and 2 grand-sons, she has to provide for herself totally. [remember our parents did not leave us an inheritance] Ruth is a self employed jewelry maker creating beautiful jewelry from real flowers. buttermilklane.com She makes a living, but not enough to save for retirement and the possibility of requiring a nursing home in the future. Because both our parents had dementia,  the odds are that my sister may also get this dreadful disease. She owns her own home and may end up like our father...needing a reverse mortgage to care for herself and leave nothing to her daughter and grandchildren. 

Legacy: artisan
Her remaining assets:  none

 

 

My Brother, Paul..... Talk about "laid back"....now you can't get laid back any further than this Maine guy! Retired school teacher now with Coldwell Banker.  Check him out at www.isellmainehomes.com  Yes there he is leaning on him "Sold" sign! I told you.... But in spite of his relaxed manner, he has prepared for the future, putting his long-term care policy in place several years ago. Now he can concentrate on building his retirement home in the foothills of New Hampshire's White Mountains.  

His legacy:  The satisfaction of "Life in the Slow Lane".
His assets: Property: real estate, sailboat, IRA,
and mutual funds.......and peace of mind. 

 

 

My son, David......
OH,  how did those years fly by so fast! My son, age 29, and I share a house in Towson MD, and it is the sharing that make it a HOME. Dave works for Carroll Independent Fuel and has a CDL license. He has the inherited the entrepreneurial spirit that runs in the family and is starting his own business, Mobile Wash.  

His Legacy: A Caring heart.  His Assets: All of mine: protected with insurance ( life and long-term care).