Anybody think about their own mortality?

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

I'm actually dealing with this right now. My little brother who was 41 died suddenly on Friday and I'm helping my parents go through his stuff. He wasn't into cards or coins but loved old obscure things that we don't know the value of or what his wishes were in what to do with them. Do your loved ones a favor and create a will or at least write down your wishes and then give them each a hug and tell em you love em cuz you never know when your times up.

[Bicem]

Very sorry for your loss AJ. That's so young.

[Topnotchsy]

Originally Posted by ajjohnsonsoxfan

I'm actually dealing with this right now. My little brother who was 41 died suddenly on Friday and I'm helping my parents go through his stuff. He wasn't into cards or coins but loved old obscure things that we don't know the value of or what his wishes were in what to do with them. Do your loved ones a favor and create a will or at lest write down your wishes and then give them each a hug and tell em you love em cuz you never know when your times up.

Sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers to his/your family.

[PowderedH2O]

Absolutely. 41 is so very young. My prayers for you and your family.

[greenmonster66]

Very sorry for your loss of your brother A.J. my sincere condolences to you and your family!

[Joshwesley]

Really sorry Aj... I will be praying for you and your family (will do it right now)

Blessings.

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

Wow thanks everyone. Means a lot. Still in a bit of shock to be honest. And I didn't intend to hijack Sam's thread (sorry Sam). The topic was just so immediate

[drcy]

Me and my 82 year old dad with Alzheimer's, which is terminal and incurable, at a art fair on Sunday. I make sure to spend lots of quality of time with him.

[Leon]

Sorry for your loss AJ. Unfortunately I know the feeling...Time helps somewhat...
As for the mortality subject, I need to go over that again with the wifey on where to send things. Does anyone have Battlefields number?

Originally Posted by ajjohnsonsoxfan

I'm actually dealing with this right now. My little brother who was 41 died suddenly on Friday and I'm helping my parents go through his stuff. He wasn't into cards or coins but loved old obscure things that we don't know the value of or what his wishes were in what to do with them. Do your loved ones a favor and create a will or at lest write down your wishes and then give them each a hug and tell em you love em cuz you never know when your times up.

[bbcard1]

First, very sorry AJ.

I am no longer young and I have a half decent collection. I am not all that worried about my mortality...of course I am concerned about it, but not overly so. I have been very blessed. We have never missed out on much of anything because of my cards and I enjoy having them and the relationships I have through them. I am planning on being here another 30 years. I hope to enjoy them all that time. My son knows enough to probably do ok.

I have disposed of a large collection before, and I can tell you it's hard.

People worry too much. Enjoy life's blessing while you are here.

[MVSNYC]

AJ, very sorry to hear. Hang in there man.

On a lighter note, I too have cited Al C, which says a ton about his intergrity.

[ALR-bishop]

Lost my brother at age 37, and his two daughters in an auto accident in which they were passengers, so I understand the pain Larry and you have my sympathies.

I have been collecting all Topps Bowman sets since 1957. I seldom selling any thing except the few dupes or cards that I had upgraded

I have a will ( including a prepaid funeral) and an executor ( an attorney son)
He has my inventory of everything, new and old, and my sets-pre 1976 are insured. My executor and my financial adviser have the names of three hobby friends to help sell it off. Although the collection would bring in a decent money, cards have always been a hobby for me and whatever money the cards would bring would just be a bonus for my family

My wife recently met a woman whose husband was an avid long term collector who had died suddenly and expectedly 7 years earlier. She was looking to down size and wanted to sell what turned out to be a huge post war collection that included Bowman and Topps set runs, autographed photos, old periodicals, many old minor leave sets and autographed baseball.

I put her in touch with Al Crisafulli at Love of Game, along time friend in the hobby. Al ended up making three trips to San Antonio to get everything . I know a good deal of it has been sold in recent auctions. . She was in much the same situation I was in, kids with no real interest in keeping the cards, which took a room and several closets in her house

One problem she had was no ledger or recepts showing basis. She was trying to use the 2007 Standard Catalg to establish a stepped up estate value. I am no tax attorney so not sure if that works.

I have receipts for most of my stuff but confess they reside in big envelopes and boxes and not on convenient ledger sheets

[Eggoman]

Although we have never met, I, too, am sorry for your loss!

My wife & I go over what I have fairly often, but we have never formed a "Game Plan" about how she might want to dispose of things in the event that I pass before her. Luckily, I have 3 brothers who still collect who will be happy to help...I hope!

Regarding your Pa's coins - and this is NOT intended to be a solicitation for business...

Being retired from my profession as an Environmental Geologist, I now help families & friends dispose of collections, partial estates, and "stuff" on commission. Sometimes its done via eBay or here and other times via contacts that I have made AND TRUST over the years It is NOT always an easy thing to do as there are SO MANY times when sentiment is tied into an item. THOSE items should remain with the family.

That being said, I am sure that there are people who do what I do in your area, too. Find one or two, sit down and meet/interview them - you WILL find one of us with sincerity, dignity, & integrity who will help you move your Dad's collection or at least assist you with what is good and what is not so good.

I find that it is STILL fairly easy to judge people by meeting with them face-to-face.

I would be more than happy to talk with you, if interested. Please feel free to PM me.

[samosa4u]

I'm 33, so I don't think about stuff like this. I do like discussing the hobby with my mother and brother-in-law, so they have a pretty good idea as to how much some of my cards are worth. Now my wife is a different story. I'm not going to bother trying to explain anything to her, or she'll just do this:

"Huh? How is this stuff worth so much? I don't get it. Why would people spend a lot on this stuff? Who is he? Why don't you sell this, so that way we can buy XXX or buy XXX, what do you think? Blah, blah, blah ... "

[mikemb]

Originally Posted by samosa4u

I'm 33, so I don't think about stuff like this. I do like discussing the hobby with my mother and brother-in-law, so they have a pretty good idea as to how much some of my cards are worth. Now my wife is a different story. I'm not going to bother trying to explain anything to her, or she'll just do this:

"Huh? How is this stuff worth so much? I don't get it. Why would people spend a lot on this stuff? Who is he? Why don't you sell this, so that way we can buy XXX or buy XXX, what do you think? Blah, blah, blah ... "

Part of me is laughing but the other part of me isn't since my wifw says the same thing.

Mike

[DHogan]

ajjohnsonsoxfan... I'm sorry to hear of your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

[gregr2]

Sorry to hear of your loss AJ, that is too young.

For me I have thought about this quite a bit over the last year. My father died at 72 and most of my uncles have died right about the age of 70. Last year I turned 55 and started thinking that I might only have 15-17 years left with my wife and kids so I joined a gym, starting working out, lifting weights and doing cardio. I also started eating better and have dropped 25 pounds and just feel better. My take is, I'm not going to leave my loved ones if there are things I can do about it.

As for my collection, it is quite meager compared to many on here. I have two step daughters who have no interest in it. My wife knows where I keep a spreadsheet with the amount I paid for each item and I have provided some names of folks who she should contact to help her move it all.

Greg

[kkkkandp]

Originally Posted by ajjohnsonsoxfan

I'm actually dealing with this right now. My little brother who was 41 died suddenly on Friday and I'm helping my parents go through his stuff. He wasn't into cards or coins but loved old obscure things that we don't know the value of or what his wishes were in what to do with them. Do your loved ones a favor and create a will or at least write down your wishes and then give them each a hug and tell em you love em cuz you never know when your times up.

Sorry for your loss, AJ. I'm going to a service tomorrow for my future son-in-law's aunt who died last Saturday. She went for a physical every year and had no symptoms, but was diagnosed with Stage 4 uterine cancer on April 13. She was 52.

While I don't technically have a "plan" for my cards, my wife is aware of the short list of people with whom I routinely communicate about my cards. In addition to that, there is a list of dealers (which I will hopefully keep current) that my kids can deal with if they decide no one wants to hold on to the cards.

These days I'm all about family dinners, family vacations (we're all going to Ireland this summer), and having the kids down to our shore house as much as possible. They're going to miss me when I'm gone, but I'll probably miss them more.

[LEHR]

I think about the mortality aspect of collecting every now and again but I don't worry too much about it. When I'm dead I could care less if my stuff is sold or to whom, I'd just like to see my wife get as much out of it as possible. I've given my wife the contact information for three different auction houses and the person to contact at each. I'm sure she'll do fine.

If I'm lucky enough to live to an old age (I'm only 43 now) I can definitely see myself selling off the collection sometime in retirement. It's a great hobby but no one can take this stuff with them.

[cardswin53]

I know you can't take it with you, but I do have this Urn in my Cardinals man cave !Urn.jpg