The Death Book

I have finally gotten around to starting to write my death book.  It's really not as morbid as it sounds.  I have done a terrible job of keeping the Misses in the loop when it comes to stuff like passwords, account numbers and things that she will need to know when I pass on from this ol' life. 

So what kind of stuff is in this book--which is still right now mainly a bunch of scraps of paper but which is slowly being turned in to a well organized script for the Misses for life after me?  Well first of all, I have the policy numbers for the life insurance policies.  And the phone numbers of who to contact!  There are account numbers and phone numbers for the various savings accounts.  And there are the passwords for all the various web sites that I visit....And who to contact to cancel certain things.

I am writing my obituary.  Figure this will save the family some time when I pass.  And who really knows me better than me?    I am also including some of my wishes as far as funeral services and what not.  Don't want it to be some morbid thing--I've really been a very lucky person.   Hope somebody will get a few cases of beer, turn up some tunes and have a little party....we know how I hate funerals.

I plan on writing little notes or letters to friends and family that I love.  Yeah I know these things should be done while I am still alive, but that's really not my style.  So people will just have to deal with that.  I still haven't decided if I'll leave notes to those who have irritated me, but it's an interesting thought to me (probably won't happen). 

When my Dad died I learned quite a bit about what needs to be done after a person passes on---I was the executor.  It can be a real pain in the butt.  You need to get x number of certified death certificates.  You need to close accounts and notify various companies and people.  It all happens very quickly.  And it is very hard on the ones left behind.  I really think it will be a "final gift" if I can kind of get things a little organized for the family when I'm gone.  It's a lot easier for me to do it now than for them to try and do it when I'm gone.  You may want to have a little talk with your family about these things, because the last time I checked none of us are going to be here forever.....