Lost and Found
Lost and Found
Dennis Friedman April 14, 2020
Sometimes, when we’re doing our estate planning, we get so involved with the financial side that we lose track of other things that might have special meaning for our loved ones.
WHEN MY FATHER died in 2012, my mother gave me his wedding ring as a keepsake—but I lost it. I turned my house upside down trying to find it. When my mother was alive, I prayed she wouldn’t ask to see the ring, because I didn’t know what I’d tell her.
I felt terrible that I had lost something that meant so much to my father, and I was upset with myself for not taking better care of it. I know that I’m terrible when it comes to protecting my valuables. Like a dog that hides his bone, I hide things in my house—but forget where.
Some weeks ago, I was cleaning out my condo, as I prepared to move to my new home. I noticed a small plastic bag tucked in the back corner of a drawer. Yes, it was the missing ring. What a relief. I could breathe again.
While cleaning out my condo, I discovered other missing items:
I found $160 tucked between the pages of last year’s calendar.
I found $100 in an old Christmas card.
I found $20 in the back pocket of a pair of jeans.
I found some old gift cards that probably haven’t been used, but I need to check the card balances.
Why am I so careless with things of monetary value? I’m not a careless spender. I’m a saver who knows the value of a dollar. And yet I misplaced my father’s ring, which was not only a valuable item, but also a cherished possession.
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