B 5/28/02

Work diary; 5/28/02

I handle insurance claims for automobile accidents. Sometimes people
die, particularly the elderly or short people who sit too close to the
steering wheel (a sound argument for those hideous platform shoes from
the 70's that seem to be making a comeback).

Sometimes people get strange when their loved ones die. Not "mystical"
or "weepy" or "philosophical," but greedy, greedy, greedy. For
instance, today I had the son-in-law of one of my dead insured's call
in. The son-in-law is handling the claim for his wife, the insured's
daughter, and he wants me to re-issue the check for the dead woman's
vehicle. Why? Because it's made out to her estate, and if it goes into
the estate bank account, his wife's brother might get half of it. All
this from a non-blood relative (another reason that those of you in
non-sanctioned marriages, relationships, and/or partnerships need to
make up a last will and testament, and fast. Just picture your
significant other answering the front door to some of your less
scrupulous relatives, who are just dropping by to pick up your
things?).