Where There's a Will

There is nothing legally binding or official about this document. It is a result, perhaps, of my ego more than anything else. But I couldn't sleep well at all the last few nights. You see, I finalized my "Last Will and Testament" with our lawyer last week. She sent me a copy of it three days ago. It sat on the kitchen table for the longest time before I decided to open it.

"I'll just scan over the details and make sure everything is there," I thought to myself.

It wasn't.

After getting to the last page I realized the most important part was missing.

Me!

This was a formal listing of all the things of my life. It was indeed a legal document declaring who gets what and how much. But then it hit me. By the world's standards I haven't really been all that successful. Oh, there's a house, car, insurance, and a few personal collections that I've been proud to call my own.

There is and will be copyrights and royalties from my work to consider, too.

"But where am I in all of this?" I asked myself.

I wasn't there. So, I sat down and created what is called an "Ethical Will." It is not a legal document, but a listing of my own personal beliefs and ideals.

The will needed to be notarized before it could be accepted in the courts. So we headed to the courthouse.

Upon entering the office, my wife asked the first person we saw if there was a notary available.

"Yes, anyone in here but me!" the young man replied.

"I guess you missed that class?" I said, laughing.

"They didn't think it was necessary since everyone else was a notary already," he said.

"Well, how would you like to be a witness for our wills?"

"Wow! That's creepy!" he said. "But sure!"

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