Decided to sleep in Dad's bed last night. Couldn't rest, so I started poking around. The room's clean-- but cluttered. Dad was such a collector. For some reason, I was drawn to this... laundry basket-- on top of his dresser. So, I'm staring at it, and I notice this small, three-ringed photo album kinda thing. Hmm. I take it out, and begin looking through it: a passport (?) photo of Dad when he was young, Dad's puppies in the Philippines, Dad with the gold-digger, Dad with Mom. Then, a folded white sheet, tucked into one of the pages. I take it out, unfold it, and start to read. It's a Quit-Claim for our house.
When Vicky and I were stressed out about Dad over this woman in the Philippines, we begged him: just don't marry her. He reassured us: no matter what happens, I promise you will be okay; I will take care of you. Even during the first hell-ish days in the Philippines, I believed this. But I have to admit, after his own brother let us down, and M ignored Dad's written will and had him cremated, then took all of Dad's ashes; and after the funeral home fought with us over obtaining documents relating to Dad... I started to think, There's just no sense in this, whatsoever. Dad might have tried, but maybe it wasn't enough.
I was wrong! Dad left Vicky and I as beneficiaries to everything, but I was worried about the house. Maybe that woman wouldn't ultimately be able to have any part of it; but could she try? And make life hell (again) for us during some long, drawn-out, expensive dispute? Well, the answer to that is NO. Dad made M sign this document, and her mother's signature is on it as witness. M legally renounced any and all rights to this house-- my mother's house, our family home. Dad saw to it that she did. He has been with us. Lesson-learned: I am still my parents' daughter, and they are not letting us go through this alone.
When Vicky and I were stressed out about Dad over this woman in the Philippines, we begged him: just don't marry her. He reassured us: no matter what happens, I promise you will be okay; I will take care of you. Even during the first hell-ish days in the Philippines, I believed this. But I have to admit, after his own brother let us down, and M ignored Dad's written will and had him cremated, then took all of Dad's ashes; and after the funeral home fought with us over obtaining documents relating to Dad... I started to think, There's just no sense in this, whatsoever. Dad might have tried, but maybe it wasn't enough.
I was wrong! Dad left Vicky and I as beneficiaries to everything, but I was worried about the house. Maybe that woman wouldn't ultimately be able to have any part of it; but could she try? And make life hell (again) for us during some long, drawn-out, expensive dispute? Well, the answer to that is NO. Dad made M sign this document, and her mother's signature is on it as witness. M legally renounced any and all rights to this house-- my mother's house, our family home. Dad saw to it that she did. He has been with us. Lesson-learned: I am still my parents' daughter, and they are not letting us go through this alone.
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