I thought I'd post a note to let everyone know that my legal issues regarding my Grandfather's estate are FINALLY over!!

 

Went to court on Thursday where I saw my brother for the first time in about 11 months.  I didn't realize how emotional just seeing him I'd get.  Don't know if it's because I know in my heart it will probably be the last time I ever see him again or what.  We wrote out the agreement and although I am having to pay him about $4,500.  I probably could have really pushed the issue and not paid him a dime as I think his Attorney was finally seeing the writing on the wall but I really wanted to just get this done and over with and move on to the next stage of my life.  He's waived his rights to the Hummels that my Grandma had collected (which by the way would have been proven in court if it had to come to that, that they were mine anyway) and the main issue I wasn't willing to let go of.  In turn I gave him my mom's '77 Ford Ranchero.  I'll never do anything with it and it's just wasting away in the yard.  It's something he really wanted.  Plus it will get it off the property and not cost me a thing.  Whether or not that made him happy or changed his mind about me being the Evil Half-Sister or not I don't know.  He wouldn't even join in the discussion and his attorney kept having to walk over to where he was sitting to ask if this or that was o.k. with him...annoying!!  His debt to the estate and to me personally has been waived in turn he has no further claims to anything regarding the Estate and no longer will be notified regarding the probate proceedings.  I can now petition the courts to allow me to purchase the property/house(s) and move forward and on with my life.

 

I had a major breakdown when I got home and had to call my Aunt to talk me down.  The emotional rollercoaster I'd been on for the last year finally took it's toll and I was saddened that this is what it came down to.  The fact that he thought it necessary to drag my name and character through the mud and with people who don't even know me...literally!  I didn't drag him down by exposing letters my Aunt had sent to me written by my mom.  To this day he has no idea that there are such letters or what they contain.  Here I am trying to protect his feeling when he could careless the hurt and pain his actions have caused me.  I'm sure he thinks I"m just bouncing off the walls with happiness but that couldn't be further from the truth.  I don't think I've cried that hard since my mom passed and I know I was spiraling into a depression due to all this and the fact that it's the Holiday season and I now feel "TOTALLY" alone in this world.

 

Those that know me know that I don't miss a Hockey game...well I haven't even been going to those as I just didn't want to deal with the outside world.  I'd go to work then come home and lock myself up inside with my fur-babies.  I guess my friends at the games became very concerned and yesterday I was bombarded with phone calls and emails asking what is going on with me.  That is the boost I needed and it was nice to know that people were missing me...that people cared.  I was truely in the frame of mind that if I disappeared nobody would care, it wouldn't matter to anyone.  I went to the game but didn't make it to far into the arena before another friend gave me a "what-for" and chewed on my butt before I'd even gotten my soda LOL!!  Those phone calls, email and the butt chewing helped pull me up out of the hole I was sinking down into.

 

So to all of you who have stood by me and offered me support and encouragement during this last year I want you to know I'm very, very grateful that you were always there to lend an ear and to help me through all of this.

 

Love, Hugs & Kisses

Claddaugh

Mary