WTF: 33 Years Later...

Gary Blanchard

Gary Blanchard

beloved, local musician
Friday, I get home and Carol tells me I got quite a message on her cell phone. It seems there is an unclaimed life insurance policy on my brother Kenneth, who died in November of 1981. They verified information with me, and will have the insurance company contact me by mail with the claim form. I clearly remember my family dealt with this insurance company for years. No one asked for money or other personal info; they already had my mailing address. The funny thing is that they somehow got Carol's phone rather than mine.

It probably isn't huge money, but might help me pay off a couple of bills that will clear me up for retirement.
 
It sounds like you have long since processed the loss of your brother, but this popping up might bring the pain back just a little.

It is strange that they didn't pursue this sooner. Morally, they owe about 32 years interest just to offset inflation. I know it ain't gonna' happen.
 
Tig said:
It sounds like you have long since processed the loss of your brother, but this popping up might bring the pain back just a little.

It is strange that they didn't pursue this sooner. Morally, they owe about 32 years interest just to offset inflation. I know it ain't gonna' happen.
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Yeah, there is a bit of pain, but I have dealt with so much death that it has become (sadly) easier to process. Ken died in 1981, my father in 1985, my mother in 1986, my brother Brian in 2010, and my sister in 2011. I am the only survivor at this point.

And yeah, I am not expecting any interest on that money.
 
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Sorry for your losses. I'm in a similar boat - my folks are gone and they never had any other kids so it's a bit strange. 1981? That's the year I graduated from high school - I can't imagine a paperwork mishap like that happening in this day and age unless it was in the back of a filing cabinet somewhere. How strange.

Maybe look at it like it's a strange "hi there, remember me?" from him in a way.
 
aliensporebomb said:
Sorry for your losses. I'm in a similar boat - my folks are gone and they never had any other kids so it's a bit strange. 1981? That's the year I graduated from high school - I can't imagine a paperwork mishap like that happening in this day and age unless it was in the back of a filing cabinet somewhere. How strange.

Maybe look at it like it's a strange "hi there, remember me?" from him in a way.
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Yeah. Since he can't Facebook me, it is one way to get in touch. I seem to recall that my parents had policies on all of us. I guess I can check that with the insurance company when they get in touch with me.
 
That's quite an interesting turn of events, and I'm still trying to imagine, in this age of computers, why it wasn't noticed until now. Gary, just think of it as your brother reaching out to do another nice thing for you.
 
Cashing in the policy might have been rough for them.
Like" it's final,he's gone.:("

Just a thought Gary,use the money to buy a new guitar and use it to write songs about your family experiences.
Play songs you remember hearing around the house as a kid.
 
DFB said:
Just a thought Gary,use the money to buy a new guitar and use it to write songs about your family experiences.
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I don't write depressing songs. :grin:

DFB said:
Play songs you remember hearing around the house as a kid.
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I do that a lot now. :thu:

I may take a little bit for a certain instrument I have been looking at; it is discontinued but still available at some retailers.
 
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Hope it's enough for you to treat yourself to something you wanted but would never ordinarily spend the money on. That should be a good way to remember your brother.
 
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