II, rather than 2. The blockbuster sequel. The Two Towers after The Fellowship of the Ring.

I described sister as "slightly" or a "bit". No slightly or bit about it. In the last entry, any slightly/bit should be changed to very. She's in a snit again, a flare up on the "why is US Bank the executor?" Now I'm getting the... "why are you trusting them to sell the land? Do you really trust them to sell the land at a decent price?" and the "dad wouldn't have wanted it this way..."

I'll ask my lawyer friend for advice, basically asking the question - how much communication should or can occur between heirs and the executor? I'm pretty sure that the answer is this: the executor is responsible for the efficient collection of debits and assets of the estate, and to disperse the leftover assets to the heirs. Nothing more, nothing less.

Dad be damned. Dad couldn't make a complex financial decision if his life depended on it. And since he's dead, it falls to his estate. Not to the heirs.

Of course I don't trust "them" for the sake of "them" to sell the land at a decent price, but I do trust the fact that the 4% of the estate fee will be the encouragement to sell the land at a decent price. The fee ensures that accepting lowball offers means that they will screw themselves. And I do trust a bank not to screw itself.

And should the heirs be around for the farm auction? Of course not. The household inventory was low and therefore sad, but theoretical. Seeing the stuff actually disappear for pennies on the dollar is going to be heartbreaking. What is sister going to do when she gets there. Buy stuff? Force the bidding up? Cry?

At least in the original plan, if the family collected household items and got a hold of them, we would generate family goodwill. Maybe that's what's really torqueing off sister. Bad decision on her end. After the word about the sinking foundation, she cooled on the idea about inheriting the house.

I'm going to have to warm up the K...yes dear response. Maybe I'll get another friend who mixes ambient music to loop in K... yes, dear to something restful. Oh wait - this is a marathon, and we're only rounding the first corner. A little drum and bass to get the energy going.

One thing's for certain. It's a whole lot easier to save money and buy your own assets than it is to inherit them.