debodun
SF VIP
- Location
- way upstate in New York, USA
After my mother passed, a woman I worked with before I retired offered to come to my house and help me sort through things. While she was there, she saw the piece of authentic scrimshaw and wanted it. I told her it wasn't for sale. She seemed to accept this and continued to come on weekend for about 6 weeks. There were other things she saw and I happily gave them to her as payment for her coming and helping (some furniture and an old student lamp).
After 6 weeks, she suddenly announced that she wasn't coming any more. When I asked why, she said that we had "reached a point of diminishing returns." I was a little taken aback, but she had helped me to the point that I was able to manage by myself from then on, but to me it seemed like she was just coming in order to have first dibs on anything she might see and want (i.e. when she ascertained that there was nothing more of interest to her, she quit).
A few months later, I made some changes to my will since my situation had changed. I remembered how she really wanted the scrimshaw piece and made an addition to my will to leave it to her, and in the event she predeceased me (she is over 5 year older than me), it would go to her daughter since the name Sarah is engraved in it and her daughter's name is Sarah. I informed her of my action. This was 7 years ago.
A few weeks ago I received a phone call from this woman saying she didn't want to wait to receive the scrimshaw and asked if she could have it now as she wanted to give it to Sarah for a 30th birthday gift. She offered to buy it, but I still refused. It is probably one of the most valuable items I won next to my house and car.
I just wanted an opinion of this woman's behavior - it it normal for people to want to purchase items when they don't want to wait to inherit, or is it the epitome of chutzpah?
After 6 weeks, she suddenly announced that she wasn't coming any more. When I asked why, she said that we had "reached a point of diminishing returns." I was a little taken aback, but she had helped me to the point that I was able to manage by myself from then on, but to me it seemed like she was just coming in order to have first dibs on anything she might see and want (i.e. when she ascertained that there was nothing more of interest to her, she quit).
A few months later, I made some changes to my will since my situation had changed. I remembered how she really wanted the scrimshaw piece and made an addition to my will to leave it to her, and in the event she predeceased me (she is over 5 year older than me), it would go to her daughter since the name Sarah is engraved in it and her daughter's name is Sarah. I informed her of my action. This was 7 years ago.
A few weeks ago I received a phone call from this woman saying she didn't want to wait to receive the scrimshaw and asked if she could have it now as she wanted to give it to Sarah for a 30th birthday gift. She offered to buy it, but I still refused. It is probably one of the most valuable items I won next to my house and car.
I just wanted an opinion of this woman's behavior - it it normal for people to want to purchase items when they don't want to wait to inherit, or is it the epitome of chutzpah?