Things I Learned Today from 3 Widows

I make no judgments on what follows. I'm merely passing on what I learned today from three widows (all from the same family) I interviewed:

- If you don't act fast when a spouse passes, you lose your rights to life insurance and union benefits.

- Social Security will ask for a month of retirement benefits BACK when your spouse dies, and then pay you survivor benefits the next month. They literally want old widows to return that month's social security check even if it's the last day of the month and the money was spent. If the widow has Direct Deposit, the bank will dutifully take the money out of the widow's checking account automatically and return it to the proper authorities.

- When Salvation Army comes to pick up stuff your donating, they can be insensitive jerks and very demanding.

- When your spouse passes, your house turns into a museum.

- Life means nothing.

- There's no point in stressing out and rushing around ... In the end, we all die. Might as well laugh a little, try to have some fun, enjoy life.

- They'll never forget the night their little grandson/grandnephew beat the adults at dominoes.