Ten Things To Do "Just In Case" You Die

 Cheery, no? There are few things in life that get your attention more profoundly than watching your life spin out of control in a runaway car. When the worst is over and you're back on your feet, you think of common sense things you should have done sooner - but didn't.  I won't make that mistake again.

Here's my list of things that really should be done pronto. Some I can check off. Yay!  I'm pretty good about telling others how I feel and keeping the love lines going in relationships, but the practical things?  That's another story.  I am the world's best procrastinator.

 10 Things to Do "Just In Case" You Die

  1. Make a will. Make it specific. Think about it carefully. You don't want the State or a distant or unstable relative having a yard sale with your fondest memories. Your personal writings and sentimental items need to be given to the family members you specifically want to have them, with instructions on what to do with them. You might not want certain things sold. You might want them kept in the family. (My piano comes to mind.) After you've cleaned and organized your home, take a picture of every corner of your house or make a video. Write down, room by room,  what is where and what you want done with it. Put this document in your will and in your safety deposit box.

2. Plan your funeral. Pick a plot. Pick a plan. Start an installment plan if you have to, but don't make your family spend time dealing with details and decisions in the midst of a loss.

3. Change any beneficiaries you need to on all bank and insurance policies and talk with a financial advisor.

4. Get a safe deposit box at the bank. Put all your online passwords, duplicate keys, precious valuables, your will, legal papers and anything else you'd want others to find quickly to help settle your estate.

5. Keep your emails and online accounts, including blogs and Facebook accounts, cleaned up and organized in files and/or in online storage. Give your passwords to someone you trust and ask them to delete whatever you didn't have time to.

6. Clean and organize everything in your home.
How would you want your house and car to look if someone walked in right now? Write down where things are located in your home (what's in the attic? basement? secret drawers and spaces?) Label things clearly.
And honestly, it makes me cringe to think that someone could have walked into my house that day. It was not a good time to have unexpected company! Just sayin'....

7.  Make duplicate copies of your social security card, driver's license, insurance cards. You might end up losing them in an accident. Others will need that information.

8.  Photographs should be digitally uploaded and saved to an external hard drive - often. Everything on your computer that you want kept alive should be saved there as well. Designate who gets which pictures. Don't forget about those old family videos. Think about the personal consideration of exes and children and even grandchildren to come. When you're gone, leave a trail of memories for those who didn't have a chance to meet you. Say what you want to say to them.

9. GET RID of anything you don't want a stranger or family member to see.

10. Do you want to bury or cremate your blog? You have to decide. Designate a trusted friend to take care of this for you. Tell them what to do with posts you want to stay infinitely online and what to delete.
Write a last blog post yourself and have them post it.

This is Mimi Pencil Skirt reporting LIVE (thank GOD!!!) one more time. Have a nice day.

Oh. One more thing. I hereby leave my precious Homer to all of you. 

He likes Cheetos for breakfast.