Holy sh*t! Pleasant surprise?

Back story: I had helped a neighbor of mine a few years ago as she fought cancer. Occasionally checked in on her, took care of her two birds, got her mail, etc. Then, she passed two years ago. I was told I was in her will, thought nothing of it as the estate got tied up with the IRS. Thought that maybe she'd left me some small bequest of books or British videos, since we shared a love of Brit flicks.

Well, today, a certified letter shows up. Read how the estate's finally been cleared up, a detailed explanation of the ins and outs and the sort, all leading to "enclosed is a check representing your share of the estate." Still thinking it was a little something but nothing big.

Turned over the check and nearly shit myself: $34,711.19.

WHAT. THE. FUCK?!?!?!

I'm so surprised, yet also torn. What I did to help surely wasn't $34,000 worth. Honestly, I feel horrible that I didn't do more for her.

Mixed emotions. Don't know how to process this yet...

 

You earned it in her eyes, so a job well done.
Enjoy the memories and your good fortune, too.

 

Checking on the health of my neighbors ...

 

So what are you drinking tonight?

 

Sometimes the value of our actions goes way beyond the practical things we do for people. Well done.

 

Make a nominal donation to some charity you think she'd like if you really feel guilty, but obviously she thought your help was valuable to her, so I wouldn't worry very much about it. Presuming she was of reasonably sound mind, she made the decision all on her own, so I wouldn't really presume to second-guess.

Maybe hunt down some really good Brit-film DVDs in her honor. Toast her with a really nice bottle of Scotch.

 

She wanted you to have the money. Whatever you did for her meant more to her than you thought, a common occurence for "little things" that don't mean much to us but mean the world to someone else. This was her way of telling you just how much it meant.

That said, I would probably also feel torn and unworthy of the money, too. To assuage that feeling, I'd probably take a large chunk and donate to charity in her honor, more specifically cancer research since that was what she died of. Or find some other cause that would represent her well. But if you kept every dime and used it to help yourself out, I don't think any of us could blame you.

 

Good on ya, Killick. As others have said, the impact of your actions speaks loudly, whether you think so or not.

 

She wanted this for you. I'm guessing your actions were far more meaningful to her than you feel they were. Also, were other people doing the same thing? It could be that some of her friends and/or family didn't step up to the plate the way she was expecting them to, and maybe you exceeded expectations.

Also, while this may not seem like a big deal to you, it sounds like you were very helpful and did right by her. Good for you.

 

Good on you, Killick.

 

Do something with it worthy of her generosity.

It's always amazing to learn that the little old lady who lived next to you in that quaint little three-bedroom ranch home seemingly on a tight budget, saved Cool Whip containers by the dozens in her garage and drove a 1984 Buick with 40,000 miles on it was a multi-millionaire. I've learned that a couple of times in my life.

 

I see it as karma after selflessly caring for a dying neighbor. You enjoy the reward to the max, Killick. She wouldn't have wanted it any other way.