Hello everyone:

A lovely widow lady who sat next to me on a flight recently told me that her husband, aged 56 when he died, had been ill with cancer for three years. He had always taken care of everything financial. Even when he was diagnosed with cancer, the couple still thought he would respond well to treatment and that he would recover.

She said that they really believed he would be fine and therefore that they never bothered to discuss financial matters, as if that would somehow jinx him and literally make him die. After two years of no improvement, the cancer moved on to his brain, leaving him unable to communicate.

He lingered for another year, but she had to start from scratch trying to figure out what bills to pay, even as he required more and more care as his condition deteriorated. Her advice: talk about these things while you still can. She never expected to be a widow in her mid-fifties, but it happened to her.

So, what’s next for her? She is planning that she will most likely remain single. In understand that, statistically, a woman over 50 who becomes single has a better chance of being struck by lightning than remarrying. That’s the good or bad news, depending on your point of view.

The really good news is that you are young enough to make a difference in how you spend your golden years. Get your financial house in order now, so that you are able to travel, like the gal I spoke of earlier. She was very sad when her hubby died but she’s gotten through it and you will, too.

Do you have a story to share with my readers? I would love to see what you have to say.

Best,

Dr. Sheri

P.S. I’m not a particular fan of cats but I thought this one looked pretty intelligent and wanted to share it with you.