2. misc-audio
  3. 195619-147348

God, I hate to ask this…

Recent conversations with the oncologist have been replete with phrases like ‘stage 4’,metastasis’ and unappealing statistics applied to survival rates. While my real and financial affairs are well settled I am most perplexed with how to approach this large pile of audio stuff e.g. 3 secondary systems in addition to the primary one, several thousand lp’s, a similar number of CD’s/SACD’s, a closet full of cable etc. I am utterly confident that I am not alone in this. While I am comfortable that my wife will love and care for my dog I am less confident that the Avantgardes will elicit such emotional investment. Although my immediate inclination is to cling desperately to these treasured objects it seems patently unfeeling to expect someone else to deal with all of this. My wife will have enough to do. I could just divest myself of much of it and depend on the collection of headphones that I began to amass during the first illness. I really don’t want to do this. I would also like to pre-bequeath much of it to friends assuming that they wanted it but all of them have been adamant in their refusal to discuss this with me and probably will remain so until the 11th hour. As childlike as it seems, I am emotionally invested in these fruits of a lifelong passion and want them to end up where they will be respected and loved . This seems to be a juncture that we will all come to. I would be grateful to hear the contemplations that all you have had in this, admittedly, sobering matter. 
To all of you, good cheer and good health.

 

williamjohnston

Showing 1 response by jas_in_phila1

jas_in_phila1
18 posts
 

Hello William,

So sorry. Many of these responses should give you comfort and ideas.

I do not expect to be around more than 3 years. My wife is very smart but not interested in operating "machinery". Here is what I have done:

1. Eliminated all equipment that my wife is not comfortable looking at.  2. Made a detailed outline of how to turn it on and listen to either CD or tuner. And how to turn it off.  3. Put round label next to everything she needs to touch, labelled 1-7.  4. Let her practice using my outline. Every time she wrinkled her brow, I revised it for her.    5. Prepared a detailed listing of all equipment and its purchase cost.

My wife has become comfortable using the system (almost). And now likes to listen to it. In the end, I have to accept as fact that as soon as some cable comes loose and the system no longer produces sound, she will pronounce it broken; that will be the end of it. What is more important is the time I spend with her now; what I do for her now. As for the rest, she will be financially comfortable and travel until it is her turn to say goodbye.

 

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