I'm writing this week's newsletter from my childhood bedroom. My daughter and I spend the summers with my dad in the Adirondacks. This year, I've turned my old bedroom into my office.

Death Readiness Dispatch

June 24, 2026

Hi there,

 

I'm writing this week's newsletter from my childhood bedroom. My daughter and I spend the summers with my dad in the Adirondacks. This year, I've turned my old bedroom into my office. If you see photos or videos from me over the next couple of months, you may notice the safari wallpaper in the background. I picked it out when I was eleven years old, and somehow it survived all these years.

 

This room holds a lot of memories. My mom helped me choose that wallpaper. It's also the room where she spent her final days before she died. I remember sitting in the bedroom across the hall with my Aunt Eileen while her body was removed from the house.

 

That sounds like it should be a sad memory. But when I think about this room, that's not what I feel. I think about my mom. And I think about my dad caring for her with extraordinary patience and love. And mostly, I feel grateful.

Letting Go of Michael

The timing feels fitting because this week has also involved another goodbye. Before leaving Michigan, I asked Detroit Dog Rescue if our foster puppy Michael could come to New York with us for the summer. They said no. Michael needed to stay behind for veterinary appointments and to meet with potential adopters.

 

So Michael is back in Michigan with my husband. I'll admit it: I worry about him. And it’s not because I don't trust my husband or Detroit Dog Rescue. Quite the opposite. My husband is the kindest person I know, and Detroit Dog Rescue has far more experience finding great homes for dogs than I do.

 

I worry because I care about Michael. I want him to be happy. I want him to find the right family. But caring about Michael and being the person responsible for deciding what happens to him are two different things. I care about him. But I don't get a vote.

The Limits of a Power of Attorney

And that distinction between caring deeply about someone and having the legal authority to act for them is at the heart of this week's podcast.

This week, I share the story of a woman I'll call Jordan. Jordan was serving as agent under a power of attorney for a close friend who was nearing the end of her life. Jordan wanted to help with everything. Her friend expected her to help with everything.

 

But Jordan discovered something surprising: Caring deeply about someone and having legal authority to act for them are not the same thing.

In this episode, I explain:

📄Why a power of attorney doesn't automatically allow you to take over every role someone holds,

⚖️The difference between acting for someone personally and serving in a fiduciary role,

🚫Why an agent under a power of attorney can't automatically become an executor or conservator,

🏡How one woman's revocable trust may help a young family get their dream home and avoid months of probate delays,

✅And why good estate planning is about giving the right people the right authority at the right time.

One of the most common misconceptions I encounter is the belief that the people who love us will automatically be able to step in and help if something happens. 

 

Often, they can't. Love, willingness, and legal authority are three different things. The right estate planning documents help bridge that gap.

 

Thanks for being here.

PS: Safari wallpaper. Adirondack summer. Tennessee estate plans. And still finding time to smell the daisies. Good estate planning isn't just about documents. It's about making life a little easier for the people you love.