What's the best thing a family member ever gave you?

For me, it was a gift from my brother.

It was the phrase "my eyes bug out and start swelling."

Freedom rocks.

It's definitely underrated.

from Mom.

The first third a good time; the rest remembering about it.

Life is at best a dream and at worst a nightmare from which you cannot escape.

- Mark Twain

Well, it was more like $173,000 but it felt like $175,000.

There's a growable chunk.

Six of us. She didn't have children of her own. She didn't die or anything either, she is still around, she said that she wanted to see us enjoy it and hopefully invest it wisely.

left me his treasure trove of artifacts from the war...most of it his own personal stuff

his old helmet, blanket, gas mask and personal flare gun (complete with a spent flare shell)

also, old grenade shells, an 88 mm german artillery shell, a lighter made specifically to commemorate the battle of verdun (which he was a part of), photos, letters home, supply lists, his diary, and on and on and on. a couple boxes full of stuff.

when i was 11 i interviewed him for a class project about the war and about his life in general - he lived to be 101, 1896-1997 (died the same day as Princess Diana).

one of my other great grandfathers was also in the great war (though i never met him), but my dad has all his old letters and photos...including the picture he took of some soldiers from various countries - one of them being none other than pitching great Grover Cleveland Alexander

Great haul.

they get regular loving use and are a reminder of the woman who was such a huge part of my life

the GOP

From my mother. I lived with her in college and commuted to school. She kicked me out 6 mo. before I graduted for no real reason. I went to live with my father who, not having a bipolar personality disorder, was so much easier to live with.