Getting back what you gave them

In my family we used to be OK with the ideas of mortality and possessions. Well, at least my sister and I were, we never really asked how our parents felt about it.

What you ask is the association of mortality and possessions?

Well, picture this, Shabbos afternoon, during the seudah, I say to my sister:

"Naomi, I call the dinning room table!"

She replies, "OK, but I get the breakfront"

"Fine, but I get the wine chest"

"Wait, that's not fair, you're getting Bubbie's dinning room table, you can't get the wine chest as well - that was hers!"

"Alright, fine, you get the wine chest, but I get couch!"

And this would continue for a few more minutes. Now like I said we never asked how our parents felt about this (they can chime in in the comments if they like), but we were OK with it. I mean, death is an eventuality that we were mature enough to handle (at about 13 or so) and with that comes the divvying up of possessions.

So now flash forward some 18 years, and we're hanging up some pictures on the wall of our new place. Sarah is sitting in her chair directing me as to where the pictures should go, and SL is sitting on the couch holding and admiring one of the hanging things we have, and says:

"Mommy, when you die chas v'shalom, can I have this?"

Sarah was a bit flustered, not sure how to respond, while I with my years of going through the same conversations replied, "SL, just wait till that happens, then we can discuss it".

Nothing like pushing off the inevitable!