I was at an auction a few months ago, where a woman – obviously bidding against a bitterly competitive family member – paid over $3000 for a set of china from an older lady’s (presumably her grandmother’s) estate. The rest of the auction attendees stood there in stunned silence while this went on, and I heard them muttering later about how painful that was to witness – and it was.
And yet… I know what it is to want something owned by a departed loved one. I also know what it’s like to see a relative grotesquely mishandle and misrepresent the last wishes of that loved one, too. There are days when I’m certain the manipulative will inherit the earth.
What would I do in an equivalent situation? I could send an anonymous agent to bid for me, and simply stay away. Then whoever was bidding against me would at least not have the advantage of spite to fuel the battle.
I could also simply replace the set. It was a very fine manufacturer, and the dishes were in excellent condition, but you could have bought all of it by the piece from Replacements, Ltd. for less than a third of what she paid for them.
Then again, I might remember that Grandma gave me a lot more than dishes. Not only did I not have to buy those other things, no one can take them away from me, either.
–Gail