Life, Death, and Funerals
By Ralph Karow Last week I found out that I share joint power of attorney with my sister for my 88-year-old mother. They both live out in Colorado. I had sole POA while she lived in New York, and I assumed that when my mother moved out there in 2019, a new POA was signed, making my sister sole POA. I thought everything had been squared away when she left, and I no longer had to concern myself with her material situation, so my first reaction to this news was that classic Al Pacino line: Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in. It is odd when you think about it. I live 1800 miles away in a monastery, with no direct phone access. And I don’t have a driver’s license, so I couldn’t rent a car and get there to do anything even if I were to fly out. Realistically, my sister is the only one who can act directly as our mother’s agent. At least in the material world. God’s world is different. I’m sure it was not my mother’s intention, but in making me