Wednesday February 28th, 2007 - Chicago, IL/Beverly Hills, CA

I always teach my comedy students the importance of consistency of character on stage. My father was not only consistent to his character right up until death, he is now kicking at us from the grave as well. All I could do was laugh about it but in truth it isn’t funny.

Right before I left for the airport I checked my emails one last time. I had one from my half brother. We’ve been emailing back and forth since my father’s death and he’s the one who seems to be taking charge of everything. We were supposed to talk on the phone this past weekend but he’s been swamped and I didn’t want to pressure him at all. He travels a lot in his job too and he said it’s been hell to try and balance everything. I understand that.

He sent a quick note apologizing for not calling me because there had been a few things that ‘popped up’ since the last time we communicated. Oh oh. Apparently Daddy Dearest had not filed any tax returns for several years preceding his death and to top that he didn’t pay any of his other bills including utilities, etc. for many months assuming he was going to die. His ex wife passed away a few years ago and all of those bills were in her name so he must have thought it wouldn’t come back on anyone. But it is. My brother said it’s just all one big mess and he had to hire a lawyer to sort it all out. He also said the bottom line is that all four of us kids will end up getting NOTHING. Zip. Zero. Zilch. Not one penny.

The house is in pretty bad shape and not even close to being up to code in order to sell it anytime soon. Then if and when it is whatever might be left will go to the IRS. There was a small insurance policy apparently that initially we were all supposed to get about $1500 after taxes. I can use $1500 right now but it sure wouldn’t pay for a lifetime of his torture. Now I’m not even going to get that. They used that to pay the lawyer to start cleaning this mess up so we can all just move on. It’s like the song ‘Papa Was a Rolling Stone’. One of the lines in it is ‘And when he died, all he left us was ALONE.’ Now I’m living that song.

When I read that email telling me nobody was going to get a nickel I laughed out loud. I couldn’t believe it, but then again I totally could. It was SO typical of something he’d do and just when I thought it was all over there was one last middle finger from the morgue.

I wasn’t angry as I sat there and thought about it. I guess I’m all done being angry after a lifetime of rage against that idiot. That’s just what he was too, a big idiot. What kind of person does that on the way out and thinks he’s pulling one over on someone? An idiot.

Now I know that I am not going to have any windfall of cash from anyone in my family. Everyone who had the potential to leave me something is now dead and I got NOTHING. I am choosing to not be bitter about it and go make my own way in life. I’ve been doing it up until now and haven’t starved but a little help sure would have been nice about now.

I guess life isn’t always nice. Now the trick is for me to put all this aside and keep doing what I have always been doing and have faith that it will pay off. Now that’s what I call a challenge. But I like challenges and now I’ve got a big one. I’m here in LA to get started!