Inherited family ring causes big stink
Dear Amy: Almost 30 years ago, less than a month before his death, my father gave me a ring that has been in our family for generations.
Dad was terminally ill and had asked me to take the ring for an appraisal, perhaps to sell.
When I went to his room to get the ring, it wasn't there. He went looking for it (I was with him at the time) and found the ring hidden in my sister's room, along with a couple of other valuable items. Dad handed me the ring and said, "Take care of this."
My sister recently asked me to give the ring to my nephew for him to use to propose to his girlfriend. I told her no. I proposed selling the ring and splitting the amount among our siblings. She accused me of being money hungry. She made up a story that 30 years ago we had all agreed the ring would go to my nephew (who is only 26).
She has used histrionics to emotionally bully me to get what she wants over the years.
Amy, I'm over it. I've already turned over a different ring, a painting and a silver dish because of her manipulations.
Being in a relationship with my sister has been rewarding as well as challenging. I love her, but every couple of years she creates one of these dramas and distances herself for weeks, or months.
How should I interact with my sister on this and related issues?
-- Sisterly Love
Dear Sisterly: Your understanding is that the value of this ring should be shared among your siblings.
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