Well, I've put this off for as long as I can. My moving expenses have skyrocketed, and my health has already plummeted. As if losing my partner, Willie, to a tragic accident wasn't devastating enough, my established home was sold out from under me. Willie's wishes have not been honored or considered, so I've been summarily excluded from what I thought was my family. Kicked to the curb, with full knowledge of my financial, mental, and physical instabilities, and no way of lining up new housing for myself, Cali (my dog), and my 18 show rabbits.

I had to pay over $6000 to the tow company that pulled my van, which Willie had been driving, from the ocean. The police department placed a hold on the vehicle, so I had to pay for the impound fees as well. No compensation for the vehicle whatsoever; not from insurance nor from the Estate of William Westerman.

I've had to hire help along the way to work through a lifetime of, well, life. Some of the help stole from me. Some of the help (movers) loaded the 26' Uhaul only half full, having actually simply thrown things into the truck, leaving huge open spaces. This meant needing to not only extend the length of time needed for the truck and the need to find and hire more help, but also to rent a second local storage unit in which to put the "half load" until we could retrieve it to move 200 miles to the intended destination and our already rented unit. I ended up having more "life" than expected, so even after making the trek up to where my brother lives to unload the huge truck (with yet more hired help), I had to rent another truck to gather up my cages and disassembled barns. I'll have to rent yet another unit to accommodate them. These expenses have been crippling, especially since I've been relying on borrowed funds. I haven't completed this last run yet because I have just reached the end of my rope. I've spent way too many nights on the floor in excruciating pain after my bed was moved.

I'm faced with trying to work on my old pickup to be able to make the run. I just spent several thousand dollars on a fifth wheel hitch installation, brake controller, and lighting for the truck and for the ancient travel trailer that I was "allowed" to move from being buried in the mud from the property. I figured that having something to live in would be some semblance of assurance. I'm stuck only 20 miles into my journey, faced with an unhappily overheated truck and a loaded Uhaul.

Because it hadn't occurred to me at the time that I wouldn't be considered the same daughter-in-law that I'd always been, I filed a claim with my own insurance company to cover the costs of the property damages incurred in the accident and funeral expenses in their entirety. I cancelled all of Willie's credit cards and all accounts except for his bank account, which the Trustee handled. All creditors expunged all debt. Not even a thank you.

My relationship with Willie has always been spousal, despite the lack of the actual certificate. His intentions, should he pass, were very clear: that I should be his sole beneficiary. He has an estranged son who claimed many years ago that he never wanted to hear from or know Willie at all and that as far as he was concerned he had no father. Willie's wishes for his inheritance specifically excluded the man who claimed no relation to him. When I suggested to Willie's mother that she alter the Trust to fulfill those wishes, she told me that the boy had had a hard life and she would never do that to him.

So, the bag I'm left holding is truly empty.

I am eternally grateful to my family and all of my dear friends who have been so incredibly supportive throughout this cruel ordeal. My "rabbit family" has been a pillar of strength for me.

My body has given up. My mind left a long time ago. My income is gone and then some the moment it reaches my bank account. I hate all of this, but I hate even more that I'm here on this platform. Maybe it's really just to get all of this off my chest, not wholly a plea. There's my story. Thank you.