Hi All:
I want to thank all of you for your condolences and support.
I would love to tell you all that everything is ok, but that would be a lie.
As you may recall I mentioned that my Dad and I did not have the best relationship, as a matter of fact it stunk.

As a result, unbeknownst to me, he changed his will earlier this year. He told me that he was making some changes but not as drastic as he did.
In the end he chose to make my sister the executor, and not me. In addition, he cut me out of the Will entirely. Now,I admit that I'm angry, and disappointed. But in truth, most of his estate was community property anyway. In addition, he formally told me to keep most of his high end fishing gear after I borrowed it, and wanted to give it back. My sole concern at this point is to make sure my mother is taken care of. She had a stroke about 18 months ago, and never completly recovered. Sadely though, I was never able to get to know most of my extended family who all live in the midwest, Nebraska, Wyoming, etc. This, I am sorry to say has had a very negative impact on this entire affair,
As I said, Dad and I did not have a good relationship. Some of his complaints were justifed, some were not. I won't bore you with the details, except to say that he must have shoveled a whole lot of BS at my relatives. I say that because Dad's two older sisters came out,before I could get there. I can only imagine, what they told my sister. My sister is 37 chronologically. She is 10 or 11 emotionally, and still VERY impressionable. Bottom line is this: She and I have always had an excellent relationship. Now, after spending two days with her my aunts have, undoubtedly as a result of misinformation fed them by my Dad, turned her completly against me. I had a heated conversation with one of my aunts on the phone, prior to my going up there. I went up to finalize my Dad's cremation order, and it appears that I was slandered, or defamed at the mortuary as well. I went to the house to visit my mom, and to tell her that I would be coming back soon, and spend some time with her. My sister made some noise that she might try and prevent me from seeing her.

I WAS able to have a very frank conversation with the one cousin who I have a good relationship with. He told me that the word is because I had a drug problem 17 years ago, I'm not to be trusted. That's why I'm being treated like shit, by everyone except him, and my mom.

Yeah, I had a drug problem. But I've been clean and sober for 17 years. Furthermore, I've been an active member of Narcotics Anonymous for just as long. If I really stretched my objectivity, I can understand their concerns. The hypocrisy though is that Dad was a hardcore alchoholic. Granted, he quit drinking, and started going to AA a few months after I went into rehab, and he died sober. He couldn't stand anyone in his immediate family being better at anything than he was. I know that he bad mouthed the program to my face on several occassions, and actually quite AA altogether several years before he died. I don't really care about that except that now because of his hatred for me, he has totally alienated most of my family, and placed my mothers financial well being into the hands of someone who isn't qualified. I have no choice but to let her execute his will. I just hope that she realizes when she's in over her head,and askes for help. Which brings me to first of two questions I have. I plan to go to court and ask for a conservatorship over my mother. However, the provisions of Dad's Will give my sister control of most of his money, money that after paying his final expenses are supposed to support my mother for the rest of her life.

As I said above. Even though I think it's insane, I will not go to court and contest the Will, and allow my sister to do as Dad wanted. However, if  the court grants me conservatorship over my mother,and my sister makes a complete mess of things financialy, does my power as conservator allow me to step in and take over, against my sister's wishes if necessary to save my mother's assets, or will I need a different type of legal vehicle?

Next: As I said before, Dad gave his gun collection to some of my cousins. They are currently in the possesion of my aunt and her husband in Nebraska, supposedly per Dad's wishes. I say that because I am encountering fierce resistance whenever I ask to see the Will.

In truth, while I would have really liked to have it. Truth be told I have a fairly substantial collection of my own. There are however, one, or two specific pieces that I want. I don't think that they will be given to me, but I may be allowed to buy them at an agreed price.

Now, I hope that there are some Federally licensed firearms dealers in our ranks because my question is this.

As I said, the guns I want have been moved to Nebraska from California where I still reside.

I know that I could do it the hard way, and get in my car, and drive about 2-3 days each way, and bring them back.

I called a few local sporting goods stores that sell guns. The problem is, no can tell me what the proceedure is to ship a firearm, from point A to point B, via US Mail, Fed Ex, or UPS.

I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks again for letting me vent.

Cliff