She came to town for only one reason.

She told neighbors quite clearly why she was visiting for the first time in 20 years.

“I came for my inheritance,” she said.

Her father had just passed away yet she didn’t come to bury him or to visit him when he was sick.

Her father sometimes mentioned his adult daughter, telling us she wrote him off a long time ago. While he never said what caused that alienation, he did say he kept hoping to see her again.

It never happened.

I know very little about that father and daughter. But I feel sorry for both of them. It’s sad when families fracture because they miss out on the riches of a close family.

The Realtor told the daughter she could sell her father’s home for half a million dollars. She quickly had a buyer but then she raised her price to $600,000.

She said she thought because a hurricane leveled so many homes in our area a tight real estate market would mean her dad’s home would command more money.

She’s probably right, and she’s quite happy with her inheritance. She did ask if she was receiving all the inheritance.

She’s getting all the money from the sale of the house. But I don’t think she’s getting all the riches of an inheritance.

I believe “inheritance” involves much more than money or material things. It’s part of what makes you tick, what gives you comfort, what makes you strong, what family stories you store away.

When I am able to cope with tough times I credit the inner strength I inherited from my mother. My inheritance from my father is a deep love of nature and an appreciation for all of life

A close family relationship can offer more joy and safety than an expensive house.

Robert Frost once wrote this compelling thought: “Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.”

Part of my family inheritance has been the knowledge that no matter what happens or how hard life gets, I know I can count on my family to take me in or to help make me stronger.

My family adds so much joy and meaning to my life. The older I get the more I glory in the extraordinary closeness of family.

When Hurricane Ian ripped through my neighborhood and turned my beloved house into rubble, it was my two daughters and son-in-law who helped me put it in perspective.

I quickly realized it doesn’t matter if I lose my home and possessions. As long as I have my extraordinary daughters I know I am blessed.

I was lucky enough to be brought up in a family that valued each and every family member. We all have our idiosyncrasies, some of which can be off-putting. But family always prevails.

My Aunt Mary sometimes did the most outlandish things. During my grandmother’s funeral mass Aunt Mary grabbed my wrist and tried to pull off my watch. “Give me that,” she said.

I said, “Aunt Mary I love you and you can have anything of mine you want - except for two things: My wedding ring or this watch that was my wedding gift from my husband.” I showed her the inscription that said: “Life is short. Remember to love.” I reiterated that I would always love her.

She had tears in her eyes because she knew what I said was heart felt.

My dad always stressed the importance of family. We didn’t have to be special in any way for him. If we were family, we were special enough. He also stressed we needed tolerance and understanding in dealing with each other.

When my sister Maryann and I were angry with my brother because he didn’t drive two hours for my dad’s 75th birthday celebration, my dad declared we needed more tolerance. “We all do what we are capable of doing,” he said.

Maryann died at 44. When my brother came to the private family viewing, he was so upset with me because he said I didn’t have the hairdresser do Maryann’s hair the right way. He left the viewing and didn’t come back.

This time, I had tolerance and understanding because I realized Richard was having a hard time accepting our beloved sister was dead at such an early age. His grief had nothing to do with hairstyle.

When our first impulse is anger with a family member, we fail to look at the big picture. It took me years to learn that.

My daughters and I have worked hard to develop tolerance for each other’s peculiarities.

I am a nervous driver and not a complacent passenger. When Maria drove me around last week, I kept flinching if I thought a car was getting too close.

I was getting on her nerves. She threatened to put me in the back with a curtain blocking my view.

Later she asked if I was offended at her comment.

No way. The older we get, the more tolerance we have.

Family is precious. Each and every family member is a treasure.

The time we share with each other, the loving memories we are forming are all part of the inheritance we will always carry in our hearts.

Contact Pattie Mihalik at newsgirl@comcast.net.