Inherit Tense

It would seem correct to say that throughout history there has never been a dad who didn't die; but then you have to admit there are a bunch of dads still roaming the terra firma. While one is probably on safe ground suggesting their mortality, you never know until you do.

So let's consider inheritance. For example, actor Sean Connery has given son Jason a certain amount of genetic talent and name recognition. But how much of his money the father has to leave his son is a current gossip kerfuffle between the real Bond and his ex-wife (as of three-plus decades). Is no money okay?

It wasn't, for example, with 29-year-old Benjamin Holding, a (fellow) Scottish TV exec, who knocked off his 70-year-old dad and picked himself up a nice BMW, as well as a few other toys, before getting nicked and sentenced to life in prison — which turns out to be only 15 years, but that's a whole different post.

On the other hand, not getting the money doesn't seem to be the problem for British chatterer Jenni Murray, who for more than two decades has been going on (and on) about women's issues ... as she sees them. Murray, instead would have been happier whether in life or upon his death getting a dose of her father's love and attention, at least according to a reading of her recently published autobiography, "Memoirs of a Not So Dutiful Daughter." Of course, she does admit she became who she did and good at what she does in large part because of what her father wouldn't share.

Finally, sharing the inheritance doesn't seem to be a problem between Congressman and Senator Kennedys. Son Patrick has never had to worry about the money that spouts copiously from family fortunes and father Ted has never been shy about sharing his thoughts also. Tonight, at the Democratic convention, they are likely to be on screen together often — as backers of the nominee, as reminders of the assassination and promise of their senator uncle/brother Bobby 40 years ago and president uncle/brother Jack 45 years ago.

They will also be featured as a father who passed along a message of service to his son:

My dad would always say when I was growing up, ‘From those to whom much is given, much is expected,’” said Patrick Kennedy. In their family, that meant that when his brother, Edward M. Kennedy Jr., lost a leg to cancer as a young man, their father would cite their access to good medical care as a reason for striving to spread such gifts to the less fortunate.

So, when assuming the father actually will die and wants to consider the right inheritance, it seems the ideal is to show the money, but don't forget to pass the wisdom as well.