Stock Market

I wish I knew more about that sort of thing. Small cap, large cap, huh? Mutual funds another "huh"? I'm gonna be getting a little bit here in the next couple weeks as my mom passed away last summer and were about to close on the sale of her house (where I grew up and lived til I was 24) I'm now 57 and really don't know what to do other than I want to put it somewhere it won't be "blown" after I do a few improvements to the house I have lived in since 98.
A couple of windows, black top for the driveway, etc. I also have an old 401 from an old job and am tired of seeing the minus signs quarter to quarter and don't really know how to turn those around.
I'm also vested in my current job but can't collect my retirement from there til 67 (if I make it that long) whether I work that long or not.... I have 9-1/2 years to that point.