thanks for sharing this link, thats one of those (rare) websites that makes me feel really glad the internet was invented.

You're not supposed to make people cry

"My father oftens tells me he wants to die.

He says it's time for him to go, that he's been around too long. It's odd, because part of me wants him to go too.

This is no life for him, living in the twilight of half memories. But he's the only close family I have left.

You see, I'm an only child. After him, that's it.

The other day, when he said he wanted to die, I told him that the problem was that he had exercised his entire life, and was in great shape.

He looked at me, raised his finger, and said:

'Next time araound, I'm going to stay in bed!'"

*sigh*

I had a dream about my grandfather last night. I never really came to terms with his death back in 2003, I think, and I've had recurring dreams about him once in a while. I loved my grandfather, but I never told him this to his face, because 'you don't do that'. This time I was back in his house having fun with him, I can't remember what specifically happened, but it ended with me giving him a huge hug and telling him that I loved him. He said, 'why are you having this dream'? Which weirded me out and after what seemed like a great while I replied, 'because I miss you'. I woke up crying.

Lovely and horrifying all at once... I envy him the chance to have such a thorough farewell with his father. My mom just passed away last week, after years of losing herself to Alzheimer's and strokes. My sister had much the same experience with her than this young man did, and I couldn't be there, so I envied her as well. At the same time, it's heartbreaking and terrifying to watch someone degenerate in such a fashion, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Like so much of life, long drawn out deaths are seriously mixed experiences...