Well in a lifetime one always has challenges to overcome. Some are minor in nature some are much more significant.
Having a parent approach the 'end of life' condition is always a 'pain' to observe. One feels bad when one seees a role model become a shadow of a previous self. One recalls the wonderful times/conversations/experiences etc. one has had with a parent. Our parents teach us so much about life not only in an 'intellectual sense' but also a spiritual or moral sense.
Some of you know that tomorrow - November 7 - I am travelling to be with an aging parent who is hospital with pneumonia. The attending physician has asked that I be physically closer to this aging parent. It's trite to say that I have known this parent for all my life (isn't that true of all of us). But when you think of it, your relationship with a parent is the first relationship any of us had. True a relationship may change in nature over the years. But a parent or guardian is such a foundation relationship that we all have.
Those of you who know me will know I tend to be social activist. I have been active in political organizations, human rights groups, public safety organizations, multifaith groups, synagogues etc. Involvement in groups tends to be in my 'DNA'. And we all know where we get our DNA. The parent with whom I hope to be spending time with in the next few days is the source of my 'DNA' in terms of social activism. I hope to be able to 'handle' the next few days with the same level of 'straight forwardness' that I know this parent would have handled it and want me to handle it.
You know about an hour ago I received a SMS message from our grown daughter. Very short and to the point. "Family is all that matters"
Not a truer statement than that....
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