2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: If I'm trying to change people's minds, I don't insult those people [View all]MineralMan
(146,371 posts)you have received a gift. Few people see their parents reach that advanced age. Still, every phone call coming from the town where they live makes my heart skip a beat. I call them every day, at exactly the same time, and we chat for half an hour or so. It's the calls that come from my brother and sister, who live in the same town they do, that are worrisome.
I'm aware daily that any call could be devastating. It's part of my daily life, really. I'm in Minnesota because my wife's mother lives here. We moved here after her late father had a stroke. Her mom is 87, and is in a transitional care facility after a fall and six broken ribs. It looks like she'll survive this injury, but we're in the same position with her, too.
We're fortunate, indeed, to have had our parents with us as long as we have. We never forget that, and try to be prepared for what is inevitable at some point. We also know that you can never really be prepared.
My fingers are crossed today.