Family Talk Blog

It takes a village to raise a child. But it also takes a village to help an elderly adult flourish during their last chapter of life. In this column, I have written frequently about my friend Tracy’s elderly mother, Dixie. She celebrated her 99th birthday on August 22nd.  She died one week later, in her sleep, at the home of her son and daughter-in-law after living with them for almost 8 years.

Dixie’s story is not unusual. As an elder adult, her husband passed away years earlier in his mid-70’s, and she lived alone for some time. But as she moved into her 90’s, she was no longer... Read More

Sigh.  Summer is winding down in the Northwest. The unmistakable signs are here—brisk mornings, shorter days, and the back to school sales. Kids have been getting bored for a while now—looking forward to new backpacks, new classes, new teachers, and seeing old friends that haven’t been around over the summer. The back to school pace is quickening.

I was one of those kids that always liked school. I liked to have a large package of pencils which I would sharpen endlessly. My plaid pencil case was filled to the brim. Buying school supplies helped me anticipate the new school year and... Read More

My friend, Dixie, 99 years old, is coming to the end of her life. She lives with her son and daughter-in-law who are providing hospice care for her. For the last seven years, I had lunch with Dixie and her son every week at a local restaurant. But now, she can’t leave the house or walk unassisted. She sleeps most of the day, slips in and out of awareness, and slowly, but surely her organs are shutting down. She is like a candle flame that is flickering. Yet, surrounded by loved ones in a familiar environment, she is peaceful.  While not unexpected, who is ever prepared for the death of a... Read More

My wife and I are in our second year as grandparents to two lovely girls, ages 15 and 17 months. Our daughters announced to my wife when they were teenagers that they were both going to have children at the same time and lo and behold they both became pregnant within two months of each other!

Everything that anyone tells you about the wonders of having grandchildren are all true. In fact, I told Diane that we shouldn't have waited so long to have them! We just spent a week on Cape Cod with both of our daughters, one son-in-law in tow, and both of our granddaughters, now toddlers. It... Read More