Such a great post, BrotherIvan.

It reminds me of the struggle I had with my dad, when he was in his last months. It was awful - seeing him go through that, knowing the agony and pain and longing for release. He kept talking about wanting to go "home." And there was nothing we could do but sit and wait it out with him, and try to make him comfortable.

I reached a point with him (as with my mother-in-law and mom later on) where I didn't know what to pray for - a "miracle"? Or simply safe passage? By then, it seemed like a "miracle" wasn't even a realistic option anymore - keep him alive so he could stay mired in this awful, painful, and frightening ordeal? After only a little while, that option didn't make sense anymore. And we KNEW it wasn't what he wanted.

Let me echo what Botany just said, Bennyboy. You are NOT alone!!!

We are here, with you on this. We keep this vigil with you, and surely you know how many of us are up at all odd hours, around the clock.

Many of us have had to watch an older loved one complete the last passage and make the jump to lightspeed. We know how difficult and heartrending it is, and we've stood in your shoes. We understand and sympathize with what a difficult transition this is for both of you.

Please keep us posted. Keep us in the loop. We will walk beside you along this path.

You are NOT alone.

Much love to you, dynasaw, and all our sympathy.

I'm guessing that most of us here would want that same care, compassion, and release.

I certainly would, for myself.

I did see these, but it's mighty nice to have them compiled so others can, too!

Thanks, Flying Squirrel! These are great! Much-needed and appreciated! Welcome and uplifting amidst all the bad news.

What unrec? You wouldn't get one from me.

I think this is a GREAT idea. Two years of service to this country. It doesn't have to involve war-making. National service of some kind. It would teach humility. It would help young people feel more invested in their communities - and help them see how others have to live and cope.

I heard Colonel Jacobs this morning, too. He made such a great point - only a few actually do the heavy lifting, put their lives on the line, put themselves in harm's way, and the rest of us go shopping. Isn't that what dubya told us all to do after 9/11? Go shopping? Be consumers. Consume. And what to make of those who only consume? War's so easy. No muss, no fuss. All the glory and explosions and heavy artillery and cool stuff like in the movies! Wow! I didn't even feel a thing! How cool is that? Besides, that hard bloody shit's for somebody else to have to face, anyway.

Nobody who really insists on sending our nation and the flower of our youth into war ever puts their own sorry asses on the line like that. THAT is what should change. Those who want us at war so badly and think war is so damned important should have skin in the game. They should learn what war is, rather than pick fights that other people have to go deal with. They should learn what war is - rather than the big screen version where it's all actors and special effects and nobody really gets hurt or leaves part of their bodies on the battlefield and then is forced to find a way to live the rest of their lives disabled like that.

And you know what's even worse? When you try to talk to somebody on the rah-rah-rah let's-go-to-WAR side - and point this out about how little respect or support our veterans get, after THEY put THEIR lives on the line? These assholes will invariably say "well, those people VOLUNTEERED." So what does THAT mean, then? That we just kick 'em to the side and say - "Well, them's the breaks, friend. You did ask for it. It was your choice, so don't come crying to me now because of what happened. Too bad how things worked out. Sucks to be you. But don't bother me about it." INFURIATING!!! And those turning their noses up like this at their fellow Americans in need are probably the very same people driving around with one of those cheap-ass buck-98 made-in-China car magnets that say "Support our Troops!" I even got into an argument with another mom in the neighborhood when the Iraq War began. She pleaded with me to hang our flag out in front of our house to support our troops, and was upset that she'd driven by our home and hadn't seen one. I told her it ISN'T supporting our troops by sending them to die in a war that's based on lies. I told her you don't "support our troops" by squandering their precious lives on a lie. She didn't get it.

I think anyone on Capitol Hill who votes for war should immediately be required to go enlist, suit up, and go to the front lines. They fancy themselves as our "leaders," after all. Well - then step to the front and lead us into the war you want so badly. And that means YOU, TOO, bill kristol, and all your little PNAC friends.

Welcome to DU, Anansi1171!

Glad you're here! SOOOOOO sick of the GOP!

Whatever they do with the money, bank it for a rainy day or use it to rebuild some of the

programs that suffered cuts - which means more jobs - they ought to engage in this:

START PROMOTING THIS!!! Buy ads in other states that demonstrate what happens when you vote republi-CONS OUT and put Dems in, in unstoppable majorities. It means NO DEFICIT! Wanna get rid of the deficit? REALLY??? Then get rid of the GOP!!!THEY'RE the only ones stopping everything.

And they should just start a business! Free market! Free market!

Gotta say I saw that photo of Code Pink valentines to rand paul, and I immediately

unsubscribed from their emails. That was IT. On top of heckling the President, that rand paul smoochie-poo was the last straw. I don't think I want to hear anything more from them for awhile. And I'm certainly not interested in sending them any money. I don't believe in rewarding bad behavior. I learned that from being a parent.

Clinton.

Flirted with Jerry Brown and Ted Kennedy and Mario Cuomo, but went steady with Clinton.