Reply #19: In some respects this is a bad subject for me,

[PRETZEL]

before my mom passed away she was very sick from complications of her diabetes. Her care at home was provided by my dad and brothers. From the very start they felt it best to not keep me fully informed as to her condition. They kept telling me that she was doing ok and that she was getting better after the many strokes that she had. They felt that at the time since I lived at the other end of the state and had my own family to attend to that I shouldn't have to have that extra worry. To this day over 15 years later I'm still resentful that I wasn't there to help. I don't necessarily blame them but more myself for not believing what I felt was the real story. Thanksgiving weekend, 1993 was the last time I saw my mom alive. She couldn't talk, could only respond by blinking. She only stayed alive long enough to see her grandchildren one more time. She was gone by the time I made it back to Philly that Sunday nite. Fifteen years later I still kick myself in the ass for not being there to help. She was never going to recover, but that isn't the point.

At the same time, I too am blessed that my dad, who just turned 85 is still as sharp and energetic as ever. Our conversations are usually pretty short when we talked, but we can still talk.