Could not agree more!

Lately, I have been to too many funerals, wakes, shiva calls, memorial services...oy vay...Enjoy life while you can

as we are called now the sandwich generation, taking care of elders and youngsters. Its hard. part of the perscription includes doing the right things for yourself. Take a deep breath enjoy the beginning of spring and what looks like some beautiful days ahead.

Painful decisions. I remember when my Dad had an emergency admission to a hospital in DC experiencing angina and needed angioplasty. He was visitng his brother as he had been advised that his brother had very little time, after some time with chronic conditions . I rushed down to DC to be with my folks. I don't know how he did it, but his brother made a point of coming to the hospital where we all had too brief a visit. He died a day or so later. My father, was the only one who knew about his funeral arrangements and it was decided that, he had to be informed with my mother and his doctor present. It was a big blow, but he handled it well.

What haunts me to this day is that I was so about taking too much time from work. I wasn't close with My uncle, but he lived alone and had come to cherish family. He asked me to stay a while and visit with him, but that meant I would miss my train. I promised to return over the weekend and spend some time with him. He died before I returned. In some ways it was typical of a 30 something, not believing that a man who could still make a visit would so quickly pass away. In hindsight what was so important about rushing back? Certainly not enough that I could not offer comfort, affection and time to a man who was nearing his end.

Getting older is difficult as is ALL the decisions along the way

Such tough decisions. I had both of my parents together in a hospital in Florida for a few days on the same floor. My dad didn't want my Mom to know that he was there as a patient. While I didn't agree with his decision, I decided to respect it. So, while I was down in Florida at the hospital, I had to make sure they didn't take her past his room. And, we told her that he was in New Jersey visiting my sister

Three years ago we had the same situation as Rona, ended up with both my Mother-In law & Father In Law & my sister in the same hospital all at once! Dad Connors did not want Mom Connors to worry about him so not all details were disclosed, respecting his wishes. Mom passed away within three weeks of that hospitalization and Dad continues his struggles today.

For all of us dealing with our aging parents, business, family at home, these are days filled with much anxiety. For me there are fewer routines as I take it day to day, also dealing with my own parents' mounting health issues, and spend more and more time with my family. I've learned to worry less about business since time lost not spent with family can never be recovered.

I'm sorry Erik for the difficult decision your family had to make. What is right to say and do in these tough decisions can only be determined by the hearts of those closest to the situation. We should never judge as we do not know what is on the plates of those around us. My philosophy today is to give thanks for the good things in my life, worry less about things I cannot control, and give myself and others more time to just sit back and breathe.

This thread is giving me some comfort as my sister and I struggle with some very major elder care issues regarding my mother that will not be solved quickly or easily. Taking it one day at a time seems to be the only way to cope right now. Thanks all.

Erik,
Condolences on the loss. I agree with Fred about savoring the moments.