Your story in the Boston Globe a day before Thanksgiving could not have come at a better time. I had decided to talk to my aging father about his wishes for the end of his life, and to do it as we were driving down to a family gathering where his brother would be. Introducing the topic with Za’s story made it much easier. I did not second guess myself. I did not feel I was introducing the subject too soon. As it was he found it all very interesting and told my uncle that we had discussed important things like end of life care. My uncle told my Dad that he has already written his obituary, that he is not afraid of death – and the two of them sat and talked. It was very gratifying that my uncle could support me in having brought up the normally taboo topic. So today I wake with a clear conscience. The direction of my dad’s care IS changing – as a boat slowly coming about. We will be ready. I am sending out advance gratitude that his passing – when it comes – will be easy. Now, I say to him, that is out of the way, let’s go back to planning for the rest of your life. He is 91 years old.
-Martha, 11/30/2008
