Tag Archives: aging

Did You Say Green?

everal years ago I was reading something, perhaps The Encyclopedia of Immaturity but I’m not sure, when I discovered that one alternative to traditional funeral practices is to have remains made into artificial diamonds. I remember jokingly telling my daughters that they could split me into two diamonds and wear me forever. I’d forgotten about it until I happened on ... Read More »

Who Gets To Choose How Life Ends?

esterday I found the Readers Digest at my place at the breakfast table. My husband had left it conspicuously open to an article about how doctors die.  The gist of the article was that doctors rarely choose CPR, being placed indefinitely on a respirator, having surgery that most likely won’t improve their quality of life. The doctors have been in ... Read More »

Could This Help In Your Caregiving Relationships?

We’ve just reached the 6 month anniversary of my mother’s death. Of course that got me thinking, reflecting on life in general and my mother’s final months in particular. I think if I’d had to be her full time caregiver I’d have gone stark raving mad. I’ve seen daughters and sons lovingly take care of their parents’ every need. I’ve ... Read More »

Robin Williams: Extraordinary Comic Genius, Sadly Ordinary Suicide

Like many of you reading Today’s Gray Matters, I was saddened to hear that Robin Williams, actor and comic genius, had hanged himself this week. I never quite got the fascination with Mork, but I loved the genie in Disney’s Aladdin and Williams’ character in Good Will Hunting. I’d seen Patch Adams Dead Poets Society, and One Hour Photo. Robin ... Read More »

Why Do I Need An Attorney Who Specializes In Elder Law?

o you remember The Great Recession that we Americans experienced that officially lasted from December 2007 until June 2009? I was young enough to be able to rebuild some savings, but many elderly people lost everything they’d saved for their retirement years. People are still worried about how they’ll manage in their later years. Elderly people, especially those who are ... Read More »

Are You Really Alive?

My sister recently brought me a box of newspaper clippings from my mother’s estate. Among the old, yellowed newspaper I found something dated 1938. I can’t tell what paper it came from, only that the author is Edgar A. Guest. His words ring as true today as they did when they were written. As we age we experience more and ... Read More »

Would You Want This To Happen To You?

Have you ever been in a hospital when over the intercom you’ve heard “Code Blue, code blue”? Have you seen the organized chaos that occurs in a room when a patient’s heart has stopped beating and the medical team is doing everything they can to revive the patient? When I was the on-call chaplain at a trauma hospital I saw ... Read More »

I’m a Caregiver. Where’s the Manual?

There you are, just going along and living your life, when one day things seem a little off.  Maybe you can’t put your finger on exactly what seems awry, but there’s a little nagging feeling. You visited your parents and their home seemed dirtier than normal. As you helped prepare dinner you noticed that your mom seemed befuddled by things ... Read More »

In Memory Of My Mother

Today I’m remembering Maxine Gallagher, my mother. She departed this earth on February 19, 2014 so she didn’t make it to this, her 86th birthday. Sometimes remembering is all we can do. If someone you love is old, in fragile health, take some time to remember with them the good things they added to your life, the lessons they taught ... Read More »