Well. Grandad, who lives near Amarillo, had a stroke last Friday. Now he’s out of the hospital and going into a nursing home, and he’s apparently objecting to it rather violently. They aren’t sure they can keep him there, he’s behaving so badly. He can’t go home. He can’t go into the facility where Grandmother’s living, as it’s not set up for nursing care. I have plane tickets to fly out there in April, but my aunt (their daughter) wants me to come next week.

How do you tell a 93 year old man, who’s cussedly independent, who has always ALWAYS been in charge, that he has to give it up, and let some young woman handle his most private matters? How long will a man like that last in such a situation?

Everyone seems to think if anyone can get through to him it will be me. How am I supposed to do that? I’m his 6 yr old Rootietoot in blond pigtails.

The stroke took some of his cognitive functions, but none of his physical abilities. He has some trouble speaking, thinking of the words he wants to use, but no trouble at all hitting the physical therapist, or slapping at the nurse.

He is a proud, bitter man. I cannot possibly see how he’ll last long.

Dear Lord, give me the words and the strength, because I sure don’t have them on my own.