pte

ng their monthly doctor's appointments as she gazed at her hands clasped tightly in her lap and glanced at her father, mother, and Dr. Peter The loneliness brought on by the dia

rely twisted by arthritis that any activity made her gnarled fingers and toes hurt even more, making movement painfully slow and agonizing. Additionally, Clara's condition w

uess what was going through Doctor Peter's busy mind because he had given her enough clues about what to expect from past visits

his suggestion caused. "You two are not in a position to take care of him. You have your teaching job, Clara and you can not handle the responsibility because of your

ezed from the corner of one eye. She talked very softly. "Have I mentioned that I used to have a friend in a nursing home?" She took a moment for impact. Indeed,

nsisted on telling me. "I have to

there staring at the ceiling and hardly acknowledged my visits when I went to see her. She had nothing left

ou visit when your life is coming to an end. Matilda's eyes were filmed by tears,

home? He never would have, and I am not going to do it either, I promise. My Stanley

ther had no say in the matter since she was unable to function without her walker. She and Dr. P

she sat here, burdened by things she never would have imagined having in the future. She had never felt pulled in so many directions at once, both by realistic Doctor Peter and the agony of her mother. She saw her own life evaporating before her eyes because she would undoubt

but for her, it had been a Cinderella night. However, she was aware at the time that it was impossible for dreams to develop f

he was acutely aware of their needs. Her life had completely changed the moment she returned home from college after learning that her parents had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and arthritis, two illnesses that cripple the body and the mind, respectiv

tilda. "Neither of you are capable of taking care of Stanley . What if he wander

been put to her, nor was it the first time she gave it her thoughtful attention. Many nights she lay awake

he house he had worked so hard to build for them all if he were sent away, and what about her mother? In the end, would she also have to send her away? Even though she

only served to highlight how justified her mother's desire to keep her father at home was. She was shocked to see how miserable many of the residents were. Sk

uded from people's noses or stomachs, and they resembled dead vegetables unable to turn over on their own, with the tubes providing their only source of life. Others sat in

to their mouths. Their failure was followed by another fruitless attempt. When some people scooped food with their fingers and then, worse, buried their face in their plate and raked the food to their lips, it was not sho

a distraction to delay making a choice. She knew there was no

uld be destroyed if her fathe

ading a normal life would be de

her aspirations were similar to those of almost every young American girl. She desired a husband, kids, and a

he had witnessed in his life as a doctor, old age was not a blessing, not when people deteriorated to such feebleness they could no longer live with any dignity or purpose. He was careful with those op

ts to send you and Bonnie through college? Have you forgotten all the dreams he once had for retirement? I beg you not to do this to your father. If

that kind of talk. How can yo

will do to her life if she agrees to let Frederick stay home? What about her future? What's going to happen to her w

weighing on her mother's sagging shoulders. "She cares what happens to me, but afte

lara. I am a self-centered old lady. I am not sure what is right anymore. Dear God, I simply know

a fear of what her daughter would say, Clara made a choice that would impact her life for the rest of her days. She looked up at good old

r as though he understood. She could have almost sworn she

n't put hope in that, Clara H

ieved tears. Her hope was revived by her precious daughter

y and I spoke our vows. Till death do us part, we both said. I could not live, Clara, if I k

ara thought. Is that to b

s arms while wishing such moments could last forever. Now, t