Sad Days

Patti Davis has an extremely touching and emotional article about celebrating her father’s birthday. Her father, Ronald Reagan, was once the most powerful man in the world.  Now he passes every moment in the clouded world of Alzheimer’s, where wisps of memories whirl around without shape or mass.  Here’s a bit of it:

Celebration seems inappropriate, so does sadness, although that part can’t be denied. I wish I could offer some remedy for others who experience days like these, but I can’t. Maybe the best we can do is trust that our presence at a loved one’s side - the sound of our voice and the touch of our hand - is felt in the deep shadows of their souls. Their voices can’t answer us and their minds can’t grasp the difference between one day and the next, but there is a chamber in their hearts that hasn’t forgotten, and doesn’t want us to either.

Happy birthday, Mr. President.

1. Yes, I know I’m one day late.

   Posted by Owen on February 07, 2004 at 0906 hrs