I haven't been able to write (let alone read or respond to ) any of my friend's blogs for the last couple of weeks, and I've missed you all.

We are having two serious problems in our family right now: for months my 91-year-old grandfather has been so infirm that he can no longer live safely on his own. After my mother flew to FL for a visit and found him lying on the floor (fortunately, he had only been there for about an hour), she and her siblings said, "enough". He refuses home health care, though his doctors pretty much ordered it, and he can well afford it. So he must move into an assisted living community. His heart is bad, he should never, ever be alone, but he is mad at everyone and says his children are "pushing him". They just want him to have the best care when they can't be there (none of them live even close), and not to find him dead like Mom almost did. He is so mad that when the home comes to move him on Wednesday, he refuses tohave any of his own children there. So, I have been elected to go since I am the "favorite grandchild" and they don't think he'll scream and carry on with the staff, his doctors, or the movers if I'm there. I haven't seen him in two years, though we talk often, and he has never been anything but a wonderful grandfather to me. I'm scared and nervous about what I might find, but I have no choice at this point.

The second--and much worse--problem: my oldest brother is officially terminally ill. He has had cancer since 9/2006, and they thought they had it beat, but no, an MRI done yesterday in Houston revealed that the cause of his recent, excruciating headaches is inoperable, Stage 4 cancer of the brain and spinal chord. All of us are just beside ourselves. He is the oldest of my father's seven children, and our youngest sister (age 27) just died of sudden liver failure in November. He may only have a few days left. This is just all too much for us. I'm not a religious person anymore, but it helps to have people here who I know can at least keep us in their thoughts (and yes, even prayers). Thanks for listening, and I'll keep you all posted.