Mr. Brillig and I were at his sister's house in NH Sunday for a joint family birthday celebration for Kid Brillig (who turns 10 tomorrow) and our nephew, who turned 8 on Saturday. The entire family was there, both sisters and his parents. I spent most of my day in the living room, watching the kids play. In the kitchen, though, some serious discussion was happening, which I heard in the car driving home (once an exhausted KB dropped off :-)). In a nutshell:
"We need to stage a power tool intervention with Dad"
Mom and Dad are in their early 70s, generally in fantastic health. They've taken great care of themselves and always have been active. Dad was an electrical engineer his entire life. He's always had eye problems, was tremendously nearsighted. A few years ago, two separate problems, one per eye, left him legally blind. He is not totally blind, but according to Mr. Brillig he has very limited central vision and no depth perception. He obviously gave up driving years ago, an extremely difficult thing for him in a region where everything requires a drive. He has a cane, a reader for books on tape, etc.
But he's continued to putter around in the basement, wanting to continue his role as home handyman. For years I've cringed every time I heard the phrase "Dad's in the basement doing < x, y or z >." As the in-law, though, I let Mr. Brillig know but otherwise kept my concerns to myself. Last week, Dad apparently pulled out the chainsaw to do work outside in the yard, did not use eye protection (cringe, yes I know, me too!), and ended up with a woodchip in his good (relatively speaking) eye. The consensus among the 3 siblings is that the power tools need to take a permanent vacation out of the family home.
We are afraid that taking away yet more, without a way to keep Dad's dignity, sense of self-worth and ability to contribute intact is going to send him into depression. IN addition, part of the greater issue involves Mom. Since Dad's eyesight started going she has taken over doing most things, and IMHO has treated him like a child- giving him instructions or correcting him in front of others, speaking for him instead of letting him speak for himself, etc. This is gonna be a double-intervention, sigh...
I hear you thinking "Brillig, it's obvious that the power tools need to go. Why are you wasting valuable TC real estate on this?" Well... I need your help. My parents both died of cancer in their late 50s/early 60s, so I have no experience whatsoever dealing with the issue of aging parents and diminishing abilities. Help me out with your stories, advice, suggestions on resources to help everyone concerned, and maybe a hug or two, 'cause hugs always help.
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Now, on to Top Comments!! First up, the contents of the TC mailbox. Let's see, I'll put yours fir... what's that? You didn't send a comment in to topComments at gmail dot com?? Tomorrow then, tomorrow. Better yet... tomorrow AND next Tuesday :-).
From A Siegel:
From Slinkerwink's discussion of McCain and Global Warming, aarujo has a suggested technology solution for John McCain's problems.
From Wee Mama:
This comment by browneyes on osmosis (yes - osmosis!) started a funny thread that could only happen on Daily Kos.
From emeraldmaiden:
In dogemporer's excellent followup to yesterday's diary, 'Moral Refusal' extends to ambulances -- and a potential fix, DocGonzo makes an interesting proposal.
From va dare:
AdmiralNaismith lays out some techniques for DKos' anti hero-worship.
kismet argues with a diarist who 'supports' torture: Because.
From carolita:
eugene makes an intelligent and passionate argument against moral refusal in dogemperor's diary, "Moral refusal" extends to ambulances -- and a potential fix.
From Your Diarist du Jour:
I heart Russ Feingold. And I especially heart jim bow for this comment!
Cedwyn reminds us to check the freshness date on our important documents.
Some guy named Kos gives us AP logic, and - in this comment by Norm in Chicago , we get our Bush logic.
Now on to Top Mojo. I used the mojo-to-excel magic of cskendrick tweaked by sardonyx to lovingly compile these two lists of the comments most recommended by you the members of DailyKos.
Top 30 (including ties) with first comments, search-identifiable tip jars, and C&J excluded:
1) I'll match that and, by Granny Doc — 163
2) Guess so... by Rush 2112 — 156
3) Who knew they had a softball team, too? by Dood Abides — 147
4) Thanks! :-) n/t by Deep Harm — 134
5) So, let's see... by Pegasus — 124
6) Who said dogs are dumb?? by Dingodude — 118
7) Quick update by Vet 4 Dean — 117
8) Death is no burden. by Kronos Blue — 108
9) God bless you, my friend... by CC Lee — 103
10) It's all good by willb48 — 91
11) Mark Twain by Land of Enchantment — 90
12) Yep by willb48 — 88
13) What's odd is his blog lists "RECENT ENTRIES" but by Reality Bites Back — 88
14) Granny Doc, you're awesome by JoeW — 87
15) damn, damn, damn by CocoaLove — 82
16) AlphaGeek by Land of Enchantment — 79
17) Thanks for your patience by Humboldt Jodi — 77
18) I'm so sorry to hear this news, willb48. by jnhobbs — 76
19) $100 bucks via snail mail by brooklynliberal — 76
20) I'm still here by willb48 — 74
21) Yes.. at least SOMEBODY is. by xxdr zombiexx — 71
22) Signed up for my Democracy Bond a few weeks ago.. by CC Lee — 68
23) Wishing you the very best by blueoasis — 68
24) Keep on keepin' on by willb48 — 67
25) This isn't real by TheJohnny — 67
26) Yes by willb48 — 64
27) Excellent by DWG — 64
28) Same thing I have every night, Granny... by CC Lee — 63
29) No, it's not all they've got by david mizner — 62
30) Best advice, ever. by hopewell — 62
Top 30 (including ties) with no exclusions:
1) stranger than fiction? by poblano — 664
2) Tips fro Barack Obama and by TomP — 484
3) I warned you I would keep nagging by Granny Doc — 432
4) At least somebody's trying to hold the Bush... by markthshark — 394
5) Thanks by willb48 — 376
6) This is turning into whack a mole by Theghostofkarlafayetucker — 279
7) tip jar by StormBear — 275
8) Tip jar by dogemperor — 270
9) tips n/t by Deep Harm — 247
10) Scarborough - dumber than a dog by DisNoir36 — 241
11) What a fantastic diary. It's a shame that we by kate mckinnon — 209
12) I'll match that and, by Granny Doc — 163
13) Guess so... by Rush 2112 — 156
14) Who knew they had a softball team, too? by Dood Abides — 147
15) Thanks! :-) n/t by Deep Harm — 134
16) So, let's see... by Pegasus — 124
17) Damb! I am so sorry by Panda — 124
18) Who said dogs are dumb?? by Dingodude — 118
19) Quick update by Vet 4 Dean — 117
20) Jeffrey Lieber 's... by JeffLieber — 112
21) Death is no burden. by Kronos Blue — 108
22) God bless you, my friend... by CC Lee — 103
23) That is too funny. by psilocynic — 102
24) Deepest sympathies... by Melody Townsel — 96
25) An apple for the teacher. by Rian Fike — 92
26) It's all good by willb48 — 91
27) Mark Twain by Land of Enchantment — 90
28) What's odd is his blog lists "RECENT ENTRIES" but by Reality Bites Back — 88
29) Yep by willb48 — 88
30) Granny Doc, you're awesome by JoeW — 87
FLOOR'S OPEN... HELP ME OUT WITH SOME SUGGESTIONS, AND HAVE AT IT!!
