I watched my grandfather do the slow fade in his mid 80s -- he spent the last year or so not really knowing where he was, not able to open his eyes, rarely knowing who he was talking to.

It was hard. And both my dad and I knew that he would never have wanted to keep going past his ability to communicate and interact. I don't think he would have minded being bed ridden, but feeling hopeless and helpless and lost, that was hard as hell.

Everybody's got their own take on this, and I have mine. If he had the means and the will to make the choice, and had taken that path, knowing that he had no more meaningful moments left to him for the rest of his life -- I would not have resented him for it and I don't think anyone else would have. But if he was able to be present, even in his weakened condition, I would have been happy to sit there in a room with him and tell stupid jokes for months until he was gone.

He's been gone over 10 years now. But I can tell you now that while I do have that picture of him, its not the one I think of when call him to mind -- I think of all the times we spent at his house joking, playing, laughing. I remember my oldest kid putting a bow on his head at Christmas and him laughing and playing along. I remember my youngest kid sitting on his lap at his 60th wedding anniversary party and him being pleased as punch to just hang out with her. The good memories always win in the end.

I would have respected and understood his decision to do so, but would have rather him take whatever money he ultimately left to me and invite me along to his pissing off =). There's no right or wrong decision in this case, but at least for me, I would have loved to spend as much time as possible with my dad before he passed, and was honored to be allowed to care for him.

Cheers, I will think on this.