Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Generations





When I first saw Gabriel at the hospital, I was fairly certain I had just given birth to my father-in-law. For Jeremey and I, there is something even more special about our son's resemblance to his grandfather because Arlo is in the late stages of Alzheimer's. Two weeks ago, now that the flu season has finally passed, we were able to take Gabriel to the care facility where his grandfather lives...it was their first visit together. It was incredibly moving to see the three generations of King men together---made even more poignant when I paused to recognize that Arlo never thought he could have children and here he is a grandfather! As many of you may have experienced with Alzheimer's, the person you love is lost somewhere inside. Most visits with Arlo are of this flavor and yet on this day it was as though he emerged for a moment to quietly greet and celebrate the little boy who bears his image.

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