During the years that Jim oversaw promotional products for Dick's company, they became great friends. Jim must have referred to Dick several times a week for years - a jovial relationship! I met Dick face-to-face for the first time at Jim's funeral. Tears streaming down his cheeks, he tried to convey to me his sense of personal loss. Months later as I was hosting an exhibit at a seniors event in the area, Dick and his wife approached my table. Recognizing me and remembering my work in the field of dementia, he asked if I would consider speaking to their Alzheimers Disease caregivers support group. Jim had told him that I often spoke on the topic and that I had completed a graduate school research project on its effect on grandchildren back at UH in '96.

Perhaps it was serendipitous that several caregivers had brought their children to the talk this evening. Usually no children are present. But tonight a few Boomers brought those grandchildren, the subjects of my research, who sat on the front row and I'm not sure......but I don't think they blinked for over an hour. They are so vunerable and so confused at why their beloved grandparents no longer remember their names. The long goodbye..........I pray I brought some degree of understanding and empathy to them this evening. Dick thanked and hugged me as I left and once again, as I walked to my car across the dark parking lot, I gratefully acknowledged Jim's eternal presence in my life.