My Dad May Become a Mainer

I may bring dad to Maine after mom passed away. After 60 years together, he is lost and so deeply wounded.

I was with dad for seven days after my mom died. My brother from Connecticut was also there. Together, we tried to hold it all together for him. Mom was his life - for 60 years. He cannot yet wrap his mind around moving on. It's still so new, so scary - so immensely sad.

My mom took care of everything. We have been going over everything with dad. He paid his first bill, and wrote out a check, and wrote down the balance in the checkbook. All for the first time. It's completely overwhelming.

Mom's death has left him a shell of a man. I have held him and comforted him... but I had to leave. I had to go home... 2,500 miles away. So, we discussed and are working on selling his house and bringing him to Maine.

Right now (my brother is still with him) he cannot grasp a new life without Mom. He calls out for her. Reaches for her - and then realizes...she's gone. It is utterly heartbreaking.

As I try to help him with finances and the basics of life - I wonder...can he make a go of it in Maine? I would love to have him here. But I don't really know what I'm doing and together my brother and I are just trying to figure out what to do to help him.

I've never seen so much pain in a person. A person I love. I just want to help him. And as I have done with most of my life - well, I wanted to share what's happening.

Thank you to the hundreds of people who sent their love and well wishes. I am lucky I have a huge support group. I hope I can be that for my dad...