Stef

After my Miriam was diagnosed with AD, I was hungry for any information about the accursed disease.

So I joined a chat room that was devoted to the issues I faced. When I logged on I was asked the regular questions. Who was I caring for? What stage? How old is she (and I)? I said that I was a grandfather, with 11 grand kids. After a while, a voice in the back asked: “Would you be my e-grandfather?”

Of course I have love enough for another granddaughter. A long time ago I read that while it is biologically important for kids to have parents, what is really important is that they have grandparents.  Of courses I said yes.

Her beloved grandmother was in the final stages of AD. She was 19 and a college student. She did not have a living grandfather. The grandmother had taken care of Stef all of her life, literally. She was terrified from all the changes in her life.

That was almost 8 years ago. We went through college, the death of her grandmother, personal issues of all sorts and then Miriam’s passing. It was a good friendship. When her parents first heard of the friendship they were horrified. Their 19 year old daughter was writing to a 70 year old grandfather. Gradually they accepted that I was not a threat and was indeed good for their daughter. When Miriam died the mother sent me a not of consolation.

We keep in touch. I have seen her a couple of times (Idaho is a LONG way from New York State!). Last summer she made a trip west and she stayed at my house for a few days. We explored this part of Idaho taking my new friend Shar as our guide.

We had a good visit. Thank you for your friendship Stef!

I have been blessed.