Oh Dad, Poor Dad
Folks, imagine that you have a 70-year old
father who has been acting strange lately. Many of us have been there.
He has embarrassed you in public with rants directing unvarnished
hostility to others, whether they are standing next to him or exist as a
vague “them” in the ether. He can appear gracious and calm in one
minute but turn on a dime and rage almost incoherently and randomly. He
can recite his triumphs from long ago, but he can’t seem to remember
what he told you yesterday, or the week before. You know that he often
is up at 3:00 a.m. watching cable news programs, but this tweet business
is new: how did he even know how to sign up for Twitter? C’mon, admit
it. You know what you would think: are these the signs of encroaching
dementia? You’d try to figure out a way to get him to a doctor. Part
of you would be screaming, Danger! But the other part would want to
pretend that things are normal, that these aberrations in his behavior
will disappear, and lives—yours, his—will return to stability. Let’s
see what happens; give him a chance. Sadly, most of us who have lived
through this grinding process recognize that it leads to grief.
Unfortunately, this man is now the most powerful person in
the world. Uh-oh. Well, at least we won’t have to worry about taking
away his car keys. And taxpayers will cover all the costs for his
drivers!
Publishing History
Poughkeepsie Journal , 1/20
New Paltz Times 1/19
Northern Dutchess News, Southern Dutchess News Week of 2/6?
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