I have weekly “tech support” calls with an old friend in NJ. He is paranoid schizophrenic, and nearing 80 years. We “fix his phone” every week, but it’s really just an excuse to spend time in a structure that works for his conversation patterns.
Tonight we found an old late-60s high school yearbook online, and for *a shining moment* the veil lifted and he told me some very lucid stories about his life in high school.
Rare, shimmering gift! — his thoughts are usually only circular.
@vafer When I used to work IT for my own company, I had a customer named John, who was 96-years old and he had the most fantastic WWII stories, along with his Native heritage. The moment he was gone I felt like I'd lost a grandfather. Keep the connection; keep the memories, for you and for them. It's worth every moment.