My Dad.

About 2 years ago I was on the phone with my father. He is far and away the smartest person I know. Our phone convos can last forever, with talk usually switching to politics at some point. But this conversation turned out a little different.

E: What else is news?

D: Uh, not much. Oh, I have Parkinson's Disease.

E: Wait, what??

I was angry with my father for a long time. He did not make good choices when I was a child. Those decisions impacted me into adulthood. I had been working on it for a while. I mean, you have two choices: be angry with your parents forever or just let it go. When he told me he was sick I decided to let it all go.

My father is not only intelligent, he is full of energy. And he is funny. He can have you in stitches in no time. Women love him. Beautiful, young, intelligent women fall at his feet. He has the most captivating personality.

I am afraid. I am afraid of losing my father before I actually lose my father. I am afraid to watch this energetic, intelligent man become trapped in a mind and body that wont let him out. He already walks more slowly. His arms don't swing. He is slower to joke with you. Other people don't really notice this. He functions completely normally. I notice.

I am afraid that conservatives will take office and stem cell research will become a pipe dream.

I am afraid that my children won't be able to use him as a jungle gym like I used to.

Its times like these that I wish I had siblings. It is just me. I get to deal with this alone.

He'll be fine. Honestly, I'm more worried about me.