One more thing

We're about ready to get back to our usual irreverent commentary on life in Switzerland (or, until Gretchen gets back, Wisconsin--I'm sure she'll have plenty to say about Loon Day in the North Woods), but one more quick thing about the past few months. We can't say enough good things about the support that Char and the family got from the local hospice. I guess I always thought of hospice as a place more than a concept, so the full range of support they provided was a revelation. They helped the family know what to expect, sent nurses out at all hours of the day and night, came over to sit with Char so Gretchen and Kris could get out of the house, helped with pain medication, etc. You would think people whose job is to deal with death would be somewhat jaded, but that wasn't our experience at all--if anything, the level of care was much more personalized than what you would get in a hospital. If you're ever looking for a local charity to support, we certainly can suggest looking into your local hospice.