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I will have to join Carol and Marling in their observations that sons do not seem to be able to discuss a parent's Parkinson problems. It does not seem to be a matter of youth and emotional inexperience, since our two sons are at the leading edge of the baby boomer generation. My husband and I have recognized that it appears to be a cultural matter, rather than something involving male genetics or birth order. The fact is that their father's rapidly deteriorating condition is distressing them terribly, and they grew up, like many males of their age, keeping their emotions under control in public. I keep them informed of new developments in their dad's slide downward into total disability. And I have begun to talk to them about the options that we will have to face up to in the future, perhaps this coming year. They listen in silence, but they hear me, and the pain they feel is clearly written on their faces. When children live their lives away from their childhood nest, and only see their parents during brief visits, the full impact of the problems of late stage PD is less clear. Our younger son is spending a week with us over the holidays and is getting the full impact of the changes in his dad's condition since he saw him last. Our first-born son lives nearby, and the changes have been absorbed more gently, like aging. The impacts are different, but equally painful. Much more important than words is their obvious desire to help with whatever needs to be done, now, or in that tomorrow none of us is eager to talk about. Martha (CG for Neal, 76/11)