I agree, NYC SKP. I despise the guilt-tripping whether it comes from Fox, truthdig, or DU. nt

You're correct. The art is fabulous, ( emotionally good) but it's that "fantasizing"

part that turns me off intellectually.

I also don't like it when in religious art the Child Jesus is shown very large in proportion to Mary.
But that's just my take on it.

Thank you for this, and the explanations and discussion.

Beautiful works of art, though none quite depict Mary as I perceive her at the hour of her death.

She was in her late forties when Christ was killed, and apparently lived many years beyond that, likely decades, as Jesus gave her care to John the Apostle as he(Christ) was dying. John the apostle was a young man, possibly about 20 at that time.

So the Rubens depicting a young woman with long, flowing brown hair doesn't do it for me.
The woman in the Saraceni painting at least could be somewhat older, despite the dark hair.

As an older woman myself, I like to reflect on Mary as she aged, and as a model for older women.

FDR was president when I was born, and I remember hearing the news of his death

just as many today remember when JFK was killed. A childhood friend and classmate told me "Roosevelt has died and skinny Truman is the new President." Truman was not only fairly unknown (pre-TV days), but he was not well-regarded by many during his presidency. As we know, Harry Truman is now pointed to as a man of strong will and accomplishment, but in the late 1940's, not so much.

I'm thoroughly enjoying this series, and, yes, learning a lot more.

Medical bills have been the largest single cause of bankrupcies.

I sympathize with your plight.

That's why I'm so in favor of the ACA, and feel for those in states where Republican governors and legislatures have refused to implement additions to Medicaid.

Although I have Medicare and supplement, my daughter has gotten financial relief from exorbitant insurance costs through the ACA.
Son, until this year, had only catastrophic medical insurance.
He had gall bladder trouble - ER, overnight stay, expensive tests- in Dec, and had to swallow the huge deductible.
However, based on that he got silver plan insurance beginning last January, and, when gall bladder struck again, in Feb., he was better prepared re insurance to cover the cost of the surgery, tests, etc., he incurred.

Unfortunately, once stricken, as you have been, you can only start where you are.
Many on DU are in your shoes.
That's not reason, however, to warn those who are spending large on personal technology and other entertainment, and perhaps those who have had huge problems will agree.

Cheapskate? I prefer to say frugal. nt

It sounds as though you are well-grounded in the legal process

that you will be initiating.

Try to keep letting her know that you are doing this out of love for her.

I am not too many years behind your mother, and I will tell you that even a most competent older adult does lose some emotional strength and will take the easy way out with some family members.
As you say, this grandson must have her bamboozled in some fashion.

Good luck in your efforts.

If you must get a conservatorship, and perhaps you must,

attempt to have it as a temporary thing, rather than permanent.

During that time, get her into a housing situation - either a good independent living facility or a condo or apartment large enough to have security, etc. Hopefully. enough time will elapse where he will be forced to be on his own or at least break the tie she has with him - perhaps a year will be enough to do this.

The reason I say temporary is that recently a friend of mine, a retired attorney, has been declared incompetent at the behest of her sister and the sister's children. The situation is so tragic in that they have deprived this woman of her sense of self-worth, as well as freedom to lead her life as best as she is able. (She just turned 80, and is, in fact, losing some of her mental acuity, but the cure - declared incompetency - is cruel.

Your attention to this matter is to be applauded.

Any parent with several children will tell you that

the children came into the world with distinct personalities.

Personality traits can be modified, and hopefully will, but some of it will always be present in that child, later adult.
It's a parent's job to mold each child into a kind, productive, responsible family member, and eventually, member of society.

Because of the different personalities within the family, there will inevitably be differences, even clashes as each personality works its way through childhood to adulthood.
The child's natural personality often clashes or works against the parent's personality, and, unfortunately, all adults are not wise enough or flexible enough to work through the differences to cope with the clashes in the best way.

Gender and birth order are often at play in the final result of how the family dynamics work, and it is a continuous task of parents to d monitor, direct and oversee the family in its growth.

A mighty task, indeed.

I agree that facebook can be useful for keeping in touch

with out-of-town family and friends.
I'm grateful for photos of young and younger generations, about whom I'd know nothing of their everyday lives and celebrations and illnesses.
Yes, some of it's silly, but I can move right by that.
I make it a point to not post controversial stuff, and try to overlook their political stuff that's not my cup of tea. (so to speak.)