42 Comments
User's avatar
Mary Ellen Collins's avatar

Thanks for sharing Will....this is truly what love is.

Expand full comment
Al Bellenchia's avatar

Your description of your daily routine with Bella and Ringo is a perfect description of what love looks like. Bless you all. 💕

Expand full comment
Mary Ellen Collins's avatar

congratulations to Bob...we need councilmen like him. I'm in the second ward, and I LOVE my "republican" councilman...and I'm a registered democrat. I too LOVE the non-partisanship in the running of Glens Falls...I hope we keep it this way. If I lived in the 5th Ward, he's have my vote!

Expand full comment
Lisa Zimmerman's avatar

"where do I sit" ....where do I sit? To me expresses the question for both of us. Poignant.

(Year 4 caring for my mother)

Expand full comment
Will Doolittle's avatar

Hang in there

Expand full comment
Mary Ellen Collins's avatar

Will, I'm going to weigh in on this one. NEVER, at any moment was our City government NOT working on a solution to this issue! It's not a snap decision issue, and what disappoints me is the "gotta have it yesterday" attitude that created all the hoopla. We can thank the mukraking Chronicle and opportunistic members of the Council for all this. Glens Falls cannot just decide to do something and do it without lawyers and making sure we're not breaking any state laws. Our Mayor took care of his mother in the last years of her Alzheimers and knows the devastation of this disease, as you do, first hand. It's his passion and determination that ultimately pushed the resolution through. So, please be kind when you address this issue...as you well know, it's a tough one.

Expand full comment
Richie Bittner's avatar

Sounds like a day! When my father in law had Alzheimers his doctor took him off all of his statins and BP meds, and that was hard for us, and din't affect his time here, but he sometimes forgot that he had taken them and took then again. The doctor also said he so no reason for medication at late stage Alzheimers.

Expand full comment
Ibby's avatar

Lovely, Will.

Feeling powerless within the chaos? Here's an initiative that's in the works:

“The 24 hour Economic Blackout"

As our initial act, we turn it off. For one day we show them who really holds the power.

WHEN:

Friday February 28th from

12:00 A.M. to 11:59 P.M.

WHAT NOT TO DO:

Do not make any purchases

Do not shop online, or in-store

No Amazon, No Walmart, No Best Buy

Nowhere!

Do not spend money on Food & Gas

Do not use Credit or Debit Cards

Do not hire anyone to do work around your house, etc.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Only buy essentials if absolutely necessary

(Food, Medicine, Emergency Supplies)

If you must spend, ONLY support small, local businesses.

SPREAD THE MESSAGE

Talk about it, post about it, and document your actions that day!

WHY THIS MATTERS?

#BunkerBoy and his minions only care about their pocketbooks. Corporations, banks only care about their bottom line. Financial markets rely on consumers to spend.

If we disrupt the economy for just ONE DAY, it sends a powerful message.

If they don't listen (they won’t) we make the next blackout longer (We will)

This is our first action.

February 28th

The 24 Hour Economic Black Out Begins.

PLEASE PASS IT ON

Expand full comment
Maggie's avatar

I saw this link on another blog - seems like a good idea to me! Worth doing!

Expand full comment
Ibby's avatar

Excellent. This is starting to feel like the 2017 Women's March to me. Getting a great response nationwide. Pass it ob!

Expand full comment
Wendy Aronson's avatar

I've seen this and think it's a smart action I plan to join. It's a small inconvenience to make a nationwide (hopefully!) protest statement. Wake up, North Country Trump voters! This president cares nothing for you and is now taking away the safety net you do have. This week my grocery prices went up. How about yours? And keep an eye on your Medicaid as Elon and Don take that too. Why? Big tax cuts for the very, very , very rich!

Expand full comment
Ken Tingley's avatar

I always if a well organized boycot off Fox News sponsors would have an impact on them covering ALL the news and not lying so much.

Expand full comment
Ethel Weeks's avatar

I agree, Ken.

Here is another boycott for tomorrow until Wednesday. It is organized by INDIVISIBLE, the group Ken talked about this week. Even if you don't sign up, just stop shopping as many days as you can. Thanks!

https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/754531/?referring_vol=10158893&rname=Ethel&share_context=schedule-event-chaining-modal&share_medium=copy_link&timeslot=5193312

Expand full comment
W Tucker's avatar

Ethel just out of curiosity what will a “stop shopping” boycott accomplish?

What would happen if the sellers of the items you want people to stop buying just decide to stop selling items in the US?

Expand full comment
Ken Tingley's avatar

Consider if Amazon sales went down dramatically even for one day. That might send a message. Might be a bigger message with people stopped using Facebook for one week.

Expand full comment
W Tucker's avatar

Ken I am a bit confused. First, what is the message? Secondly, who do you want to send it to?

Expand full comment
Ibby's avatar

Excellent. This is starting to feel like the 2017 Women's March to me. Getting a great response nationwide. Pass it on!

Expand full comment
Beth Ann Fitzgerald's avatar

After reading about the fate of Sam Nordquist, your story of love is so appreciated.

Expand full comment
Sara Idleman's avatar

This is powerful stuff. Life on life's terms and with an enduring love. In sickness and in health.........I've said this before and I'll say it again. The story of your care giving is a testament to your love of Bella and the commitment made all those years ago. In grief and loss, acceptance is a stage we ultimately come to, but, yes, it is sad.

Expand full comment
Julie Wash's avatar

Thanks, Will. Always a thoughtful read over morning coffee. Ending with the bunny/dog video catapults you into legacy media tactics, and I fell for it with a smile.

Expand full comment
Richard's avatar

...beautifully written / --beautiful, but tragic; (which, of course: makes it hard to read) / "I have measured out my life with coffee spoons..." T.S. Eliot / [as many of us come to know --Homo sapien and otherwise-- another way to measure out our lives: is with prescription tablets]...

Expand full comment
Bob Meyer's avatar

I read this and think that so far at 79 I am lucky and that my wife is also healthy… and then I realize we’re all on thin ice because it can happen to us. So live every day fully. Thank you, Ken for sharing part of your story.

Expand full comment
Ken Tingley's avatar

Just reminder Bob, that this was Will's column today.

Expand full comment
Judith Tully's avatar

Ken, thank you for sharing your daily routine with Bella. Your description is your daily schedule is a testament to true love. God bless you and keep Bella safe .

Expand full comment
Ken Tingley's avatar

Just another reminder, this is Will's column on Sunday.

Expand full comment
Susan Landry's avatar

Will-your kindness, patience and love for Bella is truly an inspiration to all of us in these stressful times.

Expand full comment
Ellen's avatar

You bring us back to the things that really matter. I wish you and Bella a peaceful weekend.

Expand full comment
bernice mennis's avatar

Dear Will, thank you for your (simple and good and kind) words, even when you write about what is so difficult, I feel moved by your caring and love....And so this morning I loved your description of your morning rituals with Bella and Ringo, the beautiful poem by Carella and your beautiful photograph, and the photo of Ringo and Beans and their growing relationship, and the good honest work of Curtis who simply wants (as all our elected folk should want) to serve his community--although I do feel that all Republicans, and I think especially of our local state senators, should also speak out loud about the grave danger of Trump and Elon, should not be silent about their party and what is so harmful to our democracy, that silence is dangerous). so thank you for u;lifting me with your loving kindness of Bella and Ringo and Beans, and your ability to capture the beauty of nature outside your window on this snowy morning.

Expand full comment