I found it comforting, thank you. :)

What you said illuminated why my dad might be so upset - it's probably because he has to rely on my aunt for news about his mom, and so that reinforces the fact that he doesn't see her often. (She used to live relatively close to us and we would see her a lot.)

I'm doing my best to hold down the fort - I'm more on the sidelines than a direct participant in all this, but you're right, it does get very draining. Hopefully things will work out soon!