Dear mapleleaf68:

Maybe you can talk him into going out with you someplace he used to like to go to, a particular coffee house or restaurant or someplace quiet, a park and encourage him to talk there, to tell you how he feels. Listen to him attentively, ask him questions gently, just so to get him to talk. It makes people feel a whole lot better when they get to talk to someone who lets them talk, who doesn’t interrupt with advice and useless “it will get better” and “it will be alright” (How can anyone promise such a thing anyway?_

Just let him get the words out. “You miss your children, don’t you?” Or ask him about anything at all, trivial. He will feel better the moment he can get the feelings into words.

Or just get him to a place he used to like and just sit there with him, holding his hand.

anita