I think when you identify with someone in that condition, you never really lose hope, however rational a brutal prognosis might be. I remember the intense way I focused on going on talking to my dad when he was in a coma in the last hours of his life, although I'd been told quite clearly what the situation was. Talking to so many people in Israel over the last three days, many of whom rationally intensely dislike Sharon, I do get a very strong sense of how many of them identify with him in this way and cannot get themselves to draw a line under their connection with him as someone important to them over whom life and death still hover undecided. I liked your choice of photos. I just wish I could get my own off my own camera and onto my blog. Can't even fool the Jerusalem internet cafe USB computers into playing ball.