Blast From The Past
Today was a wonderful day for Jim. One of his childhood friends organized a video call with those who were still alive and kicking. At this stage of dementia, Jim is better with old memories than current ones so it was a chance for him to reminisce with people who were there at the …. Read More
Covid-19 Vaccination Day
I pride myself on putting in the time and doing the research. I also come from a family where logic tends to over-rule emotion. Yeah, doesn’t make me the life of the party but it does mean, when you’re in my circle, I’ll always have your back. Which is why, despite all of the …. Read More
Am I Gaslighting Or Being Gaslit
It’s been a rough few days. I feel like I’m running in circles and then someone throws a figure eight into my path. Living with someone with Dementia often feels like you’re in the middle of a gaslighting session. Gaslight meaning they do one thing and then convince you it was something else thus …. Read More
A Day In The Life
Every time we see the Leaf Filters commercial on TV or Jim sees the ad in the paper, he wonders aloud how much they’d cost. They’ve been doing an advertising blitz with off-season discounts. Honestly, I’ve been torn because having them come in to work on our house will be expensive but having the …. Read More
Everything Old Is New Again
My best friend sent me a birthday card a few years ago with the sentiment, I’ll be your friend until we’re old, gray and senile – and then when we forget each, other we’ll be new friends all over again. Jim is starting to forget our routines and some of the little things that …. Read More
Between 5 and 6
… and speaking of losing motivation, this post is late. Let’s just say it’s been a rough week. Or maybe it’s a week where all of those little straws that have been gradually lining up on the camel’s back, have suddenly become unbearably heavy. We’re on the cusp of the next decline stage in …. Read More
Losing Motivation
I don’t know about you but I’ve been coasting over these past few months. I’ve gained weight, I’m easily tempted by the trashy romance novels on my phone and can ignore real life for a while. Which means I sit all day. Sure, I get up early and walk for an hour in the …. Read More
Fear
Fear and guilt are the two worse enemies of a caregiver. We live with guilt everyday. It plays on our insecurities and tells us we’re not doing enough. Fear though, is a whole different animal. Fear incapacitates us. It reminds us that no matter how careful we are, something can still happen to our loved …. Read More
Overprotectiveness and Overcompensating
When Dad died, Mom had to re-familiarize herself with some of life’s basic skills. One of which was driving. Over the years, Dad subtly took over the task of driving and chauffeured Mom whereever she had to go. If she was going in to the church for choir practice, he’d say he needed to …. Read More
Sports Progress
Jim is a sports guy. He’s always been athletic and has played any sport available to him. In elementary school he played softball, in high school it was basketball and as an adult he played rec league basketball and pick up games of flag football. When his kids we young, he made sure they …. Read More