Bill On The Drums

By Bill Craig
Great time, but I paid for it this morning!

We played at one of those new "smoking clubs", which were formed so that folks could still go to a club and smoke while they drink (smoking in public places has been banned in Germany)and the smoke was so thick and my eyes were pouring tears that I was only able to make it through 3 songs before I had to go outside to recover.

Stumbled in at 3 am this morning with a thick head and sore throat from all the smoke inhalation.

My friend Peter now knows about the EOAD, and I guess it kinda took him aback a bit because I looked like the same Bill he saw a year ago, and he refused to believe that I even had dementia until I reminded him how very punctual I have always been with the birthday cards - sometimes even sending them before the birthday even was due. After giving him several other examples of what's going on, he finally relented and said something like, "But still, that's not an automatic death sentence, is it, Bill?"

"Well, no, but it is a life-changer", I replied, and then told him about all the testing and took him on a tour of the brain over at alz.org.

So okay, he`s still thinking positive and that's good, because so am I.

Putting on a little weight from the beer and all the rich food, but I allowed for a little "weight-cushion" so that's okay.

Thanks for keeping up with the blog and think SNOW for me, please?

PS: Picture later, okay. Can't add one from here.

Bill

Comments

Ttom said…
Hey Bud!,

Maybe not criminal but definitely insane! What is a medically educated, haired over person doing in a smoke filled room?!?

Make sure that your friends all know that we have technically advanced drugs that should be able to span the time until a cure.

Are you getting any snow over there? Are the forests still picked clean by the Burgermisters?
How about going back over there for Faashing?

Later, Tom
December 7, 2008 at 9:25 AM
Bill Craig said…
Hell, I don#t know, Tom, just crazy about the Rock'n Roll, I reckon!

No snow, and the friends are aware of the drugs.

Fasching might be a possibility. We'll talk about it. Gotta run and catch the train to my uncle's house.

Talk to y'all soon.

Bill
December 8, 2008 at 5:34 AM
Anonymous said…
Hi Bill,

We are all thinking about you and I might say I am very envious. we lived in W. Berlin from 79-83 (before the wall came down) while in military. We spent time down "in the zone" and Christmas was such a special time. You are in a fabulous part of Germany. Eat and drink for us all.

Lynn ~ the spotted dog
December 8, 2008 at 12:11 PM
Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Thanks, Suzette!

By Bill Craig
Image
My friend and dementia counsellor Suzette recently wrote a very informative (and flattering) article about the "German Boy" and his upcoming bike ride, and you may see it by clicking the title of this entry. I am very appreciative of her and the GA chapter of the Alzheimer's Association for supporting me, and my ride is dedicated to them, Alzheimer patients and their caregivers as well as the four-footers. Incidentally, D and I were finally able to attend this month's Forget Me Not luncheon (for Alzheimer's patients and their care givers) at South of La Paz Mexican restaurant in Atlanta and I'd like to thank my friend for making this possible. Really , Suzette's so sweet she makes ya wanna roll over and do all kinds of doggy tricks for her! I kid, of course, but I don't think I have ever met a more charismatic person in my life. It was also a pleasure to meet and converse with Kathy Simpson who also works with the Georgia chapter. Kathy and I have e-m...
Read more

Skipping Ahead A Bit In The Memoirs

By Bill Craig
Image
This is part of something I wrote on another message board with some editing, okay? -------------------------------------------------------------------------- My very good friend on the Dope, Oakminster , brought this to mind when he shared this in a thread of mine called "Your Favorite Commercials". Okay, I have already mentioned that my American soldier Dad brought me and my German Mom and brother to the US in 1960. At that time, I still spoke with a very heavy German accent and did my best to try to fit in. One of the ways was to "go out" for "Midget Football" and it was my first encounter with who would prove to be an inspiration to me and I am sure many others: Coach Roger Sauls who passed away last year. Coach was very patient with me, teaching me the "ins and outs" of throwing and kicking that strange looking egg-shaped ball! In those days, a lot of little boys went out for it and we all had our heroes on the Villa Rica Wildcats Varsity t...
Read more

Alzheimer's Advocacy Forum 2011

By Bill Craig
Image
I have been given a great opportunity and honor from my local Alzheimer's Association and my counsellors Suzette and Kathy, and I wanted to tell y'all about it. It is a chance to be granted a scholarship to attend the Public Policy Forum/Advocacy Action Summit which will be May 15-17 2011 in Washington, DC. It will be a time to become educated about the issues, learn new skills, network with fellow advocates and take our message directly to members of Congress to fight for our legislative agenda and I am honored to have been chosen to have my name submitted for this event. If I am chosen to receive the scholarship, I plan not only to participate in all of the above events, but to serve as a "reporter" and write about what I see and experience there. This will also allow me to put to use my journalistic skills which have been "moth-balled" of late. Quoting from Karen Kauffman's* article, 2010 was a year of optimism for those of us in Alzheimer's Advo...
Read more