It Takes ALL OF US!!!!
T.S. Elliot wrote: "Footfalls echo in the memory
Down the passage we did not take"
What does that mean to you, my friend?
To me it speaks of regret. Regret for things we did not do, but wanted to. and perhaps not leaving something of yourself behind when it's "your time"?
We all need our "Bucket List". I have mine and have been fortunate enough to have been able to do almost all the things on it. I have no regrets now and will have none when I lose what's left of my mind or go where the dolphins went in the book "A Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy" by Douglas Adams - whichever comes first. Although I do hope Mr. Reaper takes me before Dr. Alzheimer does, as I do not wish to be a burden to anyone, especially my sweet wife.
Okay, enough of that. Are you having a good weekend so far? I am. I hear Dondra puttering around in the kitchen, and it is a sound I crave to hear, because when she's at work and I am here alone, it doesn't just get lonely, it gets confused and frustrated. I don't know what to do with myself. I go into the music room, pick up the guitar or sit behind my drums and then - nothing. The desire to play has left me within about a minute. No desire to read, watch tv, ride my bicycle, jog, you name it and I ain't doin' it.
And that's a sign of Stage 4.
I am, however, as I wrote in my last entry, getting back into doing some simple magic. I just need to shop for some props and then use D as my audience. (Tonight she'll see me levitate (a la David Blaine), so she can critique me. Ha-Ha!
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GOOD NEWS FOR VETERANS IN MY AREA!!!
Carroll County's new satellite Veterans' Clinic is under construction and will serve all surrounding counties! The story is here:
I included this because I think our veterans aren't getting what they were promised and I am wondering how many of us are suffering from Alzheimer's dementia. This is something I plan to research and will let you know as soon as I can.
Think about this though: How many of them are walking the streets homeless right now. In fact, how many homeless are walking the streets with dementia right now?
That is exactly why funding for a cure must not be cut by our government, and we need you to contact your local lawmakers and let them know this!
You know, sometimes you don't get what you want because you didn't ask for it, and that's what we need to do: en masse. Many of them will be running for re-election so pin them down and then hold them accountable by watching their votes. Here is how to track them: http://www.govtrack.us/ and here is how to contact your congressperson: http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml
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A Joke
Originally posted by Marvite from the Alzheimer's Association Message Board:
It was entertainment day at the Senior Center and the amazing Claude, the famed hypnotist was topping the bill. People came from miles around to see the famed hypnotist do his stuff.
As Claude went to the front of the meeting room, he announced, "Unlike most hypnotists who invite two or three people up here to be put into a trance, I intend to hypnotize each and every member of the audience."
The excitement was almost electric as Claude withdrew a beautiful antique pocket watch from his coat pocket. "I want you each to keep your eye on this antique watch. It's a very special watch. It's been in my family for six generations."
He began to swing the watch gently back and forth while quietly chanting.
"Watch the watch, watch the watch, watch the watch."
The crowd became mesmerized as the watch swayed back and forth, light gleaming off its polished surface.
Hundreds of pairs of eyes followed the swaying watch, until, suddenly, it slipped from the hypnotist's fingers and fell to the floor, breaking into a hundred pieces.
"SHIT", said the hypnotist.
It took three days to clean up the Senior Center.
The Message Board, in addition to being a wonderful support group, is a great place for resources, advice and comfort. I encourage anyone with Young Onset Dementia or a caregiver, to take advantage of it and sign up at www.alz.org
==========================================================================
Thanks for reading, as always. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and remember to support our Alzheimer's Association. You'd be surprised at how much they are able to do for us. We don't want to let them down.
======================================================================
It's time to bring these valiant heroes home, y'all.
====================================================================
I'd also like for you to remember the many, many people who care for our unwanted pets - both animal control persons and volunteer organizations. They have all had a rough summer and their work is far from over.
Help them out and click this link to help feed a shelter pet, thanks.
Bis dann, (till next time)
Bill
Down the passage we did not take"
What does that mean to you, my friend?
To me it speaks of regret. Regret for things we did not do, but wanted to. and perhaps not leaving something of yourself behind when it's "your time"?
We all need our "Bucket List". I have mine and have been fortunate enough to have been able to do almost all the things on it. I have no regrets now and will have none when I lose what's left of my mind or go where the dolphins went in the book "A Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy" by Douglas Adams - whichever comes first. Although I do hope Mr. Reaper takes me before Dr. Alzheimer does, as I do not wish to be a burden to anyone, especially my sweet wife.
Okay, enough of that. Are you having a good weekend so far? I am. I hear Dondra puttering around in the kitchen, and it is a sound I crave to hear, because when she's at work and I am here alone, it doesn't just get lonely, it gets confused and frustrated. I don't know what to do with myself. I go into the music room, pick up the guitar or sit behind my drums and then - nothing. The desire to play has left me within about a minute. No desire to read, watch tv, ride my bicycle, jog, you name it and I ain't doin' it.
And that's a sign of Stage 4.
I am, however, as I wrote in my last entry, getting back into doing some simple magic. I just need to shop for some props and then use D as my audience. (Tonight she'll see me levitate (a la David Blaine), so she can critique me. Ha-Ha!
===================================================================
GOOD NEWS FOR VETERANS IN MY AREA!!!
Carroll County's new satellite Veterans' Clinic is under construction and will serve all surrounding counties! The story is here:
I included this because I think our veterans aren't getting what they were promised and I am wondering how many of us are suffering from Alzheimer's dementia. This is something I plan to research and will let you know as soon as I can.
Think about this though: How many of them are walking the streets homeless right now. In fact, how many homeless are walking the streets with dementia right now?
That is exactly why funding for a cure must not be cut by our government, and we need you to contact your local lawmakers and let them know this!
You know, sometimes you don't get what you want because you didn't ask for it, and that's what we need to do: en masse. Many of them will be running for re-election so pin them down and then hold them accountable by watching their votes. Here is how to track them: http://www.govtrack.us/ and here is how to contact your congressperson: http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml
===============================================================
A Joke
Originally posted by Marvite from the Alzheimer's Association Message Board:
It was entertainment day at the Senior Center and the amazing Claude, the famed hypnotist was topping the bill. People came from miles around to see the famed hypnotist do his stuff.
As Claude went to the front of the meeting room, he announced, "Unlike most hypnotists who invite two or three people up here to be put into a trance, I intend to hypnotize each and every member of the audience."
The excitement was almost electric as Claude withdrew a beautiful antique pocket watch from his coat pocket. "I want you each to keep your eye on this antique watch. It's a very special watch. It's been in my family for six generations."
He began to swing the watch gently back and forth while quietly chanting.
"Watch the watch, watch the watch, watch the watch."
The crowd became mesmerized as the watch swayed back and forth, light gleaming off its polished surface.
Hundreds of pairs of eyes followed the swaying watch, until, suddenly, it slipped from the hypnotist's fingers and fell to the floor, breaking into a hundred pieces.
"SHIT", said the hypnotist.
It took three days to clean up the Senior Center.
The Message Board, in addition to being a wonderful support group, is a great place for resources, advice and comfort. I encourage anyone with Young Onset Dementia or a caregiver, to take advantage of it and sign up at www.alz.org
==========================================================================
Thanks for reading, as always. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and remember to support our Alzheimer's Association. You'd be surprised at how much they are able to do for us. We don't want to let them down.
======================================================================
It's time to bring these valiant heroes home, y'all.
====================================================================
I'd also like for you to remember the many, many people who care for our unwanted pets - both animal control persons and volunteer organizations. They have all had a rough summer and their work is far from over.
Help them out and click this link to help feed a shelter pet, thanks.
Bis dann, (till next time)
Bill
Comments
Sorry to hear you are having such a struggle, espically when you are home by yourself. If you want to talk, I'm here!
I have a joke for YOU.
Smith comes home from work one day laughing so hard he can't hardly breathe.
"What's so funny?" asks his wife.
"Oh, I heard the DIRTIEST limerick at work today," he says. " It was really funny."
"oh Goody." Says the wife "tell it to me"
"Oh I can't. It's way too filthy." says he.
"You've told me dirty jokes before." she said
"I can't tell you this one, it's just too dirty"
"OK I tell you what." she says " For every word you think is too dirty for me to hear, just say "Dash" I'm sure I'll be able to fill in the rest."
"ok," he said "here goes"
*ahem*
Dash dash dash dash dash dash dash dash,
Dash dash dash dash dash dash dash dash.
Dash dash dash dash dash,
Dash dash dash dash dash;
Dash dash dash dash dash dash dash fuck!"