Category Archives: Build Community

Beyond Terminal Care – Being Social

Three types of social conditions benefit brain health: intimacy, altruism and fellowship.  “The Joy of Sex” is aptly titled, but even the intimacy of prolonged hugs can release the neurotransmitters that give you a joyful high.  As long as Cindy … Continue reading

Posted in Alzheimer's Love Story, Build Community, Caregiver Journal, Caregiver Vignettes, Love Kindness | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

The ADT Journey – Week 47

The C&O Canal started in the mid-nineteenth century as a towpath along the Potomac River, using a series of 74 locks to shepherd boats over difficult stretches.  Now a trail shepherds hikers and bicyclists over the same route, through a … Continue reading

Posted in Alzheimer's Love Story, American Discovery Symphony, American Discovery Trail, Build Community, Humanitarian Issues, Live Fully, Trail Magic | Comments Off on The ADT Journey – Week 47

The ADT Journey – Week 46

Before parting from Gwen we treated her to breakfast at the Breakfast Nook, a special restaurant that helps young adults with previous dependency troubles become independent through work and mentoring.  We chatted with mentors Keith Bishop and Tammy Robbins about … Continue reading

Posted in Alzheimer's Love Story, American Discovery Trail, Build Community, Live Fully, Trail Magic | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on The ADT Journey – Week 46

The ADT Journey – Week 45

From Grafton we went to stay with Gwen Jones, a close friend from our long distance hiking days, and her husband Ted McMahon.  Though she lived in Connecticut when we met and hiked with Gwen, she had since moved to … Continue reading

Posted in Alzheimer's Love Story, American Discovery Trail, Build Community, Humanitarian Issues, Live Fully, Trail Magic | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The ADT Journey – Week 45

The ADT Journey – Week 43

We stayed in one more UMC church in Ohio when we reached Chesterfield.  Ky as usual made the arrangement with the church, though I had made contact with Lions Stan and Nancy Starling previously.  Unfortunately, we arrived too late to … Continue reading

Posted in Alzheimer's Love Story, American Discovery Trail, Build Community, Humanitarian Issues, Live Fully, Trail Magic | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The ADT Journey – Week 43

The ADT Journey – Week 42

Cindy and I met as part of a group that hiked the Appalachian Trail in 1980.  Having thru-hiked the AT already, I attempted to show off my know-how.  To lift the group’s spirits after a drizzly first day of hiking … Continue reading

Posted in Alzheimer's Love Story, American Discovery Trail, Brain Health, Build Community, Live Fully, Trail Magic | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The ADT Journey – Week 42

The ADT Journey – Week 41

In the intervening years since our journey, I recount three particular kindness stories most often.  One involves the most inspirational quote, “confuse who is giving and who is receiving,” delivered by the director of the community meals program in Leadville, … Continue reading

Posted in Alzheimer's Love Story, American Discovery Trail, Build Community, Humanitarian Issues, Live Fully, Trail Magic | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on The ADT Journey – Week 41

The ADT Journey – Week 39

I gave four presentations while in Cincinnati:  one to the Sisters of the Transfiguration with whom we were staying; one to the Bethany elementary school; one to the Northeast Lions Club in Milford; and one to Northern Kentucky University.  The … Continue reading

Posted in Alzheimer's Love Story, American Discovery Trail, Build Community, Live Fully, Trail Magic | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The ADT Journey – Week 39

The ADT Journey – Week 38

During this stretch trail angels offered us kindness in a variety of ways; our response varied as well.  On the first day we stopped at a store in a small hamlet and asked the proprietor if he had a bathroom … Continue reading

Posted in Alzheimer's Love Story, American Discovery Trail, Believe in Humanity, Build Community, Embrace Joy, Live Fully, Love Kindness, Trail Magic | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The ADT Journey – Week 38

The ADT Journey – Week 37

We depended on Ky to slackpack us along this stretch where we stayed at a church, a hotel and two homes.  Usually, our stays at people’s homes occurred from us meeting them, such as our last stay in the home … Continue reading

Posted in Alzheimer's Love Story, American Discovery Trail, Build Community, Live Fully, Love Kindness | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on The ADT Journey – Week 37