Author Archives: Humanity Hiker
Yes, No and Uh-huh
“Are you hungry?” I asked before leaving our “bedroom” to make breakfast. “Yes,” she replied in her barely audible manner these days. Cindy responds to a question occasionally, though not very often. In fact, she infrequently makes any verbal sounds … Continue reading
Posted in Brain Health Information, Care Partners, True Love
Tagged Alzheimer's Love Story, Caregiver Journal, Live Fully
1 Comment
New Year’s Directions
Rather than New Year’s Resolutions I believe in New Year’s Directions. A new direction for me this year is the lack of direction in Cindy’s decline. For the start of the past few years I was uncertain whether Cindy would … Continue reading
Posted in Brain Health, Care Partners
Tagged Alzheimer's Love Story, Caregiver Journal, Superaging
7 Comments
A Caregiver’s Canary
Towards the end of my first thru-hike I encountered a coal-miner, also nearing the end of his thru-hike. We took a break and chatted awhile, as back in the seventies thru-hikers encountered each other much less than they do now. … Continue reading
Sleep Tight
“Good night. Sleep tight. Don’t let the bedbugs bite. If they bite, squeeze them tight and save the blood for another night.” I fondly recall my father saying that to me at bedtime, delivering the last line with an impish … Continue reading
When a Simple “Yeah” Will Do
We may have gone for our last long outing of the year. Our adult stroller may allow us to continue on shorter outings as late fall and winter arrives, but I will have to balance the health advantages of being … Continue reading
Our Downstairs Routine
4:12 am – I am awake. Whether Cindy woke me or not I seldom know for sure, but I do know she appears agitated, which sometimes occurs around this time of night. Her hospital bed does not align seamlessly with … Continue reading
Live Each Event as Your Last
On Thursday, September 19, Cindy and I celebrated our 33rd anniversary. I planned to make this day special by pushing Cindy in the stroller up the old wagon road to the peak of Haystack Mountain. From there I would carry … Continue reading
The Stroller and Kirk Junior
Everything is in place now from our move downstairs. Most mornings I transfer Cindy from the hospital bed in our “bedroom” to enjoy the outdoors on our porch. Facilitating this transfer is our new door to the porch that Cindy’s … Continue reading
Of Dreams and Melatonin
I woke up around 4 am thinking about a caregiver I met online whose situation is worse than mine. I mentioned this is an important ingredient for staying healthy, being more concerned for others than myself. Still, any health benefits … Continue reading