Tag Archives: Alzheimer’s Love Story

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 , , | 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

Posted in Brain Health, True Love | Tagged , | 4 Comments

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

Posted in True Love | Tagged | 5 Comments

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

Posted in Stages of Decline, True Love | Tagged | 4 Comments

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

Posted in Caregiver Vignettes, True Love | Tagged | 7 Comments

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

Posted in Caregiver Vignettes, True Love | Tagged | 4 Comments

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

Posted in Caregiver Vignettes, True Love | Tagged | 3 Comments

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

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Keeping Active as a Caregiver

Cindy often dozes these days, but practicing the American Discovery symphony seems to wake her up better than most things I do. She even used to “sing” along with the lyrics I created for the Kindness and Joy movements, which … Continue reading

Posted in American Discovery Symphony, American Discovery Trail, Brain Health, Caregiver Vignettes | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

The Sadness that Defies Depression

As I look out the window from where we spend most of our days, out towards our Emerson Street neighborhood, I notice our neighbor’s car missing from the driveway across the street. The car should be there this time of … Continue reading

Posted in Brain Health, Caregiver Vignettes, True Love | Tagged , , | 4 Comments