I do my mother’s laundry while she sits and watches. We talk, but these days our talks are more of a Q and A session. It’s hard holding a conversation with an Alzheimer’s patient, but I try. When we’re together, we sit close, watch others, and smile. However, there is one thing we enjoy: […]
Read More Having Coffee With My Best FriendIt doesn’t seem that long ago, although, it was, that I said I don’t know how I would handle it if my mother no longer recognized me. I also recall saying how devasting Alzheimer’s is because you lose your loved one twice: once when they no longer know you; and twice when […]
Read More Praising God for Grace and PeaceIt happens that quick. Reality. Fantasy. One mind; two worlds. Unfortunately, this becomes the day-to-day dilemma for those diagnosed with some form of dementia. In the beginning, there are no warning signs to prepare for the coming days; there are no roadmaps to redirect the confusion; and, there are no paved paths to suggest a smoother […]
Read More Meandering through the Dementia Twilight ZoneI sing in the car. It passes the time when I’m between home and wherever. Sometimes I know all the words; other times, well, let’s just say I try. I particularly enjoy the tunes from the 70s and 80s. Like most, when I hear songs from my youth, I’m transported back in […]
Read More Savoring Time, Because I Can’t Bottle ItBeech Mountain, North Carolina (Elevation 5,506) High in the hills of Western North Carolina, lies the town of Beech Mountain. Before my husband and I bought our second home on Beech, we visited often. Mountain serenity captivates our senses and reverts us to a more comfortable state-of-being. Now that I’m “midlife,” I purposely wander the […]
Read More Somewhere Over The RainbowFor some unknown reason, I’m thinking of my dad today. Maybe it’s because I’m spending the weekend at my ‘happy place.’ Whenever my husband and I can get away from our weekday norm, we high-tail it to our mountain retreat. It is here that I allow myself to bask in the moment. We recently got […]
Read More Seizing The DayIf I close my eyes, I can still hear the sound of the rustling leaves; the meandering trickle of the waterfall; the melodious chirp of the songbirds; the crunching sound of pebbles under my feet; and, I can feel the midday sun’s warmth in my hair. The tranquil grounds outside of the hospice house offer […]
Read More Coming to termsToday we say ‘goodbye’ to my mother-in-law. What a special lady she was in my life. Most people cannot say they are blessed to have two mothers, but I can. My mother-in-law loved unconditionally, gave unconditionally, and asked for nothing in return. When my father-in-law passed away, I sat beside her while friends and church […]
Read More In awe of your presence
Dear God, I Am... 