I just got our manuscript back from the editor. Y’all we have an editor! I cannot tell you how long I have wanted an editor. (In case you missed it, Melinda and I have co-written a book about caregiving which has been accepted to be published.) This weekend I sat and reviewed all the changes … Continue reading Notes from the Editor
Our Dementia Journey
Martha’s Garden
One thing Mom and Dad have always had in common is their love for flowers. Wildflowers particularly, but any flowers are a treat. I remember, when I was a kid, Dad would get up early and go for a hike on the mountain. Probably to take pictures. He would bring back a plethora of flowers … Continue reading Martha’s Garden
Update on Mom
Back in July, when Mom broke her leg, we didn’t think she would still be here at Christmas. Her pain when moved was evident. Her leg was in an immobilizer, which was big and bulky. We called hospice in to help with pain management. She was slipping away faster than before the fall, and we … Continue reading Update on Mom
My Sister
When I was 3, I got a little sister. I was okay with her until she started getting all the attention. Full of feelings I didn’t understand, I took a pencil and colored our white bathroom countertops solid black. When asked if I had done it, I replied, “No. The baby did it.” I couldn’t … Continue reading My Sister
Emotional Dissonance
There is an emotional dissonance on this dementia journey. The ups and downs of the path itself, but also all the things outside of it. Mom is fading. Last week, she had numerous bad days. This week, she has had numerous better ones. A small plateau of sorts? Maybe. Maybe not. There are no sure … Continue reading Emotional Dissonance
Moments with Mom
In addition to our regular Friday/Sunday visits with Dad to go see Mom, Melinda and I have added some individual visits when possible. Every minute spent with her is precious. On good days or bad ones, it is a sacred space to just be with her. I sit beside her bed and hold her hand … Continue reading Moments with Mom
Letting Go
We are still in limbo over here. Mom is not bouncing back from her broken leg, which we knew was a long shot at best. The original goal was to try to get her back to her wheelchair. That will not be happening. In-between land is filled with heartbreaking decisions of various kinds. There are … Continue reading Letting Go
The Divide
There is a line we are walking on this dementia journey. On one side of the line is our desire to be with mom and her adorable laughter. To sit and to be together. To support her as she has always supported us. The other side is the desire to see her free from her … Continue reading The Divide
The Notebook
Have you seen the movie the Notebook? Spoiler alert, it’s a love story about a couple where the wife has dementia. Her husband goes to see her almost every day and tells her their story, hoping she will remember. I am watching a real-life version of the Notebook. For the past few years, Dad has … Continue reading The Notebook
A Mother’s Words
One of the values of being a writer is that the words can live beyond your lifetime. This is both a scary thought to me and a comforting one. Hopefully, the words I write leave the world a better place because someday they will be all that is left of me. My only mark on … Continue reading A Mother’s Words
Michelle's Mosaic 