" HERE'S A GIFT FOR YOU "

YESTERDAY, MIKE BROUGHT ME A GARDEN TOOL SET.  HE SAID "HERE HONEY, I HAVE A GIFT FOR YOU, SO YOU WON'T HAVE TO GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY".  WELL, ANY BODY WHO REALLY KNOWS ME KNOWS THAT I AM NEVER GOING TO USE THAT TOOL SET.  MIKE IS THE GARDENER IN OUR FAMILY.  HE COULD SPEND 10 HOURS A DAY (HE IS EVEN OUT SIDE IN THE DARK SOMETIMES) WORKING IN OUR YARD.  I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO IF WE EVER RAN OUT OF WEEDS TO PULL, GUESS I WOULD JUST HAVE TO PLANT SOME!!  ALSO ONE OF HIS NEWEST THINGS IS READING OUT LOUD-CONSTANTLY.  THE NEWS PAPER, OR A MAGAZINE, OR EVEN THE MAIL!!  ALSO HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE I HEAR HIM, SO HE WILL ASK "WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT"? OR "DID YOU HEAR WHAT I SAID"? THEN THERE'S THE L.O.L.. ALL OF A SUDDEN HE WILL START LAUGHING OUT LOUD ABOUT SOMETHING HE'S SEEN ON TV.  HE WANTS ME TO HURRY UP AND COME SEE IT, BUT BY THE TIME I GET THERE OF COURSE WHAT EVER GAVE HIM THE CHUCKLES IS OVER, AND HE CAN'T EXPLAIN WHAT IT WAS ABOUT.  I DID REALIZE SOMETHING YESTERDAY-AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER.  SOME OF THE VERY THINGS THAT ANNOY ME THE MOST RIGHT NOW (LIKE I CAN NEVER HAVE ANY PRIVACY-EVEN TO READ MY BIBLE OR PRAY) WILL BE THE  THINGS I WILL PROBABLY MISS THE MOST IF AND WHEN HE IS GONE-OR NO LONGER ABLE TO SPEAK (LIKE WHAT HAPPENED TO MY BROTHER IN LAW).  EVEN IN BED AFTER WE SAY OUR GOOD NIGHTS, AND I THINK NOW I CAN START MY PRAYER, HE ADDS SOMETHING ELSE, OR ASK A QUESTION, LIKE "WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TOMORROW"?  IT CAN BE VERY HARD RIGHT NOW AT TIMES, BUT I'M SURE IT WOULD BE MUCH HARDER TO BE WITHOUT HIM.  EACH DAY I THANK GOD FOR TAKING SUCH GOOD CARE OF HIM AND KEEPING HIM STRONG (PHYSICALLY), AND HOPEFULLY SLOWING DOWN THE EVENTUAL, THOUGH GRADUAL LOSS OF HIS MEMORY. IF YOU ARE IN THE SAME BOAT OR A SIMILAR ONE-KEEP POSITIVE THOUGHTS, AND TRY AND ENJOY WHATEVER YOU CAN ABOUT EACH DAY.  HOPE TO BE BACK HERE ON MONDAY-TILL THEN-GOD BLESS-JUST ME

" PERFECT CHILDREN "

HERE IS YET ANOTHER UP SIDE THAT I HAVE FOUND TO BE TRUE IN MIKE'S CASE.  I AM WONDERING IF OTHERS OUT THERE WITH THIS SAME DISEASE HAVE MADE THE SAME OR SIMILAR COMMENTS ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN.  MY MIKE KEEPS SAYING WHAT WONDERFUL KIDS WE HAVE. THAT WE MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING RIGHT FOR THEM TO ALL TURN OUT SO WELL.  YESTERDAY OUR YOUNGEST PAID US A VISIT, AND MIKE SAID SHE IS SUCH A WONDERFUL GIRL.  SINCE THE DAY SHE WAS BORN (WHICH I AM SURE HE HAS NO MEMORY OF) SHE HAS NEVER GIVEN US A SINGLE PROBLEM.  SHE HAS BEEN GREAT FROM THE FIRST DAY ON. OBVIOUSLY NO CHILD IS PERFECT INCLUDING ANY OF MINE, BUT I WILL AGREE THAT THEY HAVE TURNED OUT TO BE GREAT KIDS.  I OFTEN HEAR FROM OTHERS THAT YOU HAVE THE BEST KIDS "IN THE WORLD", AND I WOULD HAVE TO AGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT. BUT THERE WERE LOTS OF BUMPS ALONG THE WAY AS ANY PARENT (WHO DOES NOT HAVE ALZHEIMER'S KNOWS).  SOMETIMES MIKE'S MEMORY WILL SEEM OK, AND THEN LIKE THE OTHER DAY WHEN I GOT HOME FROM MY MEETING HE AND BROOK (OUR 6 YEAR OLD NEIGHBOR) WERE PLAYING UNO TOGETHER, AND ARGUING OVER THE RULES, AND WHO'S TURN IT WAS.  I DID NOT KNOW WEATHER TO LAUGH OR CRY.  ALSO YESTERDAY WHEN I TOLD MIKE IT WAS TIME TO GET READY TO GO TO MY SISTERS FOR DINNER, HE ACTED LIKE IT WAS THE VERY FIRST TIME WE HAD EVER DONE THAT.  I HAD TO REMIND HIM THAT WE GO TO MY SISTER'S FOR DINNER EVERY WEEK!!  SOME THINGS ARE BEST FORGOTTEN-I FOR ONE WISH I COULD FORGET SOME THINGS FROM MY PAST, BUT THAT DOES NOT CHANGE THE FACT THAT THIS DISEASE ERASES SOME OF OUR MOST PRECIOUS MOMENTS TOGETHER-I MUST LEARN TO TAKE THE GOOD WITH THE BAD, AND KEEP TRYING TO FIND THAT SILVER LINING.  THANKS AGAIN FOR LETTING ME VENT-HAVE YOURSELVES THE BEST DAY YET-JUST ME
P.S.  MY DOGS ARE EITHER VERY HAPPY OR EXTREMELY UPSET WITH MIKE.  LATELY HE FORGETS THAT HE HAS ALREADY TAKEN THEM FOR THEIR MORNING (OR AFTERNOON) WALK, AND TAKES THEM AGAIN AN HOUR OR SO LATER!!! ISN'T LIFE GRAND???

" IS IT OVER NOW "?

THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE MANY THINGS MIKE SAYS WHEN A COMMERCIAL COMES ON.  "WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SHOW"? HE ALSO SAYS SOME TIMES.  OTHER TIMES HE WILL SIMPLY THINK THE SHOW IS OVER WHEN A COMMERCIAL COMES ON AND HE WILL GET UP AND GO OUTSIDE AND START WATERING PLANTS, PULLING WEEDS, OR WHAT EVER STRIKES HIS FANCY.  HE SEEMS TO BE IN A WORLD ALL HIS OWN.  SOMETIMES IF I GET UP TO GO TO THE LADIES ROOM AND HE WILL SAY "WHERE ARE YOU GOING"?. I ASSURE HIM I AM NOT LEAVING THE HOUSE, JUST TO THE BATH ROOM.   THE OTHER DAY I WAS JUST GOING TO PUT SOME PAPERS IN THE RECYCLE BIN, BUT WHEN I OPENED THE FRONT DOOR-RIGHT AWAY MIKE SAID "ARE YOU LEAVING ME"??  WHEN EVER I SAY I NEED TO GO GET DRESSED NOW, HE WILL AUTOMATICALLY SAY "YEAH, YOU CAN'T GO TO THE HALL LIKE THAT".  IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT DAY OF THE WEEK IT IS-IF I SAY I NEED TO  GO GET DRESSED, HE ALWAYS HAS THE SAME REPLY FOR ME.  I THINK IT'S CUTE, AND IT SHOWS ME THAT HE IS AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THE ONLY TIME I GET ALL DRESSED UP, & HAVE TO LEAVE HIM FOR A SHORT WHILE IS  WHEN I GO TO THE KINGDOM HALL.  MORE AND MORE I HATE TO BE AWAY FROM HIM, EVEN THOUGH I KNOW MY SISTER LIVES RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, AND I ALWAYS MAKE SURE HE KNOWS WHAT TO DO WHILE I AM GONE AND EXACTLY WHEN I WILL BE BACK.  I ALSO LEAVE HIM WITH PHONE NUMBERS AND THE PHONE RIGHT NEXT TO HIM BY HIS RECLINER,  STILL I WORRY WHEN EVER I'M AWAY.  I GUESS I VIEW MIKE MORE AND MORE AS A HELPLESS CHILD, AND I JUST WANT TO BE WITH HIM EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY TO PROTECT HIM FROM ANY CUTS, SCRATCHES, AND ESPECIALLY ANY FALLS.  WHEN I LEAVE, I JUST PRAY THAT HE WILL BE OK TILL I GET BACK HOME, AND HAVE TO TRUST THAT HE WILL.  IT SEEMS THAT NO MATTER HOW MUCH I DO OR HOW MUCH TIME I SPEND WITH HIM, I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE IT'S NEVER ENOUGH. IF ANY ONE OUT THERE KNOWS ANY THING ABOUT CLONING, PLEASE LET ME IN ON IT.  I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE PERFECT SOLUTION TO ALL MY PROBLEMS-IF THERE WERE TWO OF ME!!! HOPE YOUR DAY WAS A GOOD ONE-THANKS FOR LETTING ME VENT-TILL MONDAY-JUST ME

" LAUGHING OUT LOUD "

LATELY ONE OF THE MOST ENDEARING CHANGES THAT  I AND OTHERS HAVE SEEN  IN MIKE, IS THAT HE FINDS SO MUCH HUMOR IN COMMERCIALS.  HE SEES THE SAME COMMERCIALS ALL THE TIME (JUST LIKE THE REST OF US), BUT UNLIKE THE REST OF US, HE LAUGHS OUT LOUD EVERY TIME HE SEES THEM.  THE GIECO COMMERCIALS HE FINDS PARTICULARLY FUNNY, BUT THEN SO ARE SOME OF THE CAR COMMERCIALS, AND THE ONES THAT SHOW THE FOOD ATTACKING THE EATER.  I TOO MAY HAVE FOUND THEM FUNNY THE FIRST TIME I SAW THEM, BUT FOR MIKE, EVERY TIME IS LIKE THE FIRST TIME ALL OVER AGAIN.  I WANT TO LAUGH AND CRY AT THE SAME TIME JUST WATCHING HIM, AND WAITING FOR THAT LAUGH.  MIKE HAS TRULY CHANGED IN SO MANY OTHER WAYS AND FOR THE MOST PART,  ALL FOR THE BETTER.  ONE OF MY FRIENDS JOKINGLY SAID THAT MIKE USE TO HAVE ALZHEIMER'S BUT NOW HIS BRAIN IS NORMAL.  THE REASON SHE SAID THIS, IS BECAUSE SHE HAS KNOWN MIKE AND I FOR 30 PLUS YEARS, AND KNEW THE OLD MIKE AS WELL AS THE NEW ONE.  WE BOTH AGREE THAT THE NEW ONE IS WAY BETTER THAN THE OLD-THAT IS NOT TO SAY  THAT I AM HAPPY THAT MIKE HAS DEVELOPED ALZHEIMER'S, BECAUSE I AM CERTAINLY NOT, BUT I AM SO THANKFUL THAT ALONG WITH ALL THE SADNESS, AND DOWNSIDES THAT COMES WITH THIS HORRIBLE DISEASE, THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE THE SILVER LINING (SO TO SPEAK).  I FEEL SO THANKFUL TO THAT MIKE HAS NO STRESS AT ALL.  HE LOVES EVERY DAY, AND STILL ENJOYS DOING WHAT HE LOVES BEST-PULLING WEEDS, AND MESSING IN THE YARD.  WE SHOULD ALL HAVE SUCH CARE FREE AND  STRESSLESS LIVES-MAYBE SOMEDAY-JUST ME

" HOSPICE MEMORY SERVICE "

THIS POST WILL DEFNATELY BE  A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN ALL THE OTHERS.  LAST NIGHT MIKE & I WENT TO A "MEMORY SERVICE" FOR THE FAMILIES OF ALL THOSE WHO HAD SUFFERED THE LOSS OF SOMEONE DEAR IN THE PAST YEAR. (FOR US, IT WAS MY BROTHER IN LAW GEORGE).  IT TURNED OUT TO BE ONE OF THE SADDEST THINGS WE HAVE EVER BEEN TO.  IT WAS DESIGNED (I'M SURE) TO LIFT OUR SPIRITS, AND ENCOURAGE US THAT LIFE WILL GO ON-JUST A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.  INSTEAD, THE SPEAKER (WHO'S SON HAD DIED TWO YEARS PRIOR) WAS TELLING US HOW MUCH SHE HAD HEALED AND HELPED BECAUSE OF HOSPICE.  THE ONLY PROBLEM WAS THAT SHE COULD HARDLY SPEAK.  SHE WAS CRYING THE WHOLE TIME, BLOWING HER NOSE, WHICH MADE US ALL FEEL LIKE-WHAT HOPE IS THERE FOR US IF SHE IS STILL IN SUCH A BAD PLACE AFTER TWO YEARS!!  GRANTED SHE DID LOSE A SON (ONLY 25 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME), AND I HAVE NO IDEA HOW I WOULD HANDLE SUCH A LOSS, BUT I  DO KNOW ONE THING FOR SURE-I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET UP IN FRONT OF A HUNDRED PLUS PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY CRYING THEIR EYES OUT, AND TELL A SAD STORY LIKE THAT WHICH IN MY ESTIMATION ONLY MADE THINGS WORSE.  IT MADE US FEEL LESS HOPEFUL THAT IN TIME THE LOSS WOULD HURT LESS.  I KNOW THAT THE POOR MAN BEHIND ME WAS JUST SOBBING, AND I REACHED AROUND THE BACK OF MY CHAIR AND PUT MY HAND ON HIS KNEE.  I LEFT IT THERE UNTIL THE SOBBING STOPPED.  HE WAS MAYBE IN HIS 60'S, SO I AM GUESSING HE LOST A CHILD, AS I BELIEVE IT WAS HIS WIFE SITTING NEXT TO HIM.  AFTER THE PROGRAM ENDED, I TOLD THEM HOW SORRY I WAS FOR THEIR LOSS, AND TOLD THEM THEY WOULD SEE THEIR LOVED ONE AGAIN SOON IN THE RESURRECTION. THEN  I HAD WRITTEN DOWN A COUPLE OF SCRIPTURES (REVELATION 21:3&4 AND JOHN 5:28) THAT I ASKED THEM TO READ AS I FELT THEY WOULD HELP THEM,  THEY WERE VERY AGREEABLE, AND SAID THEY SURELY WOULD.  IT REALLY BROUGHT HOME TO ME WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS .  "DEATH IS OUR ENEMY" (1 CORINTHIANS 15:26). I FOR ONE AM SO VERY HAPPY AND THANKFUL TO KNOW THE REAL HOPE FOR ALL THOSE SLEEPING IN DEATH. THANKS FOR LISTENING, I HOPE I DID NOT DEPRESS ANY ONE AS THAT WAS NOT MY INTENT.  I WILL BE BACK TOMORROW WITH ANOTHER "MIKE" STORY!!  TILL THEN-JUST ME

" CUTE COMMENTS "

YOU KNOW HOW WHEN YOUR KIDS ARE LITTLE THEY COME OUT WITH THE CUTEST SAYING THAT YOU JUST KNOW THAT YOU WILL NEVER FORGET-THEN YOU DO.  WELL IT'S KIND OF LIKE THAT WITH MIKE NOW.  EVERY DAY HE COMES OUT WITH THE FUNNIEST STUFF, AND I JUST KNOW I WILL NOT FORGET WHAT HE SAID, AND THEN BY THE TIME I GET READY TO WRITE IT DOWN-IT'S GONE.  I DON'T THINK I HAVE A MEMORY PROBLEM, I JUST THINK I AM ON MEMORY OVER LOAD.  TOO MANY THINGS TO REMEMBER AND KEEP TRACK OF.  BEFORE MIKE GOT SICK, HE DID ALL THE BILL PAYING, CHECK WRITING, WHAT WORK HAD TO BE DONE ON THE HOUSE, ETC. ETC.. NOW, IT ALL FALLS ON ME, PLUS REMEMBERING TO ORDER ALL THE PILLS AND KEEP TRACK OF DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS, VISITS FROM THE NURSE, VISITS FROM HIS P.T., NOT TO MENTION ALL THE HOUSE HOLD CHORES, AND THE BUYING OF THE GROCERIES, ETC.ETC..  I THINK MY POOR BRAIN IS JUST ON OVER LOAD, AND LESS IMPORTANT STUFF JUST GETS PUSHED TO THE BACK OR DROPS OFF THE BACK END!!  ANY HOW, I HAVE BEEN A LITTLE NAUGHTY LATELY, AND HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF MIKE'S CONDITION AT TIMES.  FOR INSTANCE, AS OUR DAUGHTER FELINA SAID YESTERDAY, BEFORE MIKE GOT ALZHEIMER'S, HE WOULD NOT EAT MUSHROOM, HE ALWAYS THOUGHT HE WAS ALLERGIC-BUT THE TRUTH IS, HE JUST DID NOT LIKE THE TASTE OF THEM.   NOW HE WILL ASK ME "DO I LIKE THIS OR THAT" AND I SAY "SURE YOU DO HONEY", AND HE WILL EAT IT OR DRINK IT. OF COURSE I NEVER WOULD DO ANYTHING THAT WOULD CAUSE HIM HARM, BUT AT THE SAME TIME I MUST ADMIT I GET A KICK OUT OF SEEING HIM EAT, DRINK OR DO THINGS THAT HE WOULD NEVER DO BEFORE. AGAIN-THAT IS THE UPSIDE TO THIS TERRIBLE DISEASE.  SO FAR HE REMEMBERS FAMILY AND CLOSE FRIENDS, AND I AM SO THANKFUL FOR THAT.  WHEN EVER WE MEET NEW PEOPLE, WHEN THEY INTRODUCE THEMSELVES TO MIKE, INSTEAD OF SAYING HIS NAME, HE SAYS, "I'M WITH HER".  SO CUTE, SO INNOCENT. LIFE IS FULL OF CHANGE, SOME OF IT IS HARDER TO DEAL WITH THAN OTHERS, BUT FOR NOW, IT'S ALL OK WITH ME, AND MIKE IS A HAPPY CAMPER TOO.  HE IS NOT AT ALL DEPRESSED BECAUSE OF HIS ILLNESS, HE LOVES LIFE AND EVERY DAY HE TELLS ME HOW HAPPY HE IS BY BOTH HIS WORDS AND DEEDS.  WHAT MORE COULD I POSSIBLE ASK FOR???  HOPE YOU WILL SMELL THE ROSES TODAY-I DID!!  JUST ME

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" THE DOOR "

WE HAVE THIS ROOM OFF THE DINNING AREA THAT HAS A PAIR OF FRENCH DOORS.  WHEN WE GOT THE HOUSE, THERE WAS JUST AN EMPTY SPACE THERE BETWEEN THE TWO  ROOMS, SO I HAD SOMEONE CLOSE IT IN AND PUT UP A PAIR OF USED FRENCH DOORS TO MAKE IT INTO A ROOM.  THE DOORS WERE REALLY LOVELY, AND THEY EVEN CAME WITH THE HARDWARE, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY LEAD TO THE PROBLEM.  THERE ARE REALLY TWO PROBLEMS.  WE HAVE TWO CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIELS AS I HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE, AND WHEN PRISKA GAVE BIRTH TO HER THREE PUPPIES, THEY ALL LIVED IN THAT ROOM FOR A COUPLE MONTHS.  TO THIS DAY, PRISKA GOES INTO THAT ROOM EVERY SINGLE DAY. MIKE BELIEVES IT IS TO LOOK FOR HER PUPPIES-I HAVE NO COMMENT ON THAT OR ANY CLUE EITHER.  ANY HOW, PRISKA WAS KNOCKING ON THE FRENCH DOORS SO THAT WE WOULD OPEN THEM UP SO SHE COULD GO IN FOR HER DAILY HUNT.  MIKE MUST HAVE TURNED THE KNOB ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR, AS HE TELLS ME THE DOOR IS LOCKED-JUST AS HE PROCEEDS TO SLAM IT SHUT-WITH THE DOG INSIDE THE ROOM.  I POINT OUT THAT WE DO  NOT HAVE A KEY FOR THOSE DOORS-WE NEVER HAD ANY KEYS FOR THOSE DOORS, AS THEY CAME WITH THE HARDWARE IN THEM, BUT NOT THE KEYS.  MIKE PROCEEDS TO BLAME ME FOR NOT STOPPING HIM FROM SHUTTING THE DOOR, AND THEN BEGINS PULLING SO HARD ON THE DOOR TO OPEN IT SOME OF THE PAINT CAME OFF!!  I TOLD HIM I WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT NOT TO WORRY, BUT HE NEXT PROCEEDS TO PUT ONE OF HIS KEYS INTO THE LOCK AFTER ANOTHER (HIS KEY CHAIN HAS ABOUT 10 KEYS ON IT).  MEAN TIME PRISKA IS NOW SCRATCHING FEVERISHLY ON THE DOOR WANTING TO GET OUT.  EVEN THOUGH I TELL MIKE OVER AND OVER THAT WE NEVER HAD A KEY FOR THAT ROOM, HE IS NOT GOING TO STOP TRYING TILL HE HAS USED ALL OF THE KEYS ON HIS KEY CHAIN.  FINALLY HE SAYS-NONE OF THEM WORK.  I TOLD HIM IT'S OK, I WILL GET HER OUT.  I PICK UP A METAL NAIL FILE, AND AFTER A FEW TRIES I WAS ABLE TO GET THE TWO DOORS APART-WHEW!!!  DOG IS SAFE, MIKE IS OK, ME-I ONLY HAVE A COUPLE MORE GREY HAIRS AS A RESULT-I CAN LIVE WITH THAT. HOPE YOU HAVE NO LOCKED DOOR WITHOUT KEYS-IF SO,GIVE ME A CALL-MAYBE I CAN HELP!!  JUST ME

" UNPREDICTABLE SITUATIONS "

I WAS READING UP ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT OTHERS HAVE GONE THROUGH WITH THEIR LOVE ONE WHO ALSO SUFFERS FROM ALZHEIMER'S, AND BECAME VERY THANKFUL.  THE ARTICLE SAID THAT PEOPLE WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE CAN ACT IN DIFFERENT AND UNPREDICTABLE WAYS.  THEY SAID IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE PERSON IS NOT ACTING THIS WAY ON PURPOSE.  WHAT EVER THE BEHAVIOR, TRY TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE, AND POSSIBLE SOLUTION. THEN IT WENT ON TO SAY THAT PEOPLE WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE MAY FORGET THAT THEY ARE MARRIED AND BEGIN TO FLIRT OR MAKE INAPPROPRIATE ADVANCES TOWARDS OTHERS.  THANK GOD I HAVE NOT HAD TO DEAL WITH THAT ASPECT OF THE DISEASE THUS FAR WITH MIKE!!! NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT HAPPENING EITHER!!  THEN IT SAID THAT THE PERSON MAY FORGET HOW TO DRESS OR TAKE CLOTHES OFF AT INAPPROPRIATE TIMES AND IN UNUSUAL SETTINGS.  WELL, SO FAR THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH MIKE WITH CLOTHES, IS THAT HE NO LONGER CARES IF SOMETHING MATCHES OR NOT.  ALSO IF HE LIKES SOMETHING, HE WILL WEAR IT AND WEAR IT AND WEAR IT FOR DAYS.  HE DOES WASH IT IN BETWEEN TIMES, BUT WITH NOT JUST ONE CLOSET FULL OF CLOTHES, BUT THREE, YOU WOULD THINK THAT HE WOULD VERY HIS CHOICES MORE.  NEXT THE ARTICLE SAID THAT THE PERSON WITH ALZHEIMER'S MAY NOT UNDERSTAND OR REMEMBER THAT MERCHANDISE MUST BE PAID FOR. HE OR SHE MAY CASUALLY WALK OUT OF THE STORE WITHOUT PAYING-UNAWARE OF ANY WRONGDOING. SINCE I TAKE MIKE EVERY WHERE HE GOES, THE CHANCES OF THAT HAPPENING ARE SLIM, BUT I GUESS IT IS GOOD TO KNOW AND KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR.  IT WOULD BE AWFUL FOR HIM TO BE ARRESTED AT HIS AGE!! THERE WAS A WHOLE LOT MORE INFORMATION ON THE SUBJECT, BUT SINCE I AM NOT ONE TO LOOK FOR TROUBLE,  I THINK THAT'S ABOUT ALL I CAN DIGEST FOR THE MOMENT.  I MUST SAY THERE IS ALSO A BRIGHT SIDE TO THIS TERRIBLE DISEASE.  TODAY OUR DAUGHTER ASKED MIKE IF HIS SURGERY ON HIS NOSE WAS PAINFUL, AND HE REPLIED "I DON'T KNOW-I CAN'T REMEMBER".  TILL LATER-JUST ME

" COMMERCIALS "

DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS LATELY ABOUT MIKE'S INFATUATION WITH COMMERCIALS, BUT BOY DOES HE HAVE A BAD CASE OF IT.  LAST NIGHT I PUT FOOTBALL ON FOR HIM TO WATCH (HE HAS ALWAYS LOVED ANY GAME WITH A BALL IN IT).  WHEN HE CAME TO BED, I ASKED HIM "WHO WON".  "WHO WON WHAT" HE SAYS.  I REPLY "THE GAME".  HE SAID HE WASN'T WATCHING THAT, HE WAS WATCHING SOME OTHER SHOW-ALL ABOUT PAIN. HE SAID THIS GUY SAID HE HAS THIS NEW DRINK THAT WILL TAKE AWAY ALL YOUR ACHES AND PAINS, BUT YOU HAVE TO DRINK IT EVERY DAY.  I JOKINGLY REPLIED "YES HONEY-THAT IS SO HE CAN AFFORD TO MAKE HIS MERCEDES CAR PAYMENTS".  NOT DETERRED, MIKE CONTINUES. "NO REALLY, HE EVEN MENTIONED FIBROMYALGIA"!! MIKE CAN NOT REMEMBER THAT I HAVE LEUKEMIA, OR THAT I HAVE SUFFERED WITH BACK PROBLEMS FOR 20 YEARS, BUT HE FOR SOME REASON ALWAYS REMEMBERS THAT WORD.  ANY HOW, HE SAID "THE GUY USE TO HAVE THAT PROBLEM, AND THAT IS WHY HE INVENTED THIS STUFF". I SAID "IT REMINDS ME OF THE OLD DAYS WHEN SOME GUY IN A HORSE AND BUGGY WOULD GO FROM TOWN TO TOWN PEDDLING  AN ELIXIR THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO CURE ALL SORTS OF ILLS, BUT HE WAS JUST MAKING A BUCK OFF INNOCENT PEOPLE IN PAIN". AGAIN, UNDETERRED,  MIKE SWITCHED THE SUBJECT TO DEAN MARTIN.  HE SAID  "THEN, I WAS WATCHING THIS FUNNY SHOW WITH DEAN MARTIN, AND THEY SAID YOU HAVE TO BUY IT NOW BECAUSE IT WON'T BE AVAILABLE FOR VERY MUCH LONGER"  SO I ASK HIM "WHAT IS IT  THAT YOU NEED TO BUY"?, AND HE SAID "I GUESS DEAN MARTIN".
I EXPLAINED THAT WHAT THEY MOST LIKELY WERE SELLING WERE ALL OF THE OLD CD'S FROM HIS T,V, SHOWS.  SO HE SAID WELL THEY WERE FUNNY, SO WE SHOULD BUY THEM.  I TOLD HIM WE ALREADY HAD THEM, SO THEN HE  SAID  "WE SHOULD WATCH THEM  TOMORROW"-BUT I FEEL SURE HE WILL HAVE FORGOTTEN ABOUT THE WHOLE CONVERSATION BY THE MORNING.  IF NOT-I TOO LOVE THOSE OLD DEAN MARTIN SHOWS, SO I'LL BE HAPPY TO WATCH THEM WITH HIM.  OH ONE MORE THING THAT I FOUND TO BE PRETTY FUNNY YESTERDAY  (BUT MY FRIEND GAIL WILL NOT).  MY FRIEND GAIL CAME OVER YESTERDAY FOR A VISIT, WITH A CHILD HOOD FRIEND OF OURS (RUTH) WHO HAPPENS TO BE JUST TWO YEARS YOUNGER THAN ME, AND MAYBE FIVE YEARS YOUNGER THAN GAIL.  AFTER THEY LEFT, MIKE WANTED TO KNOW IF RUTH WAS GAIL'S DAUGHTER!!!  TOO FUNNY!!  I REMINDED MIKE THAT RUTH WAS JUST A GOOD FRIEND, AS GAIL HAS NO CHILDREN, AND HAD NEVER MARRIED.   LATER HE ASKED AGAIN, "WHAT IS RUTH TO GAIL"? "FRIENDS HONEY, JUST GOOD FRIENDS". AND THAT MY FRIENDS IS ANOTHER DAY WITH MIKE. OH LEST I FORGET, HE DID PAY ME THE HIGHEST COMPLIMENT HE HAS EVER GIVEN ME.  RUTH AND HER HUSBAND WERE MARRIED AS LONG AS MIKE AND I-WE WERE EVEN MARRIED IN THE SAME MONTH AND THE SAME YEAR.  WELL, MIKE OUT OF NO WHERE SAID THAT WAS THE BEST THING HE HAD EVER DONE!! WOW!!  IF ONLY HE WOULD HAVE PAID ME SOME OF THESE NICE COMPLIMENTS DURING OUR 41 YEARS OF MARRIAGE-BETTER LATE THAN NEVER I GUESS. HAVE A BLESSED DAY AND PLEASE DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF-JUST ME

"THE HOSE"

YESTERDAY MIKE AND I WENT TO THE HOME DEPOT TO LOOK FOR A LITTLE HOSE.  WE NEEDED ONE SO WE COULD ATTACH IT TO THE NEW RAIN BARREL WE JUST BOUGHT.  I WANTED MIKE TO GET SOME WATER OUT OF THE RAIN BARREL TO WATER SOME PLANTS, BEFORE THE NEXT RAIN STORM CAME, AS THE RAIN BARREL WAS ALREADY FULL.  ALSO, OUR WATER BILL HAS BEEN THROUGH THE ROOF LATELY, HENCE THE WATER BARREL.  I DID NOT FIND OUT UNTIL THIS MORNING THAT MIKE WAS UNABLE TO ATTACH THE NEW HOSE TO THE FAUCET AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RAIN BARREL. I ASKED HIM WHY NOT, AND THEN HE ATTEMPTED TO SHOW ME WHAT HE HAD DONE.  APPARENTLY HE WAS TRYING TO ATTACH THE WRONG END OF THE HOSE, AND THAT IS WHY IT DID NOT FIT.  THEN HE ASKED ME WHICH END WAS THE RIGHT ONE.  I SHOWED HIM, AND THE NEXT THING I KNEW, HE HAD ATTACHED THE HOSE TO ITSELF.  THAT'S RIGHT, HE SCREWED ONE END OF THE HOSE INTO THE OTHER END, AND THEN HE PROCEEDS TO ASK ME HOW THAT WAS GOING TO HELP HIM GET THE WATER OUT OF THE RAIN BARREL.  TRYING NOT TO LOSE MY COOL OR L.O.L., I EXPLAINED THAT HE NEEDS TO SCREW THE ONE END OF THE HOSE INTO THE FAUCET AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RAIN BARREL, AND PUT THE OTHER END OF THE HOSE INTO HIS WATERING CAN SO HE CAN USE RAIN WATER TO WATER THE PLANTS.  HE OF COURSE DID NOT UNDERSTAND A WORD  I WAS TELLING HIM, SO HE PROCEEDS TO READ THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE HOSE (AS IF THAT WAS GOING TO HELP HIM).  NOT ONLY THAT, BUT HE WAS READING THEM IN SPANISH!!!  AND NO, MIKE DOES NOT SPEAK OR READ SPANISH, SO OF COURSE HE SAID HE DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE INSTRUCTIONS EITHER.  I JUST BIT MY LIP TO KEEP FROM LAUGHING-THERE IS JUST NOTHING CUTER THAN AN IRISH MAN TRYING TO READ IN SPANISH. WELL, THIS DRAMA WILL CONTINUE LATER TODAY I AM SURE JUST AS SOON AS THE RAIN LETS UP. KEEP US IN YOUR PRAYERS!!  JUST ME

FRUSTRATIONS

EACH DAY BRINGS IT'S OWN FRUSTRATION, BUT FOR ME THE WORST IS WHEN MIKE CAN NOT EXPLAIN HIMSELF ANY MORE.  LAST NIGHT WHEN I GOT HOME FROM MY MEETING, HE WAS TRYING TO TELL ME THAT SOMEONE HAD CALLED. HE COULD NOT GET OUT WHAT SHE WANTED OR WHAT HER NAME WAS, BUT PROUDLY HE SAID "I DID GET HER PHONE NUMBER".  THIS MORNING MIKE TELLS ME THAT HE FELL LAST NIGHT AFTER I ASKED HIM HOW HIS BACK WAS DOING.  HE COULD NOT TELL ME WHEN HE FELL, WHERE HE FELL, WHY HE FELL, OR HOW HE FELL.  I ASKED HIM IF HE TRIPPED ON SOMETHING, OR IF HIS LEGS DID NOT WORK AGAIN, AND HE SAID "PROBABLY ONE OF THOSE".  FRUSTRATION!!!  IT'S LIKE WHEN WE WERE AT THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE AND THE DOCTOR WAS ASKING HIM SEVERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS PAIN, AND HE TELLS THE DOCTOR  "ASK HER" AS IF I WOULD KNOW WHEN AND WHERE IT HURTS HIM. THEN THE DOCTOR SAYS CAN YOU TELL ME WHEN YOU NOTICE THE PAIN THE MOST? MIKE ANSWERS "WHEN IT HAPPENS".  FRUSTRATION!!!  THEN DON'T GET ME STARTED ON "HABAND".  IT IS LIKE A CATALOG OF LOOSE SHEETS OF PAPER WITH ITEMS YOU CAN BUY ON BOTH SIDES.  MIKE IS DRAWN TO IT LIKE A MOTH TO A FLAME.  I EVEN BURIED THE LAST ENVELOPE FROM THEM IN THE RECYCLE BEN, ONLY TO SEE HIM WALK INTO THE HOUSE WITH IT IN HIS HAND. HOW DID HE EVEN KNOW TO LOOK THERE? THEN HE WILL ORDER STUFF FROM THEM THAT DOES NOT FIT OR WORK AND IT WILL COST MORE TO SEND IT BACK THEN TO KEEP IT.  FRUSTRATION!!!  I GUESS I SHOULD STOP COMPLAINING-SO FAR WITH GOD'S HELP I AM ABLE TO DEAL WITH ALL THE THINGS COMING MY WAY. IT ALSO HELPS TO VENT, SO THANKS FOR LISTENING!!  TILL LATER-JUST ME