Behind The Mask/An Excerpt

November 7, 2008 By 1 Comment

“Thursday, April 7, 1994 Las Vegas

I’m sitting outdoors on this beautiful sunny day. We had lunch at The Palm restaurant and Howard asked me if there was a change in his personality. I explined that his patience level had dwindled.

He apologized. He knows it’s due to his own frustrations. I think he wishes he’ll never have to tell anyone, and I wish I could tell all my friends, and rip off my mask. He feels others attach a stigma to Alzheimer’s. He is right.

Tomorrow is six months since the diagnosis. Oh God, I simply cannot believe how your life can change in an instant. I feel myself wanting to do strange things.

I want to crawl into his skin. I want to run my hands all over him, and kiss everything better. I want to protect him. I don’t want him to know what is happening. I want to run my hand over the grass, or trail my hands or feet in the water. I want to look at the sunsets, see the mountains. I want to beat the crap out of something, anything. I want to cry. I want a hug. I want to touch velvet and silk. I want to touch Howard and I want to heal him with my kisses and my love. I want him not to worry about me. I want YESTERDAY. I’m scared of tomorrow.

Most of all I don’t want him to see me cry. I want to publish a book, while he still understands he is reading about our love affair. I want him not to worry about me. I want someone to worry about me. How’s that for an oxymoron?”

Come back tomorrow, and I will tell you how it is now, all these years later.

Keep love and kisses in your life. Helene

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Websites to look at:

November 6, 2008 By Leave a Comment

http://www.regional.org/aging/index.htm

click on the candlelight and watch the video.

Other great sites to look at today are

www.tenderlovingeldercare.com

and

www.knittingdoctor.com

www.lifeprints.com

Composed of information, stories, and comfort. If you know some others, please let me know.

When you find a caregiver, please look at her/him in a different light. Remember these people are suffering, hurting, wondering what else is going to happen to them.Will you be there for them?

If you Adopt A Caregiver, you  give a gift that lasts a lifetime, and costs nothing!

More and more I’m getting questions and being asked how it’s going. It’s going well. One by one, we are going to make a difference. Word of mouth is still potent.

Since I’ve had this last bout of Chronic Fatigue for the last seven weeks, I’ve done very little, but hopefully I will start feeling better and get back into calling people and having them call me.

Adopt A Caregiver is my passion, my journey, my future, and my vision to help all caregivers. Today, tomorrow, one day it will make a difference. One person can do it; with a little bit of help. Are you listening? Are you willing to Adopt A Caregiver, just look around you, and you will find one. Tell them your friend Helene sent you.

Keep love and kisses in your life. Helene

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Elections

November 4, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Tomorrow is Election Day. I hope your vote counts for the candidate of your choice.

We do have choices. I hope one of your choices will be to Adopt A Caregiver. I’ve talked to a few of my caregiver buddies today, and the most important thing I heard them say was, “Someone is listening to me!”

For a few good tips go to www.tenderlovingeldercare.com for some interesting ideas for hard of hearing older people. I learned a lot from reading this blog today, and know that I will use some of these suggestions in the near future.

Good luck to all tomorrow.

Keep love and kisses in your life. Helene

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Give Thanks

November 3, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Before we know it Thanksgiving will be here, and believe me, there is always a lot to be thankful for.

I’ve been sick for almost seven weeks, not able to function some days, and doing a lot of thinking.

I’m so grateful that I no longer have the threat of Alzheimer’s hanging over my husband’s head. There are so many people affected by disease, by divorce, sickness, death and some just worry over nothing.

The important things in life are free; we are Americans; we are free. Lets keep things in perspective.

Make every day a magical day. No one can take away our memories. Our happiness depends on us.

Support the caregivers. Adopt A Caregiver if you can, tell them your friend Helene sent you.

Keep love and kisses in your life. Helene

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A Spiritual Quest

November 2, 2008 By 1 Comment

Something that I wrote while I was a caregiver for my husband who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 1993, and the doctor changed that diagnosis seven years later. As I look back over this writing, I realize it still resonates with me and my new journey.

“Once upon a time I embarked on a spiritual quest. It was a long and arduous journey as I was swept along the sea of change, riding the waves and learning the tides.

When the tide was out, I encountered the demons of the sea, when the tides were in I was sheltered and calm, unafraid.

I am looking at the future. I see hope ahead, but I also see devastation. Life will continue and we will continue to have hope. A round robin to be sure, but with calmness and courage and dignity and laughter, the stormy seas will again be calm.”

November is National Caregivers Month, and my new journey is to have everyone Adopt A Caregiver. Give the gift that last forever and costs nothing. Find someone in your community who is a caregiver, and become their friend. Encouage them to talk, to journal, to get those revolving emotions out.

Give something back, it’s so easy to Adopt A Caregiver. Tell them your friend Helene sent you.

Keep love and kisses in your life. Helene

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