Dementia: Care for the Caregiver

 I’m so honored to have my story in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Care for the Caregiver. From someone who’s been there, I know caring for someone with dementia can be overwhelming, but these stories provide comfort, practical advice, and comic relief because self-care isn’t selfish, it’s essential. 

Release date is June 23rd and books are available on line and anywhere books are sold.

 I was a regular caregiver for my parents as they aged. Thankfully they lived nearby and I saw them almost everyday.

My story is about caring for my stepdad after Mom passed away. Pops thought a meal was peanut butter smeared on saltine crackers and a handful of M&Ms. 

My story details my experiences of having to make a difficult decision. M&Ms played a part in this story. 

Interested in winning a copy? If you are within the United States I will put your name in for a drawing and if it is yours, I will send you a copy of the book. Note, If you cannot reply on this blog, visit my facebook page, say you want to be in the drawing, and I will combine all names (from the blog and the FB page) draw one, and mail the winner. Thank you for your support. 

Unconventional treatment

Bill had a doctor appointment yesterday, and I went with him. We love our young, personable, knowledgeable, and fun, primary care doctor. As soon as she walked into the exam room I asked how to treat chiggers.

She said a topical anti-itch cream should do it.

I pointed to Bill's open wound on his shin and told her his preferred treatment is to scratch the bites open and douse with alcohol. She looked at me in disbelief.

I nodded and said, "I told him, but he won't listen."

She said, "Scratching can cause an infection."

He chuckled, looked her in the eye and said, 
"Not with alcohol!"

She shook her head and said, "And do you let the dog lick your wounds? That was what my grandpa always said worked to heal his."

I think she thinks of Bill as her grandpa. 

Never a dull moment with my funny honey.

Do you recall Betsy McCall?

I am proud to announce that my story, The Great Pretenders, is on line and in print at Prairietimes.com a local publication in Colorado.

My story details the summer of my tenth year, when my year-younger brother and I discovered a paper company in our neighborhood. We walked in and asked the receptionist if we could have a pack of paper and colored index cards.

She called the plant manager, a grumpy old man who scared me when he barked, "Why should I give it to you?"

I replied, "So we can stay busy all summer and not bother our mom. We will use it to make paper dolls like Betsy McCall, from the McCall's Magazine, and my brother can make furniture for her with the cards."

The boss said, "Well if I give it to you, you better not come back or tell your friends."

"Thank you. We won't." I said wide-eyed and surprised to receive a ream of paper. 

Do you recall paper dolls with those flimsy tabs on their clothing to attach to the dolls? Never stayed, and often tore off. How I loved Betsy's stories, and her variety of clothing in each issue. 

Such were the days for my brother and me. He has always had an engineer's brain. He made marvelous three dimensional couches, beds, chairs etc. for my paper dolls.

We also made mud pies, but that is a story for another time.

Slow down, time!

 

Nicholas and Nicole

Nana's sweethearts have grown up. They are 18 and 24. Nicole just graduated. Nick sat next to me at the graduation ceremony. 

I so appreciate them now that they are adults. Nick had me in stitches laughing at his work stories and adventures. He is as outspoken as his dad, my son, and his mom, my daughter-in-law who have reared wonderful children. A job well done! 

 I cannot believe how fast the years have flown. I look back on his baby days, his school days, and now his work days. I am proud of him and his work ethic, his devotion to family, God, friends. 

He has to travel frequently, but when he is in town and stops by, I so enjoy our conversations on every topic you can imagine. He is open-minded and honest and not afraid to stand up for himself. 

Nick and Nic, two of my blessings.

Our grands are spread all over now. I love it when we get together.

We are all in this together

 Three of my writer friends have been published recently or have had multiple stories accepted. I am thrilled for them. 

Someone asked if I was upset because my work was not selected. Absolutely not. Disappointed, sure, but I am happy for my fellow writers.

Rejection is seldom about the writer, and more about the editorial needs of the publications. I have always considered this to be part of the process of freelance writing. 

Will I lay low for a while? You mean wallow? Give up? No not at all. I will write, edit, and submit 5-7 pieces per month, as usual.

How do YOU handle rejection?

My dear just offered to buy lunch. Please come back. I will be gathering information and observing characters... fodder for another story or post.

 

First graduation to most recent

My how time flies! Seems only yesterday granddaughter Nicole was in my preschool class excelling in everything she attempted. Molly was her best friend, and Nicole declared at four that when she grew up she was going to be a singer and change her name to Molly Rose. Maybe down the line she will, but so far she has been a wonderful writer, sensational singer, magnificent mathemetician, acclaimed artist, and forever friend to CeCe who she grew up with. 

She has been a delightful daughter, and best "heart" installer in the stuffies she sells at Build-a Bear where she works.

I have been journaling and including photos of her in a scrap book notebook since she was born. I will give the memory journal to her at her graduation party next week along with a gift. My little doll has grown into a beautiful young lady.

She and Papa Bill used to pretend they were cat & dog puppets using just their hands. "Woof Woof, meow meow" ... until they drove me crazy, then they would laugh out loud.

She and I had so many fun experiences in preschool. I loved teaching her and watching her grow and learn. 
                         

Look at Nana's girl now. She graduated high school and will be heading to university in the fall to study finance and business. I am so proud of her. She received awards and medals, and a special dainty keepsake bracelet from me for a job well done. 

I feel privileged to have been a part of her life. I feel blessed. Indeed.

He's no Ninja Turtle. He's my hero.

 

I drove around the corner onto a side street with little traffic. A dinner-plate-size, yellow-bellied turtle was in my lane trying to cross the road. I stopped the car. Bill, who has a bad back, achy knees, and uses a cane, said, "You are going to cause a wreck over a turtle." Then he slid out of the passenger seat, bent down, and plopped that big guy in tall grass far from the road.

Bill is no teenager. He's no mutant. He's no Ninja, (like that kid's show with a team of do gooders,) The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but my honey is MY HERO!

When I was a child, baby turtles the size of quarters or half-dollar coins, could be purchased as pets from dime stores. Sales were discontuinued when it was discovered they carried samonella.

When my son was about eight, he rescued a box turtle from the country. He named it Speedy, because that critter could make it to the back gate in a flash. A few weeks later we returned it to the original spot where it was found. 

It is advised that you not relocate turtles to new areas, even if you think their current location is odd (unless it is obviously hazardous, such as a busy parking lot). Moving them to an unfamiliar location can subject them to foreign diseases and parasites that they lack a natural immunity to, so that should be avoided.

Did you know a group of turtles is called a bale or a dole. Ever seen a group piled on a log?