TheRealTamara

Sitting in the sun

Yesterday, I was thinking about what it would be like spending the afternoon on a river- facing bench across the 78th Street bridge. These were late night thoughts and late night sadnesses. There was sadness in the thought; I couldn’t do so without missing Burt who frequently sat with me on that bench. It hadContinue reading “Sitting in the sun”

On the side

Things happen as we get engrossed and distracted by caregiving. I managed to misplace (a polite way to say lose) our marriage certificate. I feel a lot better about it since Googling that replacement can be done easily and online. Looking for the missing item also gave me an opportunity to sort through documents. The rearrangementContinue reading “On the side”

In the papers

How did you meet your significant other? Not in the funny papers as my comic id wants to say, but in NY Press, a printed news sheet. It was free, found in little boxes around town. The meet your mate or date section was also free. In short, I answered Burt’s personal ad. He calledContinue reading “In the papers”

Best, better, best

If you could relive one day from your past, which day would it be and why? The day Burt and I went on our 2nd date. A day that led us to the many years we had together.

Back to the “from before”

Here’s the story of the picture [L] with the Blues Brothers vibe; I’ve shared this at length with A. who was curious about this photo in my pictorial. It’s a memory from the 2nd year that Burt and I were together. We were invited to party for Judith E’s birthday–who was married to Jim M,Continue reading “Back to the “from before””

Stay calm

My role as a caregiver to a person with [Lewy Body] dementia demands I get acquainted with psychosis. A calm and contained demeanor is preferred to one in which I freak out. In a tour of an exhibit in which art and psychiatry crossed paths, it became clear to me that the psychotic makes meContinue reading “Stay calm”

Writing group

Focus on yourself. Your loved one will never get short shrift under your watch. The gaze of self-care is usually a bit myopic. Chances are that you will draw the shorter end of the stick as you walk the journey with your person. You will learn to advocate. You will be aware of signs andContinue reading “Writing group”

Burt’s on top of it

From August 2024 The “job search” seems to have ended in a mystery job. Mystery to me, at least, but it is vague to Burt as well. He wants me to get him business cards (albeit they’re round, as he describes them). He assigns numbers to his staff, and I am #1 tomorrow, then #2Continue reading “Burt’s on top of it”

Pictured

There was a box I had labeled pictures. It was an activity box I had put together for Burt. Actually a box of memory for us to look at what life had been like, recently, and in our past. I opened it yesterday and left the albums out for me to peruse. There we wereContinue reading “Pictured”

Curiouser

What are you curious about? You, you have caught my attentionAnd piqued my curiosity. What is itYou do? Why are you going so fast? Is there a race in your mind to whichI remain uninvited? Where is it you go?Are you in a hurry? Silly question. You are. Speed slowed automobileDevelopment. It was a distraction.Continue reading “Curiouser”