A side effect of Burt’s diagnosis has been my tendency to grossly overshare. How are you is a simple question but my answer is overloaded. Too often full of the kind of detail we bill as TMI. No simple answer. I try to keep it light or funny but I definitely talk too much. IContinue reading “Too much”
Category Archives: Grateful
Party king
A birthday surprise
“I am never going here with you again,” Burt whispers. Maybe he even said “anywhere with you,” but you get the gist. It was a wonderful party. Our friends brought him thoughtful gifts. At my suggestion, we sang him the birthday song. (Do we still owe someone royalties on that?) The first arrivals talked amongContinue reading “A birthday surprise”
A question of time
Recently, a kindred caregiving spouse wondered how many hours of care she should consider for her husband. She had been going it alone, and with all her heart and love. Anyone who’s been there knows how intensely draining and lonely this can be. There comes a time on this journey when caregivers need relief. ForContinue reading “A question of time”
I am so relieved
Now I really am relieved. The fever Burt was running appears to have hit normal. The thermometer stopped its red scream and went to a peaceful green this morning. His head was cool to the touch. We haven’t heard what the picture that XRay Tommy took in our home looks like yet. But Tylenol seemsContinue reading “I am so relieved”
A day off
Burt was asleep all morning and now all day. His aide and I shared the space, texting and reading on our phones. After an hour and ½ trying to stir him, I decided to make Sunday a respite afternoon. I went to cast my ballot. Called some of my peeps, enjoyed the crispness of theContinue reading “A day off”
News? Not much
My love thinks he met yet one more new wife. Today, this gave him qualms. Briefly. Can I have more than one wife at a time? I said you’re the exception to the rule. It’s ok for you. He is very happy with this one. She’s mostly nice to him; an exception to that wasContinue reading “News? Not much”
The things we still share
Much is lost as LBD progresses. That doesn’t mean we’ve lost everything to this disease. We still exchange affection in words and deeds. We kiss. We hold hands. We express how very very much we love each other. Often. He still says thank you when he wants to show appreciation. More importantly, Burt still knowsContinue reading “The things we still share”
That village
It takes a village. Hillary Clinton on bringing up children but applies as well to how society runs Good neighbors. They have provided continuing support for me. My personal cavalry when, one day, Burt was so agitated about going out to the street that he rammed his walker against a wall. Down he went. AContinue reading “That village”
Help is on the way
As a caregiver, it’s easy (and way too common) to feel alone on the journey. In many ways, we are. The idea that no one is coming to our rescue when we are in the throes of a Lewy episode; the feeling that the worst moments are the ones only we can handle is provocative.Continue reading “Help is on the way”
this is our life 