Island Bound: July 2017 – Day One
I’m attempting to make a shorter trip to the Island. A ferry lost its generator, so the sailing schedule is a mess. Having made a reservation, I have ‘priority loading on a first come-first served basis’ for a boat that is now an hour late, and already 3.25 hours later than my intended boat. I […]
Mom’s still worked up about her talk with Dr. G
Evidently mom asked the concierge this evening why Dr. G had come from the Island on Wednesday (rather than Tuesday), and said ‘negative things.’ The concierge, not knowing that Dr. G had not been to see mom, emailed people of interest in hopes of helping mom out. My daughter replied, letting the concierge know what […]
Driver’s license, and He said, She said..
A text from my daughter this evening: “Grandma asked me to find out if her license is good or not. And now she knows it’s not. She’s fine about it, but she wants to try and get it back.” I made a fast phone call to say, if mom is focused on getting her license […]
Adventures
Mom escaped yesterday. But she didn’t sneak out, she signed out, with a friend, and they went to an oyster bar on the water front. This is how the day unfolded: Mom went to her granddaughter to say, “I’m going out to eat oysters with Adam this afternoon.” My daughter, knowing that Adam, mom’s oldest […]
Tacos on the Terrace
The evening went well. Mom, despite my daughter’s three reminders that I was attending, was surprised to see me. My friend Terri was a great buffer. On top of her own family and professional experiences with dementia, she’s a riotously funny troublemaker, and kept mom snickering. At one point she said to mom, “I can’t […]
Determined
Mom’s Island doctor emailed last night to let me know mom had called him. She pitched him reasons she felt she could return the the Island, and what she wants to do: Volunteer at the library. She wants to mark time until the end, which is what she feels she is doing currently. […]
Self-Care
I am good at getting things done, crossing tasks off lists… Self-care sounds a lot like eating sorbet, and binge watching House of Cards, which seems far too self indulgent (tho I am watching the current season!). I’ve penned a list of general, and immediate self-care ideas as a starting place to help me adopt […]
Outside Perspective
Gaining perspective from someone not attached to my mother’s illness is going well. So far the following has been helpful: Self-care isn’t defined by the sort of activity one engages in, but by how it makes you feel. So, while a massage or pedicure would certainly make me feel good, making choices like getting to […]
Live From New York City It’s… Family Visit – Day Five
My cousin’s GF got sick yesterday right before their flight left, and the two of them stayed an additional night. Voice mail at 7:30 this morning (who knew silent phones would be such a necessity) from my uncle was full of anxiety about ‘she probably didn’t tell her parents, what if she needs to go […]
Family Visit – Day Four
Overall, the day went well. Extrapolations from my Fitbit, estimate we walked mom at least 6000 steps. The festival we attended was underwhelming. We found a varied craft show going on in another building. It was incredibly noisy, full of people, and wonderful art. Mom got through it, walking in lock-step with me, surprisingly well. […]
Dementia Dance - Travels with Mom 