Phone Conversation with MA

Had a lovely conversation this morning with a friend. We share, in common, loving and caring for someone with Alzheimer's. She has been following this BLOG and wanted permission to share it with people in her support group.

I appreciated her wanting to make sure she respected Gregory and my privacy by asking and I assured her that the BLOG (while open, honest, sometimes raw, and sometimes humorous) was not at all private but meant for anyone who wants to keep tabs on how Gregory and I are doing as well as for anyone who could benefit in whatever way on their own Journey.

So I wanted to post here, and will add to the masthead of the BLOG:

This BLOG is dedicated to Gregory, not a victim of Alzheimer's but a hero. It is meant to share our Journey with family and friends who seek to know more about us as we deal with this insidious disease or those who can take away something from our experiences while traveling their own path in loving and caring for someone with Alzheimer's Disease. Please feel free to share the link with anyone and everyone who you think might benefit.

Ken the Kompanion

Haven't posted for a while. With Ken, Gregory's companion since last May and living with us since Easter, things have been going pretty well. As I have mentioned, both Gregory and I get along well with Ken and he, us.

If you missed them here are two BLOGS about the experience: It's Only Fair and Companion

Ken is easy to live with, allows us our privacy, and keeps his own. We also spend many dinners together and often times will just sit around the living room chatting. Gregory and I have learned a lot about the Japanese culture and Ken has heard a lot about the American as well as Gay cultures.

Ken has met many of our friends, has joined several parties that we have hosted, and has chatted with Roger, Scott, and Richard about their experience in Psychology as Ken will be starting his masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Vanderbilt University in September.

Ken and Gregory make a good team when cleaning up after meals. A few meals into Ken's tenure with us, I smilingly suggested, "You know ... it's ... only ... fair ..." And they both finished with, "that we clean up since you cooked.)

Among other support activities, Ken sets the table, takes out the trash and recycle, helps bring groceries from the car and even helps put them away. Often Ken will pick up a few things at the close by Whole Foods or return books to the library. He brings up the mail and when I need an extra hand fixing something around the condo, his are very able.

Gregory and Ken go swimming at the pool in the building two or three times a week, go for walks, go for haircuts and manicures, and spend time at Starbucks.

Today I am just home from a week in New Orleans. Gregory and Ken spend 24/7 together very successfully and I felt totally at ease with not being home. Periodically I would send them texts with added photos of what I was doing in NOLA. A day or two into my getaway, photos of what they were doing began showing up in their texts to me.

Following is a gallery of photos from Gregory's Great Adventure:

Gregory & Ken at the beach

Gregory out on the pier

At home with a sandwich and 

soup from "Pret-a-Mange"

Gregory in the swimming pool

Gregory at "San Germaine" with

a dinner crepe

Gregory at "San Germaine" with

a dessert crepe