Reality Check

Hey, I woke up this morning. I can see. I can hear. I can smell. I can taste. I can touch. I can get up early and make coffee. Before JRC I can drive to McDonalds so we can have a fast breakfast of Egg McMuffins. I can drive to JRC, a Jewish Temple in Evanston to attend Sabbath services and to witness our friend Jan's first ever reading of the Torah as part of those services.

I can take a nap with both kitties joining me: one purring in my groin, the other draped across my neck and face. (P.S. The kitties are in favor again. Perhaps my niece Colleen's support helped me to look at them with new eyes.)

I can talk on the phone with a close friend John about life, love, Alz, God, religion, Judaism vs Catholicism, opera, kitties, art, creativity, and more.

I can look forward to some kind of dinner and then a movie on NETFLIX. I can look forward to a good night's sleep and to an empty day tomorrow, waiting to be filled - both the day and me.

So if my last few posts have given you impression that I am "in trouble," you were correct. But if you know me well enough, you also know that I recover pretty easily and pretty quickly. My psychic said, "You are resiliant!" She didn't know how right on she was ... or did she?

This was one of today's prayers at JRC. Fitting! A huge list of temple members who are ill was read.

Next, the Kaddish was said for a HUGE list of JRC members or family who have passed away.

Puts a proper perspective on life and the living, doesn't it? P.S. Sometimes "complete healing of body and soul" might mean not in this life as we know it. But none the less healing and peace.

Grace

I was watching a series of three short videos for an Alzheimer's drug company that was conducting a survey as to the effectiveness of the videos in relating to caregivers. Two of the videos didn't really appeal to me. One was about a man talking about his father getting used to living with him. Wasn't much emotion there. Another one was about a woman who takes care of her mom now like her mom used to take care of her. Emotional but not my style.

The third I could relate to. The woman was saying that she was better able to have a good day with her mother when she herself was well rested, had a chance to exercise, and didn't feel rushed. I could relate to that. Then she quoted a friend of hers and I could really relate to the quote: "You do not have to care graciously, you just have to care." She responded saying, "I am not always gracious, but I do care!" I could identify with that.

My final comments to the drug company is that very few pictures and/or advertisements talking about dementia did they show married couples, usually it is a child taking care of a parent. And NEVER did I see a situation in which same sex partners were involved in this Alzheimer's journey.

Alzhemer's does not discriminate, it affects all people equally.