Still Peggy

Yeah!!  Julianne Moore won best actress for Still Alice.  This movie has really raised awareness for the disease.  So, the Alzheimer's Association is doing a camaign called #still...
encouraging people like us to post pics of our loved ones with ALZ.  So, I thought we'd participate because the whole point of my blog and Facebook is to do exactly what the movie is doing.  Show people the real face of ALZ.  I loved Julianne's speech when she said that "People with Alzheimer's deserve to be seen. " That's my whole reason for this blog.

But, Oh, Ugh, how do you take a good picture with someone with Alzheimer's Disease?

Smile? Say Cheese? Look somber, morose, sad, serious, very serious, lightly serious?  How about bunny ears behind her head? Happy? Laughing? no, delete. delete. delete.  My hair looks funny, I look old, too smiley, my hair!  Stop.  Not about me.  How does Peggy look?  same. same. same. "Mom! Open your eyes."  Okay, let's try this again.  click. click. click. click.  #stillPeggy #mybrain

#stillPeggy #mybrain #endalz

My 7 year old daughter just woke up and came over to the computer and said
"That's a terrible Picture."  Yeah, it is, and Alzheimer's is a terrible disease. #ENDALZ

Oliver Sacks and his entrance into knowing his fate.

Oliver Sacks has always known what to say to me throughout my life.  I wish him well on his final journey, and thanks for always keeping my mind open and full.


Oliver Sacks on his diagnosis with terminal cancer

Paper Work

I've been advised to contact and make funeral arrangements and make phone calls to be prepared... for what?  This was 2 months ago.

Happy Moments in Time

Gidgey lost her front tooth!  She looks so different and cute.  It's a big milestone in her life.  She's 7 and she never will be again.  We love her so much.  She is so goofy and jumpy and darling and smart. We took pictures and laughed.  She made a note to the tooth fairy and brushed her teeth, and now she can't pronounced f's or th's.  Looking at her makes me smile.  I wish my Mom was here.  I wish we could call her like we did her other grandparents.  I think to myself, "Nana would love this!"  These are her type of moments.

Of course, we can call her. She's here...alive. Yet she's completely unaware of anything new.  Life, for all intents and purposes, has stopped for her. She's missing these special moments that become our most precious memories and help us deal with the passage of time.  Soon a big new tooth will grow in the empty space and Gidget will be 8 years old. Then 9. And 10...

I haven't been able to share anything new with Peggy for years now. Knowing that she can't enjoy these simple things is what made me sad tonight as I gazed into that bright, shining, toothless face.  I can tell her about them and make believe that she somehow understands.  I guess it's just hard wishing someone was here, when they are.