Nine Years and Counting

Mom has been gone for a little over nine years. This blog was a huge mechanism for helping me cope with her illness and daily downfall. I've read through a few posts this morning and the memories came flooding back. Memories of Mom, of friends who were there and helped me cope, who supported me with their love, comfort and advice. I am so lucky to have had these people in my life; many are still in my life. We keep up with each other and celebrate the highs and mourn the lows of life together. We are intrinsically bound together because of our Alzheimer's journey. I'm so grateful to each of you. And if you are reading this blog for the first time, know that the journey was difficult but it was made with love between a daughter and a beloved mother.

When did Christians become more interested in growing their personal wealth over serving mankind, making life better for all of us? There is a church near my house that is as big as a mall. This church has it's on restaurant, auditorium and get this, police force! Growing up, being a Christian was different. People knew you were one by your actions and compassion. Not any more. Nowadays it's all about praising God so that he will 'bless' you with prosperity. This is heinous to me.

House members tour world-renowned Department of Health Public Health Lab...

Matt Of All Trades: Xena The Warrior Puppy Rescues Jonny and Our Heart...

Matt Of All Trades: Xena The Warrior Puppy Rescues Jonny and Our Heart...: When I'm playing with our dogs Jackson and Bailey at home, the two boys pretty much decide what kind of game we play and how long it wil...

There is one thing I know for sure; no one loves you as much as your mom and dad.

Day One

Day one of chocolate moderation went very well. It was a hectic day which helped keep me away from the sweet stuff, but now here's the weekend. I do not keep chocolate in the house so the temptation will be nil. Wish me luck.

Sugar or Bust

I just read that actor Alec Baldwin, when he learned he has pre diabetes, stopped eating sugar cold turkey. I am addicted to chocolate and have been trying very hard to cut back. I am wondering if I have the gumption to stop chocolate cold turkey? I've done it before, nearly 20 years ago. But that didn't last very long. I think it's probably healthier to eat chocolate in moderation so I am going to try that. Wish me luck.

Alzheimer's Sucks

Two weeks ago we passed the third anniversary of my mom's death. It was a bittersweet day of memories; of both a healthy mom and a sick mom. In three years we haven't come any closer to a cure. I worry about this disease and the affect it will have on this country as the baby boomer generation ages. It is going to be a tidal wave of dementia I'm afraid. The President wants a cure by 2025. But Congress wants to cut spending for everything, who is going to fund this research? No one wants to pay more taxes and those with money are lobbying against increasing taxes. Researchers don't work for free and companies need cash infusion to work on a cure. I'm told that Alzheimer's is complex disease; finding a cure it going to take time and lots of research. Meanwhile more succumb and more are diagnosed every day. Caregivers are stretched to the limits. I don't know what the answer is in a time where people are struggling to find jobs. It's a heartbreaking dilemma that will not be solved quickly.

Welcome Winter

Winter has arrived, finally, with a vengeance. It was bitterly cold last week and now we are having freezing drizzle. The morning commute is set to be dicey.

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is here again, seems that the years fly by way too fast. I am thankful for friends and family and the memories of Thanksgivings past. This time of year I really miss my mom and dad; my mom made a wonderful Thanksgiving meal. We would always dress in our best and either spend the day at our house with one set of grandparents, or we would travel to Detroit to be with everyone. My aunt would host Thanksgiving in Detroit. Later after I moved out of the house my parents would come to my house and Mom and I would make the meal in my apartment. The last Thanksgiving with my dad was bittersweet because it was the last time that we were all together as a family. And we all knew that it would be the last time that we would all be together. Later we would repeat the scene with my mom. Her last Thanksgiving with family was 3 years ago. I miss her so much. This year I am grateful to be spending Thanksgiving with good friends. Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends. I hope that you find yourselves blessed and that you have much to be thankful for.

Vel' d'Hiv Roundup - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Vel' d'Hiv Roundup - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I am reading a book called "Sarah's Key" which is about the roundup of Jews who were living in Vichy France during the Nazi occupation. On July 16, 1942, 13,000+ Jewish families where taken from their homes in Paris by French police and sent first Vel d'Hiv, a velodrome in Paris where they remained for several days with no food or water, forced to live like animals in unsanitary conditions. I had never known about this terrible piece of French history. The mothers, fathers and children were forced from their homes. Later they were taken to a camp outside of Paris where the families were separated from the fathers, the mothers and children were allowed to remain together briefly before being separated so that the parents could be shipped off to Auschwitz for extermination. The children were left, starving and without their parents in the camp until they too were relocated and sent to gas chambers. I am appalled by this awful, horrendous piece of French history. I cannot believe that the police would round up innocents at the behest of the Nazis and willingly starve them and sentence them to death like they were no better than animals. This is a part of history that we must never forget so as never to repeat it.