Magic Moments

Living as a carer for my husband, Dave with dementia (frontotemporal dementia) is a challenging and life changing experience. There have been times (too numerous to count) when I have wanted to hand the job over to someone else. This isn’t what I had planned for the years when our kids left home and we were still young enough to travel, hike and bike wherever. But this is what life is handing us and I finally figured out that I can’t fight it and I had better learn to accept it. This... 

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Finding Humour in Dementia

Living with dementia (my husband, Dave, has frontotemporal dementia) can be challenging, but at the same time a great teacher. The other day Dave and I are sitting under a giant ponderosa pine tree, enjoying the sights and sounds of the birds around our pond. Since Dave’s dementia affects his language skills, he doesn’t talk very much and when he does, he likes to start a conversation with a question; then more questions. This time he is asking me about our springer spaniels… ... 

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Living with Dementia: Organized Chaos

Organized chaos…it must look like my life is busy from the outside with balancing work, home, family, caring for my husband, Dave, with frontotemporal dementia, and fitting in ‘me’ time, but I found a secret for staying calm–most of the time. It is called exercise. Sometimes it is a bike ride, a run, Nordic hike, kayak or gardening. Whatever it is–without exception–I feel better afterwards. This morning was a good example… [Read The Full Article]  Read More →

News-fasting is Healthy

The other morning my mother-in-law phoned me at 6 am (she knows I like to get up at 4 am and read, meditate or write) to ask me how the wildfire was. What fire? She said…”the one in your part of town”. We live in the country among sage brush, miniature cacti and pine beetle (dead) trees so summer fires aren’t uncommon. Anyway, I looked outside and saw a bit of smoke but knew we weren’t in immediate risk of evacuation. We chatted some more, I thanked her and then checked... 

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