Hawaii 7/17. Our last trip there.

Hawaii July 2017

The other day, I was noticing that we have this picture in 3 different rooms in our home. There is one just over my computer screen, one in the living room and one in our bedroom. To have one picture of an event it normal, to have two, makes the picture special. How special it is to have this picture in three different rooms? I like to think about where we were in life. Sweetie's dementia wasn't allowing her to have the full enjoyment of where we were or what it meant to me. Maybe that is why this picture is so special to me. Just look at her, she's beaming.

July, day two of retirement, July 2nd, 2020. I had planned this trip for about a year, to retire and the next day, be on a plane to Hawaii. To take my Sweetie Pie home one last time. We drove all over the island, took side trips, excursions by "Follow your Nose". We went into Diamond Head, to see the lookouts there, to see the panorama views, and to learn about what Diamond Head is. I never thought much about this Island Landmark, or what it was. It is the extent volcano that formed Oahu. Every time I look at this picture, I see what we were like. There still is enough of Sweetie showing through, I can remember what we were like and the love we shared. 

Is it wrong for me to live in the past? I don't think so. It is the thread that keeps us sewn together. As I take care of her, there used to be a large strong rope that bound us together. As the days turns into weeks, that turn into months and years and through that time the rope losses strands as Dementia pulls her away from me. It will soon become a thin thread that will seem to want to snap. I would like to think that when it gets down to the diameter of a spider web, it can still hold us together. Ever think about how strong a spider web is? 

Today, I'm going to get paper work going on where Sweetie is going to stay while I'm gone. I'm going back to my first choice, not sure how well this will work out, but it seems to be the only place that has rooms available for Respite Care. I worked it out so Sweetie will be at Daycare when I get this done. Need to ask a lot of questions, tell them about her sundowners, how I use the CBD Hemp Oil and Stress Relief Lotion. I'm concern on how she'll handle those first evenings that she has to sleep by herself. The last two times I did this, her daughter was taking care of her. The last time I came home early because she was lost in her attempt to be a care giver. Now with her being away from home, surrounded by strangers, just how this will affect her will be seen. 

How she handles this will also prepare me for my next trip in June. I haven't decided how long I'll be gone in June. Heading for my Birthday trip to see an Angel game. It could be as little as 3 days, or a week, just don't know. 

Past couple of days, Sweetie is getting up earlier. The past two mornings, she is up around 7. Usually she sleeps in until 10 or 11, so we are starting a new normal sleeping pattern and just what that means is yet to be reveled. I've also noticed she is using stronger, angrier words in her tale telling. Most of the time, she is still that sweet woman that she I've know to this point. 

Enough for now. It's time to get out of my sweats, get my traveling clothes on. Its time to hit the road, Driver has the car waiting, cleaned and waxed, making sure the it is spotless. As soon as I get in, buckled in, and got my cool sunglasses on, we're off. Throwing the cares of the day out the window, being able to just relax knowing that my Driver knows where we're going. All at the same time Keeping my Shinny Side Up. When I let my Drive take over, it wasn't easy, so I can understand if you still want to drive, but as long as you Keep Your Shinny Side Up, it works for you. God Bless.