Onward, pizza with the Boys.

Sweetie and youngest daughter. 

Looking forward to today. I'm going to pre-order two pizzas to pick up and head over to the "Boys" to have some lunch and facetime. Their mom tells us that they just cannot wait for us to arrive. Makes the old ticker feel good. 

The other day, we went to the zoo, and while we were there, I spotted a penguin t-shirt. Knowing my DIL loves penguins, and hasn't been to the exhibit yet, we got her one. It will be a surprise for her. Her oldest has his 14th birthday this month and I have to figure out just what to do for the boy. So far, I've been following my gut and have hit some homeruns with my gift for finding gifts for them. 

I cannot let Sweetie's condition stop me from enjoying life. I know if she could, she would be having fun helping out with the gifts, with the pizzas, with everything. I cannot allow Dementia to take away the joy of being grandparents. For as long as I can, she will be at my side for all of it. I've found that if I tell her that I'm going to do or go somewhere and ask her if she wants to go with me, she is always willing to go. I'm playing her shadowing for all its worth. 
Men in my support group have said that there will be a time when her paranoia will stop us from getting out. That a dinner out will be a drive thru at some fast food place. 

These are the things that can really stifle a marriage, a friendship, or any other type of relationship. I believe this is why I'm training myself to look for those Easter Eggs. Even when we are in the bathroom and I have to wipe her butt. I'm telling her what a good girl she is, how well she is doing, and especially I love her. I sometimes cannot help myself for feeling sorry for her. Yea, sure, sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but on the other hand, I'm still healthy, I still have it all together and she depends on me for everything. 

When I go and play golf and on those days I team up with someone, I get to have a conversation with another healthy person. Its like a conversation explosion. I get to exercise my ability to have full conversation. Complete thoughts expressed. Its wonderful. Yesterdays time on the course, I met another golfer who was looking for someone to team up with, and we had a great time. Agreeing to get together next week. Build a friendship outside of Dementia, going to take it slow, I can be a little overwhelming.  

After I picked up Sweetie from daycare and after lunch, and not wanting to go home, looking for something other then doing another mall walk around, so what to do. I know, check the phone, and, sure enough, its showing in about 30 minutes and we can make it. Its the movie "Onward". I'm a kid a heart and I love my cartoons. I liked it. But then again, according to Rotten Tomatoes, it was scored high, the critics 87% and the audience 96%. I will rate my movies by what the audience review say. Critics have a weird way of watching movies. Love it when the critics rate something high and the audience puts it in the dog pound. Won't even think about going to see it. 

Sweetie seems to have found a new friend at daycare. Another man with thinning hair and a beard. The last couple of times I've picked her up, she has been sitting next to him and will tell him a good bye when we leave. It is good, because she seems settled when he is there. Whatever it takes to keep her happy, I'm happy. 

That's about all for now, its getting time for my Driver to show up. I think I'll be outside waiting for Him, for a change. It seems that now matter what life throws at me, my Driver makes it OK. Life is what you make of it. If you don't look for the Easter Eggs, you may never find them. I can be as difficult as finding the old needle in the haystack, or as simple as seeing Sweetie standing in the door way, confused but happy to see me. For I know this is what my life is going to be like for awhile. This too will pass. So, talk to you tomorrow, 'cause, for now, me and my Driver will be chugging down the Road to Dementia Town and as always, keeping our Shiny Side Up. Keep that in mind, as you too, travel your road, keeping your Shiny Side Up. God Bless.