Before.

Two sweets, Sweetie and Strawberry Funnel Cake

 

How I miss those days. The times when we still could do things like this. Times of walking in familiar surroundings, watching the little ones as they discover the joys of Knott's Berry Farm, chasing the pigeons, with parents giving the same warnings, to stay away from the water, and then watching the kids do the opposite and get wet. 

 

These were the times before sundowners, before pull-up, before she lost the ability to speak, and at the same time, knowing,without knowing, that they were still ahead. 

 

Friday

It started out like any other Friday. Waiting for the right time to get Sweetie up. There still is snow on the ground, and that means we won't be going anywhere today. So, why hurry. 

 

Sweetie is awake when I come in, and we do our little greetings. She is ready to get up, she comes easily. 

 

She is wet, and there is evidence that it will be a shower morning. So, it is off with the clothes and into the shower, cleaned and out, we head for breakfast. 

 

She is behaving different. For one, she takes the bananas out of her bowel, and doesn't eat them. I try to feed them to her, and she just isn't in eating them. She doesn't eat much of her cereal either. This is bothersome, because she always eats a good breakfast. As the meal goes on, I get her toast with jam on it, and she does eat that. 

 

As the day goes on, I get a text from caregiver #2, and she is resigning. She doesn't want to be a caregiver, and thanked me for allowing her to stay with Sweetie. Wishing her well, we close the book on her being part of Sweetie's and my life. 

 

Now comes the task of finding someone else. I have a lead, and a neighbor who has said to give her a call, but there is something that just doesn't feel right. If you know what I mean? 

 

We spend the day on the couch, doing some real hard couch potato practice. I think we're doing some good progress in becoming professional couch potatoes. 

 

Late in the afternoon, Sweetie has that "Need to lay down" look, and so she goes for her nap. 

 

Things went down hill and then up hill. She woke up in time for dinner, and then we headed for our meeting. 

 

Had a good meeting, Sweetie was happy to be there among friendly faces. 

 

Meeting over, home and to bed we went. 

 

Driver was on His best. Driving slowly down the Road to Dementia Town. Not wanting to hit any icy patches on the way, this day. And He was successful. For we were able to Keep Our Shiny Side Up most of the way. C'ya, Luv Ya, and God Bless. Arthur.