The sun will come up.

Sweetie and her love for flowers.

What can you say about each day when they seem to be rolling into blur? For me it seems to be the same thing, wake up between 2:30-3:30 in the morning, shuffle downstairs to turn on the coffee pot then into my office, my man cave, which is also my sanctuary where I find peace of mind, time with my Higher Power, and here with you on my blog. No matter what it, there are two ends to this life, one was the beginning, and the other is the end. How long it is to the end, is not for me to know. What is for me to know is that the sun will come up this morning, and as the day goes on, it will head westward and down to evening, then to night, where I will then sleep to wake and do it all over again. 

My life, as it is, is centered on the care and maintenance of Sweetie. Each day is filled with questions that I have to answer. For now, they seem easy enough. What to have her wear, how to get her to brush her teeth, brush her hair, check her pullups, make sure the bed is dry, what to eat?

Last night for dinner, I did something new, well it is new for us. We had the old stable dinner, pork, mixed veggies, and mash potatoes. What was different this time was I mixed the meat and veggies into the mashed potatoes. I think because it was, or looked like it was one dish, not 3 different food groups, that she just went after it and it soon was gone. Before I get all excited, I'll try it again in a day or so to see if I get the same consumption.

Because we are part of the city Senior Living department, which helps with daycare, I get a call about every 6 months, and because of that, they ask about Sweetie's health. Part of that is her weight. As of now, she has maintained the same weight for the year, and that goes for me too. I'm happy for both of us. Must be doing something right. 

Part of doing what is right is the part of getting up, and out to the car where me and my Driver will spend time together. Me and my cool sunglasses, and Him with all the Knowledge and confidence of know it all, as He drives us down the Road to Dementia Town. He knows when to take a break, when to push through and how to navigate those hairpin turns safely. So, I'm out of here, in the car, as my Driver, as He puts it in gear, driving down the road, Keeping our Shiny Side Up. May you have that kind of day, where it is easy for you to Keep Your Shiny Side Up. Love Ya, God Bless.  

Dementia: A new language to learn.

At Anaheim for a game.

 

Well, we won't be going to any ball games until next season. What a big pause this Corona Virus has been. Got out and played golf for the first time since the beginning. Amazing how quickly my game fell apart from where it was before the lock down. Heard from daycare and it looks like they will be opening up on the 15th. Not sure if I'll take Sweetie there on the 15th or not. We have to start somewhere, sometime, and now I'm just not sure. 

I know I need the my time, it just the pull of leaving her. I know once I get her there, the relief will come. 

Cinco De Mayo, a party day in the past. A day of chips and salsa, guacamole, tacos, refried beans, and friends. Now, it is just the 5th of May, no gathering, no festive food and drink, it just a day of caring for Sweetie. Each day with her is the same and yet at the same time it is something new. I know that she doesn't know who I am, or my relationship to her. She doesn't know the meaning of simple words and as I explain them to her, those words don't have meaning either. 

I feel like I'm a linguist, trying to learn a new language, and the word keep changing their meaning. I've found the simplest meaning work the best, using the easiest instructions work, and if that doesn't just let her try and then guide. It used to be that I would hold the door and she would just walk in, now I have to tell her to go in first. 

Go a neighbors mail in our box yesterday, knowing that they were out on a bike ride, saw them as we were taking our walk, so we waited for them to come home. When I saw them and we headed over there, Sweetie was very hesitant to be there, but once the door was opened, she became a chatty Kathy, I almost couldn't get her to leave. It was fun and an Easter Egg, too. 

Fun, that is what I look for when I hear my Driver coming into the house. He has an uncanny sense of timing. He knows just when I'm on the verge of completion and anymore would be too much. So, here He is and I'm done for the morning post. I think I'll wear shorts today, let the sun get on my legs, as I sit in the passenger seat, leaning back, and down the Road to Dementia Town we go. Trusting that my Driver will keep us on the road, keeping our Shiny Side Up. You too, Smile when you pass us by, as you drive Keeping your Shiny Side Up. Love Ya, and God Bless.      

Dementia: There can be happy solutions.

On the USS Bowfin, submarine at Pearl Harbor.

Spent some time on the driving range yesterday. I was go good to get the clubs out and hit some balls. Not only was it a good change of pace for the both of us, it was like being alive again. Sweetie just yammered about it for some time. When I'd hit a ball and look back at her, she was all smiles. Life, as it is now, doesn't get much better. I have plans for us to get out a play 9 holes today. 

When we got home and tried to take a walk, it was very breezy and so we cut it short. What I find amazing is her wanting to walk. It is something that we do on a regular bases now. And because of that, I think we will have a good time walking the course. I'm so excited! I bought a distance finder just before V-19 hit and this will be the first time I get to use it. Feel like a kid on Christmas Eve. I'm just squirming in my chair waiting for the day to get going. 

We spent quite a bit of time in the backyard, on the couch, watching the birds, clouds and planes over head. We have a birdbath back there and I've been putting water in it these past couple of days and to watch the sparrows go to it and drink. One of the things I've observed is that sparrows are usually in twos. I think they are mated pairs. They are just a joy to watch. 

Working on getting Sweetie more regulated with the potty. When she gets up, the first thing I do is get her to the potty and we sit and I read to her. Because she still has some knowledge of God and the Bible, reading from the Bible is good for both of us. She hasn't wet the bed in a couple of weeks and believe it or not, I'm worried. I don't think she is taking in enough water and there isn't much for her to pee. Even when she fills her pullups, the amount of pee in them a less amount then before. Humm. 

I take a bottle with us when we walk and it is filled with water and Gatorade. The way I look at it, the Gatorade will give her more than just water, a happy solution for both of us. 

Happy solution, that is what my Driver is all about. It is because of our conversations that I can look back and see all the Easter Eggs. Bird watching, driving range, walks, and just the love that Sweetie gives me when she doesn't even know that she is giving it. Looking for a new solution again this morning. Driver knows so much more than what He tells me. He just loves for me to see the wisdom in His words. I listen carefully because I don't want to loose any of it. As we hit the Road to Dementia Town, Him behind the wheel, with the window down, and His arm resting on the door, and me with my cool sunglasses on as we go, Keeping our Shiny Side Up. You think that today would be a good day to have the window down, with your arm out, resting on the door as you drive down the Road to Dementia Town, Keeping your Shiny Side Up. Gotta go, Love Ya, and God Bless.