If you're new to this blog and want some context for it, read this post from the day I announced my Alzheimer's disease and this post about the day I announced I had lost it. For more info, visit my website with my autobiographyand all blog entries in chronological order for easier reading to catch up. There's also a sermon on the spiritual lessons I've learned through this journey through my damaged mind.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Christmas Vacation
On Amtrak to Napa CA
Marja and I will be visiting our daughter and family
for Christmas, and I will probably not be posting during that time.
I hope you and your family have a wonderful and magical Christmas and New Year! I've been thinking about you for quite a while, but without quite figuring out what I what I want to say. Hard as it must have been to have received your initial diagnosis, I think that the current uncertainty about an "official" one must be at least as difficult to deal with emotionally.
I say this as someone who at 77, only 2-½ years after losing my wonderful guy to AD, feels the anxiety of wondering about whether it's now my turn. Today I bundled up to face wind, cold, and slush to get to my pharmacy to pick up two prescriptions. I'd like to blame it all on wearing 10 (?) pounds of boots, coat, scarves, etc. BUT, no sooner had I paid and pulled my gloves back on, than I walked away from the counter without my bag of drugs. Oy vey.
These things happen more often than I like so, although I've not been tested for cognitive impairment, I do wonder about it. I'm not sure that knowing one way or the other would really be helpful, as long as there's no way of treating it. I do know, however, that your experiences with testing would drive me over the edge with anxiety. I suspect that we ALL worry about it whether or not we have ever been diagnosed. I think your blog speaks to all of us about that worry about something that, if it is in the cards, will happen or not without anything we can do about it. Meanwhile, we can spend a lot of energy twisted in anticipation of the worst -- which may never happen. Maybe this is a situation for which Buddhist acceptance makes supreme sense because this particular medical future is utterly beyond our power to control or change.
I have been and am so impressed with your ability to do exactly this with incredible serenity and humor. I thank you for bringing home to all of us of a certain age, and of certain fears, your demonstration of grace and coping. I am grateful to you and Marja for what your blog does to help all of us accept the future, and I wish you all good things and happiness.
Wishing all of us calm, peace, and acceptance in the coming new year, reserving our strength for the battles that do need to be fought instead of in fear over those we can't control.
Merry Christmas, David! May you and your family have a wonderful Christmas holiday together! I look forward to reading your next blog in the new year.
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays, David. I enjoy reading your blog and have found it very helpful. Keep it up.
ReplyDeleteI hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas. Hopefully you can enjoy the holiday season without (too much) distress.
ReplyDeleteWishing you all the best. Have a fun filled visit!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas David. Hope your holidays are wonderful and filled with peace and love. Enjoy the time with your daughter and family.
ReplyDeleteI hope you and your family have a wonderful and magical Christmas and New Year! I've been thinking about you for quite a while, but without quite figuring out what I what I want to say. Hard as it must have been to have received your initial diagnosis, I think that the current uncertainty about an "official" one must be at least as difficult to deal with emotionally.
ReplyDeleteI say this as someone who at 77, only 2-½ years after losing my wonderful guy to AD, feels the anxiety of wondering about whether it's now my turn. Today I bundled up to face wind, cold, and slush to get to my pharmacy to pick up two prescriptions. I'd like to blame it all on wearing 10 (?) pounds of boots, coat, scarves, etc. BUT, no sooner had I paid and pulled my gloves back on, than I walked away from the counter without my bag of drugs. Oy vey.
These things happen more often than I like so, although I've not been tested for cognitive impairment, I do wonder about it. I'm not sure that knowing one way or the other would really be helpful, as long as there's no way of treating it. I do know, however, that your experiences with testing would drive me over the edge with anxiety. I suspect that we ALL worry about it whether or not we have ever been diagnosed. I think your blog speaks to all of us about that worry about something that, if it is in the cards, will happen or not without anything we can do about it. Meanwhile, we can spend a lot of energy twisted in anticipation of the worst -- which may never happen. Maybe this is a situation for which Buddhist acceptance makes supreme sense because this particular medical future is utterly beyond our power to control or change.
I have been and am so impressed with your ability to do exactly this with incredible serenity and humor. I thank you for bringing home to all of us of a certain age, and of certain fears, your demonstration of grace and coping. I am grateful to you and Marja for what your blog does to help all of us accept the future, and I wish you all good things and happiness.
Wishing all of us calm, peace, and acceptance in the coming new year, reserving our strength for the battles that do need to be fought instead of in fear over those we can't control.
What an unusually nice and focused comment! Merci!
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I hope you and family have a wonderful time this Christmas season. And a wonderful start to the New Year!
ReplyDeleteWishing you and your family a wonderful, happy, safe Christmas and New Year. Just relax and enjoy.
ReplyDeleteWishing you all happy and safe holidays with much joy and love.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a blessed Christmas - take all your angels with you as you travel - looking forward to hearing from you in the new year. (Dori from AZ)
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