My father died this week after a long battle with dementia. It is many things I am coming to understand; painful, surreal, a blessing, darkness, light, a terrible sadness, a relief. When I understood he was gone, I felt a feeling I had never felt before. I felt my shoulders go up and down. … [Read more...]
Talking About Dying-Part 2
The other day, I touched on why we are afraid to talk about dying. It is very tough. We'd all rather talk about life. But there are some important benefits on having these tough discussions. When we acknowledge death: • We have the opportunity to savour life Hope comes from the comfort … [Read more...]
Here’s to you, Dad
me and my dad 1967 "Here's to you As good as you are And here's to me as bad as I am But as good as you are And as bad as I am I am as good as you are As bad as I am" Today is my dad's 80th birthday and for some reason I remember the first gift … [Read more...]
Those Magic Moments
There are moments when a kid strikes upon just the right thing, and magic happens. In these two books, kids transform something difficult into a tender and wonderful moment, just by chance and instinct, and the magic of a connection is formed. A Song for My Sisterby Lesley SimpsonRandom HouseISBN: … [Read more...]
notes on chronic illness- taking one for the team
As many of you know, my dad is in a long term care facility for late stages of Lewy Body Dementia. I went to see him yesterday and I thought about something that has occurred to me several times over the last year. For those of you who dont know me I love him and I HATE this and that … [Read more...]
I am not good at it
I am not good at something I want to be better at.I am not good at seeing my dad in a wheelchair, in a long term facility, in a diaper in a room with silence. In that after -lunch- room everyone is either sleeping or picking their nose or moaning a terrible moan.People once elegant and … [Read more...]
growing up
When you are a parent of young children and your kids are anywhere in a crowd they shine out to you. Top of the class, front of the line, star of the show. You look around and think "why is no one looking at my miracle, my darling my joy?" Then you realize everyone is looking at their own, thinking … [Read more...]