Leaving
My fingers are freezing as I type this. I just ran outside and removed as many leaves as I could from the tiny man-made creek that runs into the pond.
A few days ago WR stated that he hoped the wind would blow all the leaves off the neighbor’s maple trees - and he got his wish. He even got a better gift with it. Many of those leaves blew over our fence and beyond. However, we still get to keep the ones that hit the water.
Every autumn we are surprised. I remember several years ago having our grandkids help us rake leaves when they visited over the Thanksgiving holiday. I remember having a few brave roses thumbing their petals even into December. We always know that eventually winter will arrive, but never how or when we expect it.
So is it we are surprised with the insidious creeping of Alzheimer’s in my sister-in-law’s life.
This morning I need to wolf down my coffee and cereal and rush out the door. I am supervising the movers who come to haul her furniture and belongings to assisted living.
It was only this past January that I helped her pack and move into the apartment where we hoped she would be safe and secure for a few years.
In the past few months there has been blatant deterioration. Mostly in short term memory and cognitive thinking. Tasks that require more than one step frustrate her. Just this week I realized she was unable to use her stove, to listen to her voice mail messages, or even turn on the heat for the cold days.
Where does it go from here? When?
A few days ago WR stated that he hoped the wind would blow all the leaves off the neighbor’s maple trees - and he got his wish. He even got a better gift with it. Many of those leaves blew over our fence and beyond. However, we still get to keep the ones that hit the water.
Every autumn we are surprised. I remember several years ago having our grandkids help us rake leaves when they visited over the Thanksgiving holiday. I remember having a few brave roses thumbing their petals even into December. We always know that eventually winter will arrive, but never how or when we expect it.
So is it we are surprised with the insidious creeping of Alzheimer’s in my sister-in-law’s life.
This morning I need to wolf down my coffee and cereal and rush out the door. I am supervising the movers who come to haul her furniture and belongings to assisted living.
It was only this past January that I helped her pack and move into the apartment where we hoped she would be safe and secure for a few years.
In the past few months there has been blatant deterioration. Mostly in short term memory and cognitive thinking. Tasks that require more than one step frustrate her. Just this week I realized she was unable to use her stove, to listen to her voice mail messages, or even turn on the heat for the cold days.
Where does it go from here? When?
Comments
The "natural deaths" of the past happen less and less and now we see more people dying of disease that horrify me - cancer, Alzheimer with its erosion of the person from the inside.
My Great Uncle, a witty, brash, outspoken, larger than life, Irishman.. crumbled away and vanished before my eyes.
I'm sorry to hear of your pain - my thoughts are with you - enjoy the last glorious colors of the fall.
My MIL? She hopes my FIL will die soon so that she can go back to the home he moved them out of so that he could save some money. She loved it there. She just had to BE. Not cook. Not clean. Not wait on him. She could visit the library, go to chapel, eat in the diningroom. And there was no pressure on her.
Rest assured, your sister will be cared for.
Like your previous post. Somehow I missed it. The little book is so precious.
Sirdar's mom has deteriorated in the last 6 months as well. We worry for his dad who is there to care for her. He is going crazy I am sure and she is in denial. We have not been able to help as they have stalled in all the suggestions. We wait to here what happened at the doctor today where his dad was going to ask for a handycap sign for the car and to get them on a list for assisted living. It is a terrible disease and my prayers are with you and your husband.
life just keeps getting harder..and we just hope to make it thru another day.
That book helped my sister and I so much. Your family is in my prayers.
x
Staying warmer than usual here--high today of 52F, and the normal high is 38F. Still too chilly for me!
((((hugs))))
So sorry you are going through this. Excellent metaphor.
Loved Heather's comment.
The heat thing really brought it into focus for me: She can't even turn on her heat on a cold day. That poor woman.
Try to enjoy her company for as long as you can. Those moments are fleeting.