Descent into Alzheimer's Disease

On Friday a friend from work was going to drive into town and we were going to have lunch together. She called me, sounding pretty terrible to tell me she was sick. *sniff*

I ended up meeting a different friend at the VA hospital to visit her husband (whom I had not seen in a year). I have spoken about them before. Her husband was the USAF pilot who fell out of a helicopter and landed on his head. He gradually ended up with dementia and now he is a handsome fellow with very little going on inside of his head. Their story is a sad one indeed.

After visiting with him, we went out to lunch to a relatively new restaurant in Salem. We chatted extensively, catching up on each other’s news since we had not spoken since the beginning of the summer. Isn’t it just crazy how time flies? She is very busy tending to sick relatives and being mom to two adult daughters and a young teen, as well. It seems there is never a dull moment in her household, but that’s definitely not always a good thing.

It was great to see her and I hope next time we won’t wait so long between visits. She tried to lure me into going for a pedicure with her and her daughter, but it was getting late and stormy, so I headed home. I’ll just have to dream of toes with French tips. *smile*

I woke up Saturday with a terrible sore throat, but I busied myself getting ready for the wedding. I didn’t want to miss Nathaniel and Beth’s big day. I had to drive way out in the boonies to find the church, but I finally found it. The reception was held very near to my home.

There was quite a contrast between this wedding and Bryan and Erica’s from last month.

B&E had an evening ceremony with mostly adults in attendance. There were a couple of children and a couple of babies, but not many. Their families were there, but there were lots of friends, as well. There was music, but it was not kid music at all. In fact, my son said after I left (which was early- too early. In fact, I left before the cake was cut or the bouquet was tossed) it turned into a pretty wild party. He said most of the conservative adults like myself left.

N&B, on the other hand, had tons of kids everywhere. Relatives from all over had driven into town for the blessed event. At the reception when the music started, it was the chicken dance, and the YMCA, and other kid songs to which they gleefully danced.

I sat and watched my friend from work get up and do the chicken dance, laughing and just having a ball. She made me think of that phrase, “Dance like nobody’s watching.”

The family love and closeness was quite touching and I know there is something there for me to learn. Something very important that I can’t quite put my finger on. And of course it made me sad, too, because I don’t have that kind of a family.

I left that reception a bit early, too, but I did wait til all major events were over.

Both weddings were beautiful. Erica spent a year planning hers and all the special touches and hard work were obvious, but she almost had a breakdown before it was over. Beth let her mother do most of the planning and she had about a month to do it. She was stressed out, too, but the wedding was sooo much simpler. Now I have one more to attend next weekend and we’ll see how that one goes. Elisabeth and Silas have been planning to get married for a good long while. I’ll just be happy to see so many friendly faces that I miss so much.

I got home from the wedding and lay down and passed out, even though it was only 6 P.M. I was not feeling the greatest. I ended up being up and down all night long. Too hot. Too cold. Uncomfortable. Can’t swallow. Pain in throat.

I put a note on Chris’s door to tell him I was sick so he wouldn’t get up for church.

I got up this morning at 10 A.M. to let the dog out. I called Facility to let them know I wasn’t picking Mom up. [ This is not good because I’ll be out of town next weekend. Mom will have two whole weeks without leaving the building!]

Then I went back to bed until I got up around 1 P.M. and talked with Chris for about an hour before he left for work. Then back to bed. When I woke up it was dark and I felt like crying because I had missed the entire day. I let the dog out and then went back to sleep.

My sleep is not deep because every time I try to swallow, I have phlegm that is choking me. I also have pain in my throat. I wonder if I’ll be able to get through at least part of the day at work tomorrow. I want to go get Mom and take her for a drive. Normally I wouldn’t go around her while I’m sick, but she has had this same thing for the last week. In fact, she probably gave it to me. I don’t think it will hurt her to be with me. I just won’t kiss her.

She is terribly hoarse and I can tell she feels like crapola. Last time I was there I told her, “Mom, you walk like a woman and talk like a man.” Heh. Actually, she sounds more like a frog.

Hopefully the morning will find me up early and feeling good enough to go snatch Mom and share a few laughs before heading off to work with bells on. *smile*

Mark 2:17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.