Oh, Dear - Do I Slash My Wrists?

[retiredhappy]

Mitch, sending ((((((((hugs)))))) to you. Hang in there girl, have the wine and keep smiling.

[AlmostThere]

Mitch, thank you for sharing that with us. I agree with what all the other great ladies here have said and also add my prayers.
Hold tight to your faith. (((((Hugs and love))))))

[mitch5252]

Thanks, you guys! You're the best.

Actually, George wasn't joking...I actually think he must have been having a dream (or in this case, a nightmare).
So much for his sense of humor!!!
But I found it soooo very funny, I had to share with you.
I'll save my real crying when he believes in ALL his waking hours that I'm the illustrious Ms. Pelosi.

(and the wine was delicious...)

..

[OutandAbout]

Mitch, why not invite the old girl to the Blue Marlin. She won't be as busy next year after all. You will probably have to spring for the airfare, as she has lost her plane after the last election.

(((((((HUGS))))))) Linda

[ohlucy05]

mitch - you are a wonder woman taking care of your husband with such a horrible disease. I too add you and George to my prayers. And I don't think that I could stomach Ms. Pelosi and her rhetoric on tv much less with a real visit.

Here is hoping that you have peace through this season and patience to handle the situations with your love for George. And a glass of wine is good for the soul. Hope that the memories of your years together carry you to handle those situations. And here is a pat on the back and a hug - keep the faith

ohlucy

[Mollysmom]

Well hell's bells girl - that's allot of ca-ca to handle !!!
I'm so glad you have The Beast, a sense of humor, a good glass of wine, and us !
Thanks for sharing with us - you're a tough cookie and I'm proud of you.

[avalen]

no bloodshed please, I'm too far and too busy to clean up anybody elses messes
right now the wine on the other hand, I'll pop a cork for ya too out my way.

[JudyJB]

My mother passed away this past spring after a long bout of dementia, so I know about the craziness and trying to keep a sense of humor.

Do take care of yourself. The Alzheimer's Association has wonderful support groups and also individual counselors that I took advantage of.

JudyJB

[ali1257]

Oh Mitch so sorry to hear what you are having to face. I do hope you have others surrounding you as you take care of your George.

Your note about him reminded me of when my dad was in the hospital with dementia. He thought he was being held in jail. My sister and I went into his room together. He yelled at me about just get him outa there. I told him i could take him home when the doctor said it was okay, knowing that was not going to happen, but he didn't. He got very stoic and said "Fine..I will just call my friend to come and get me.' I said "Dad, i will take you home when the doctor says it's okay." He mumbled and grumbled and finally blurted out..."never mind, my friend Hillary Clinton is flying her plane in to get me tomorrow so there!" and then stuck his tongue out at us. I turned away and laughed quietly (it was better than crying).

Then all hell broke loose...my sister got mad, stomped out of the room. i followed her out and asked her what was wrong. She said, don't laugh, it's sad, he is never going to get any better and it is not funny. I tried to explain to her it was better to laugh, then cry. She was mad at me for quite a few hours until the doctor came in and I relayed what happened. He told us both then, just meet him where he was at, it is just too confusing if you try to make him understand reality. I think that was the best advice I could have received ~ it made the next five years a little easier to deal with.

There were times he thought my college age boys were toddlers and wondered how I could leave them home alone when I came to visit ~ I usually just said I left them with a babysitter because they were napping or fussy.

I miss my dad a ton, he died in 2001 but I think back on my memories and some of when he was in the hospital do bring smiles to my heart.

Hang in there and know we are here for you!

[snowball]

it's a tough road....then he does that too you....I think laugh much better than slashing the wrists....
(((((Mitch)))))
Sheila

[BarbaraRose]

I learned too, that it is better to just go along with what they say than try to correct them and explain something they won't understand anyways. I remember when my mom called me one night very serious and told me that she had just gotten married. She said she married the nice black man who came to visit her all the time (she was referring to her male nurse). She was totally convinced that they had gotten married. I was very upset at first, not because I believed her, but because it was such a bizarre thing for her to come up with! Totally caught me off guard! I called the nursing home and they just told me not to worry and that she would probably not even remember anything about it the next day. Well, she never mentioned it again, except to refer to her nurse as her "special friend". Then there was the time she called me and told me she was dead...
This disease takes away the short term memories first and works back toward the long term memories. My mom would think she was still married to my dad, then talk about her jobs she had when she was much younger. She couldn't identify anyone in a recent photo but could tell me every last detail of a photo from her childhood! Her sister also had alzheimers, so I am hoping they can find a cure for it before it gets me, too.

Mitch, if you can't find a support group nearby, there are one's on-line. It really does help to talk to people who have been there and/or are going thru it now. It is true that it is harder on the loved ones than the person who has it, especially as it progresses.

[kelpie]

Mitch,
I'd like to add my support to the others. My dad had Alzheimer's also and like someone else said it's worse for us, the caretakers, than it is for them. My dad was retired from the Air force and when he got sick(2002) one of the things that enraged him for some reason was that President Bush would return the salutes of his military escorts. He'd rant about why would the president do that etc etc and ask me (I was also in the ANG) if I'd ever seen a president do that? Laughingly, I'd answer "Yes, Dad, every president in my lifetime, except Bill Clinton" but the next time I'd see him he'd rant again. After several months, I gave up explaining and just went along with how outrageous it was for President Bush to do so. For those that may not know, the higher ranking person (in this case, the Commander in Chief) is not obligated to return a salute but many choose to do so as a courtesy.

[Pooker]

So, so sorry for all you are facing and all you will have to face as time goes on. You are famous for your humor and that will save you. Wrist slashing isn't an option - too messy and you know who would have to clean up the mess when she got home from the hospital!

This journey takes living in the moment to new levels. And you learn how to switch gears and become another person whenever needed, but puleese! Nancy Pelosi?

Hang in there - share the stories - close your eyes and let the caring of your online friends wash over you.

[Lotus]

Mitch,
You're in my prayers also. So many of us have stories such as my Mother graduated from high school with Oprah Winfrey. Quite an age difference for that to have happened! In reality she went to high school with Dinah Shore! The funnies (so so many good ones!) from Mother helped to make it bearable at times. You just learn to go with the flow....as I know you do. Hang in there, and share any time.

Lotus

[Getupngo]

Oh, rats Mitch! I didn't know you were going through the Long Goodbye with your sweetie. My experience with Alzheimer's was with my father, but I cannot imagine the heartbreak of my husband slowly disappearing. As Ali said, I found it less frustrating to try to meet him where he was, rather than trying to push him back to the future. But I think that's more easily done and perhaps less frightening with a parent than with a spouse who is disappearing into himself.

But since he thinks his babe is Nancy Pelosi, I thought I'd include a Christmas pinup of Herself just for him.



Sending big hugs to you.