Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Tomorrow Begins World Alzheimer's Month

This year, help us in spreading the word by participating in World Alzheimer's Month. September 21st is World Alzheimer's Day, but the whole month is being highlighted by the Alzheimer's Association.

Click here to see what you can do to help. http://www.alz.org/wam/wam.asp It doesn't take much -- just adding an icon to your facebook page or any of your social media outlets is one simple thing you can do.

Help us spread the word, because The End of Alzheimer's Starts With Me. And You.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Big news day

I've received so many emails and calls today.

As many of you know, I am a big women's college basketball fan. We've lived in Athens for 30 years and have followed the UGA Lady Bulldogs since moving here. Our head coach, Andy Landers, also starting coaching the team at the same time, so I like to consider Andy a friend of mine.

When I was first diagnosed with early on set Alzheimer's, I sent an email out to all my friends. Within a matter of hours of sending that email out, Andy called and said he was coming to pick me up for lunch, to hear all about it and wanted to know what he could do to help. Those are the kinds of friends that we all need.

So, I thought of that today, when I heard the news that Pat Summitt, head coach of the University of Tennessee Lady Vols was diagnosed with early on-set Alzheimer's at the age of 59. Coach Summitt has been a big adversary of ours, but she is also to be admired for what she has done with her teams over the years. She made a video statement on the Lady Vols site today talking about the diagnosis and being very upfront about it. She sensed some relief in knowing what she had and now know what she is facing. I felt the same way -- I wanted to know what my problem was and then to deal with it. Coach Summitt has a lot of support, from her family, her fans and her UT family. She plans to continue coaching and I'm sure she will try to live as normal of a life as she can. I know she has great assistance and will get the support she needs from them and the University. I hope, that she, like myself, will have many more productive years ahead of her. She's tough, she's strong and she will make the best of her life.

I have had lots of people reach out to me today -- wanting to know if I heard about Coach Summitt and what I thought. No one wishes this on anyone, but I wish her the best.

Also, tonight, Glen Campbell was interviewed for the ABC News -- his full interview will be played tonight on Nightline. Mr. Campbell was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and is speaking out about it for the first time.

In other news, people inquired as to how Alan did with the earthquake in DC. He said that his building which is right across from the Capitol was evacuated and then they were sent home. He walked home as the traffic was bad because everyone was trying to get home, and the metro system had slowed down. I told him he should have had a big one like this when he was living in California not Washington DC. Tonight he and Jen went down to take a look at the new Martin Luther King memorial. He said it was pretty impressive. Comedian Dick Gregory was there tonight -- he wasn't sure who he was as he is a little old for Alan to know him. But lots of people were taking his picture and he called to see if I knew who he was. I guess moms are good for something.


Friday, August 12, 2011

Busy

I'm not MIA -- although I'm sure it seems it. I've been busy. I was in Atlanta a few days, then in Chicago for a few days, then to a friend's cabin at Lake Russell (Thanks Suzanne for a quiet relaxing weekend) and then in Atlanta again for a few days to watch two days of the PGA Championship at the Atlanta Athletic Club. It was all great fun, but I need time to relax and rewind. Although -- I'm off again tomorrow to another Alzheimer's meeting in Atlanta.

When we were at the golf tournament, I couldn't remember anyone's name. I saw the golfers and knew them, but then couldn't remember their name. On the practice days the golfers do not have people following them around with little signs with their names and scores on them. Their names usually only appear on their bags. And, if the caddies are carrying them the way they are suppose to (and they usually do) you don't see the name because the name part is always facing the ground. If the caddie stands the bag up on the green, you have to be lucky enough to have it facing you. Luckily enough for me there were enough people around that I usually overheard someone saying their name. I know I was tired when going but it was really bad. Once I get the photos from the camera downloaded I will try to post some. Sometimes I have a hard time doing that on this blog.

More soon -- and hopefully sooner not later.