New Year's Eve

It's New Year's Eve and I'm ready to get life back to "normal" whatever that is. I've been out of my routine for a while with all the things going on over the holidays and I can tell its effect on me. Now with my husband's accident it is going to be different as well. It's o.k. as long as my son is home (whichis only for a few more days) but then I don't know how I'll do. He won't be able to drive for some time and although I can drive around town o.k. -- I only feel comfortable going out in the early morning hours. It is harder for me to do things when streets and stores become busy so I rely on him for that alot. I get panic attacks thinking about having to deal with all of this. I don't mind taking care of him -- but I worry that I can't do it. I guess we'll have to see how things progress. He goes to the doctor on Tuesday and we'll see when his surgery is scheduled.

Happy New Year to everyone.

Ice Skating goes awry

If you have been following my posts you know that I love to ice skate. Living in the south that is difficult to do.....there just are not that many rinks around. There are some in Atlanta so I asked my son if he would go ice skating with me when he came home for Christmas break. So, we went this morning. My husband, my son and I went to meet Alan's girlfriend and her family who were going to skate with us as well.

About 20 minutes into the ice skating session my husband fell on the ice. He said he hurt his elbow and we got off the ice to see if he could bend it, if it was bleeding, etc. It seemed as if he might have bruised it a good bit. After a few minutes he said he wanted to go to the hospital and have it checked out. Mind you, my husband doesn't go to the doctor very freely -- so I figured it must have been hurting more than he let on -- he has a relative high threshold for pain. So, we drove back to Athens (about 45 minutes) to go to our local hospital. After xrays, it was determined that he broke his elbow. Surgery now awaits him next week.

Many of you reading this may know that many years ago he fell off of a ladder and broke his elbow on his left arm and his wrist on his right arm, both requiring surgery. After casts were applied, there were no hands available to do the minor things in life and it was a little difficult for awhile. This time he broke his right elbow and although he is right handed, at least he has a hand free this time -- and that will make life a little easier.

You always have to find that bright spot!

Merry Christmas

If I don't get a chance to sit down and write a few words before Monday, I hope everyone has a great Christmas. Thanks for all your love and support over the years.

This and That

As we head toward Christmas it seems as if there are always a lot of loose ends to tie up. But I guess that is the way this goes isn't it. It's a little harder for me to get to some of those things but I keep plugging away at it.

My son gets home this week and I am going to see if I can get him to give this page a new look. After several years it needs a face lift.

I worry about a lot of things these days. And I am worried about those climbers out in Oregon. I don't know them but I am so worried about them --one has been found dead and I fear for the others. I can't imagine what their families must be going through. I'm almost obsessed about it -- wanting to check the news all the time to see if they have been found.

I got to ice skating this past weekend in Savannah. There were way too many kids on the ice and it was extremely loud so of course that was a problem, but at least I got to skate. I hope that when Alan is home I will get to skate again.

Lots of friends to see this week. That is a good thing. Fortunately these are people that I get to see all the time. I feel good about that -- that these are "fair weathered" friends if you will. It's nice to have these people in my life. I wish some of my friends in Illinois were closer as well as my family so I could see them more often. I know they know that they stay in my thoughts all the time.

I know this post kind of went from topic to topic. My mind is jumping around a lot today. That's why it is titled "This and That".

Holiday Time

Well, it is just a few short weeks until Christmas. Although everything is decked out for Christmas, it doesn't seem like Christmas to me. That is probably because it is so warm here. It gets cold here in the south occasionally but it doesn't stay cold. But it is suppose to be 70 degrees here today. And, through next week in the 60's. I'm going to Savannah tomorrow for a couple of days and it will be even warmer there. Hopefully, by the time the 25th rolls around it will be at least in the 50's? Here's hoping.

Plus, it really won't feel like Christmas until our son comes home. That will be next week and then maybe it will help liven up the season.

More coverage on CBS News with Katie Couric

is scheduled for tonight, Wednesday December 13th. The story is to be on Early On-Set Alzheimer's. I'm so pleased for all this media attention. Help me again by thanking the media for the coverage. There was also a story last night about Alzheimer's disease in general. CBS' email address is http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/feedback/fb_news_form.shtml.

NBC Nightly News

is running a feature tonight (12/11) on Early On Set Alzheimer's disease. Please catch it if you can and let NBC news know that you appreciate their coverage. They can be emailed at nightly@nbc.com. CBS is also working on some coverage of this as well. The National office of the Alzheimer's Assn. in Chicago has been behind all this publicity and it is great. The more we get the word out, the better the understanding of the disease and the bigger push to find a cure.

Holiday Season

Every year we say that we can't believe it is time for Christmas again.....but come it does. I am one of these people that shop all year round, but now I forget what I buy so it makes it harder! I've started keeping lists, but then I forget to put things down on my list! But, in the end, I don't think anyone will be forgotten and if they are, they will certainly understand.

I'm anxious for my son to be home. He's coming in later than usual this year, and it will seem as if Christmas is a bit rushed. However, he is staying until after the first of the year so we will still be able to have time together. That time becomes more and more valuable to me.

The shopping crowds are a bit too much for me, so it is a good thing I do shopping throughout the year. Panic attacks set in rather quickly these days and all those people are just a little overwhelming for me.

The cold has gripped the South today and will be with us for a few days. Being a native midwesterner I miss the cold and snow sometimes. Having 60 and 70 degree weather in the winter just doesn't seem right.

US News and World Report

Has this article on their website today. This issue will be on newstands next week. It's a good read.

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/health/articles/061203/11alzheimers.htm

Time

It's gift giving season and it's hard to know what to buy some of my friends and family. I know some of my family members are having a hard time buying things for me......but when it comes right down to it.....I don't need anything. If I want something I usually go and buy it.

I say I don't need anything, but then I do. I need time. I don't know if "time" is considered a "thing" or not, but just the same I need time.

Time to spend with my family. Time to spend with my friends. I realize how precious that time is as my disease progresses and that is what is so valuable to me.

When we are babies time is inconsequential.
When we are children, time doesn't seem to go by fast enough.
When we are teens, it seems like forever before you turn 16 and get your driver's license.
Then it is an eternity waiting until you turn 21.
After that, those big birthdays that end in "0" come all too quickly.
Suddenly, you turn around and wonder where all the time has gone.

Time, spend it wisely. You never know when you are going to run out.