Happy New Year

The holidays have been nice, but now it is time to get back to reality. It was great having Alan and Jennifer home, but with all the extra "stuff" that accompanies Alan (no offense Son) it was starting to get on my nerves. I had to take all the Christmas stuff down shortly after Christmas Day because I was starting to have panic attacks. Have to get back to that routine you know!!!

One thing I enjoy most about the holidays is hearing from friends you don't hear from often. I love getting Christmas cards and I like to send them as well. What worries me is when I don't hear from some one that has been sending cards and letters for years and then I don't hear from them. I'm going to make an effort to contact them and hope that they are well. When I was diagnosed with Alzheimer's I realized how much my family and friends meant to me. I've said it here before that it is a shame that something has to strike you before you realize what is important in life -- but you hear many people say that. So, it has been important to me to remain friends and reconnect with friends I have let slip by the wayside. This past fall, a friend of mine popped back in my life that I was so grateful for. We had been friends for years professionally and when we both switched jobs we kind of lost track of each other. Then I ran into her in a local deli and I was so excited to see her and catch up on her life. Unfortunately, I learned that her husband too was suffering from dementia. She was glad to run into me as well and we shared notes and reconnected our friendship. That has meant so much to me.

If you are looking for a new year's resolution -- don't look far. Look to re-establish or to at least strengthen your friendships. You'll be glad you did.