Back from DC

Well, I'm back -- tired but back. The trip was really good -- weather was great and we had a good group from Georgia that went. In all we had 8 people from several congressional districts with us. Our goal was to go to Capitol Hill and ask our leigslatures for increased money for research, a coordinated plan to deal with Alzheimer's nationwide and a better way to improve detection, diagnosis and care planning. Rep. David Scott had already signed on for these things and when we returned we got word that Sen. Chambliss had signed on to the bill representing a coordinated plan to deal with Alzheimer's. We met with Representative John Lewis and he was the most gracious man to us. What a civil rights pioneer he has been and it was a pleasure to meet him. He is also very supportive of what the Alzheimer's Association is doing and gives us his complete support.

I'll post some more photos next week -- I'm collecting them from other members that went with us. Thanks to Ginny and Kathy in the state office for setting up interviews and to the national office for putting this together.

I have posted one photo on top though. This photo was taken from Rep. Lewis' office -- rather breathtaking isn't it? The reason I am posting it is that to the right (the round corner building) is the building my son works in. I was going to walk from the Capitol over to meet him for lunch and to meet the judge he works for. I've mentioned the fact before that I have a problem crossing the street -- there are too many visual signals that confuse me. But, I didn't really think much about it when going to see Alan. I walked about 10 minutes from the Capitol and got down to the intersection you see in the photo near that building and I didn't know what to do. I couldn't cross the street. There were a few people milling around but they weren't much help. I thought about calling Alan but he said that he would come down to meet me so I didn't have to go through security twice. So, I stood on the sidewalk and waited for him. He finally emerged from the office building and started walking across the street toward me so I walked toward him. I feel so stupid not being able to do this, but it's just one of those quirky things. I wouldn't have attempted to do that if I knew that he wasn't going to be on the other end. I travelled alone to Washington DC but Alan and Jennifer picked me up at the airport and got me to the hotel just fine.

I got to meet many folks that I have been corresponding through email or through this blog at the conference. That is always great to be able to put a face to an email address.

Diane -- you asked about a scholarship -- I did get a scholarship from national and our state office to attend. I wouldn't have gone without it.

I will write more about the conference and add some more photos next week. Thanks for reading.

Political Action Summit

I'm in DC for the Alzheimer's Political Action Summit. Last night we had a candlelight vigil and David Hyde Pierce was there. We had 11,000 people also join us at the Lincoln Memorial on line through the virtual candlelight vigil as well. Alan and Jennifer joined us and Jennifer shot this group shot and then someone got a shot of them with the Washington Monument behind them. Today we had a luncheon that honored Social Security Commissioner Astrue for his work on adding Early On Set Alzheimer's to the Compassionate Care Allowance. It's been a good meeting so far -- we are off to Capitol Hill for talks with our legislatures tomorrow,

Busy Time

It's been a busy time -- we just returned from Florida, and I'm headed to Atlanta for a few days and then off to DC to the Political Action Summit the Alzheimer's Association is having. I'm doing it pretty much alone (traveling alone) but since my wonderful son in Washington DC I know he will look out for me. I need to remember to pace myself though as I get so tired so quickly.

I'm anxious to get to DC to see many of my Alzheimer's friends -- I "talk" to them a lot over email but it will be nice to see everyone and see how they are doing. And, the staff is so great and accommodating that it will be nice to see them as well. Our state delegation will be heading to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to see our legislators and to ask for more money for research. There is so much more to be done.

I'll try to post while I'm away.

Florida

We just returned from a few days in Florida -- where it was nice and warm -- in the low 80's. We returned and this morning it was 24 degrees outside!

We first went to Gainesville where we saw our beloved Lady Bulldogs lost to the University of Florida in basketball. A disappointing loss to say the least.

Then we headed about four hours south and went to Ft. Myers. My first cousin Laura and Ken live there six months out of the year (the other six months in Wisconsin). I hadn't seen them for many years and we decided that since we were that far south we would go the extra miles and visit. We had a great time and I want to thank them so much for showing us around and being so gracious with their time. A few photos are posted on top -- Ralph and I by a banyon tree on the grounds of Thomas Edison's estate in Ft. Myers along with a few other photos from there. We also went out to Captiva Island and Sannibel Island. The homes there were gorgeous -- it kind of reminded me of a cross between Martha's Vineyard and Hilton Head!

Several things I saw there that I had never seen were a cinnamon tree and an allspice tree. I guess I never knew those spices grew on a tree -- had never really given it much thought but was surprised by them.

Thanks again to Ken and Laura for our royal treatment!

Another thing, I went to Florida with only one of my two Alzheimer's medications -- I forgot them -- imagine that. I did ok since it was only a couple of days, but I'm glad I wasn't alone!

I spoke last night to a really nice group of women at the local Pilot Club. The work with a program called Project Lifesaver International. Project Lifesaver International helps provide rapid response to save lives and reduce potential for serious injury for adults and children who wander due to Alzheimer's, Autism, Down Syndrome, dementia and other related disorders. For more information you can go to www.projectlifesaver.org. This program is provided nationwide. I'd like to thank the ladies there for welcoming me to their meeting last night.

In a few weeks I'll be going to Washington DC for the Alzheimer's Action Summit Advocacy Forum. If any of you that read this blog are going, please let me know as I would love to meet you. The conference is designed for advocates across the nation to meet with their national legislators. For more information you can go to www.alz.org/summit/forum_about.asp

Great news!

This is something that we have been fighting for for a long time! Great victory for Young on-set Alzheimer's patients. Social Security disability earlier. See details here www.alz.org.

Weather

Well, I'm glad I'm not living in DC like my son and daughter-in-law. I am too old for all that snow -- having been a former midwesterner I've "been there done that". But I told my son that he will be able to tell his grandchildren about this storm. My daughter in law Jennifer has taken some beautiful photos of the snow and I have posted a few here. The government has been shut down again today -- but Alan has still been going to work.

Travels

Well, since I last wrote, I've been to Starkville MS and Auburn Alabama for two UGA women's basketball games. Unfortunately we lost both of them, but after returning late last night from one of the games, I don't want to talk about it! We will definitely have better days!

When I went to Auburn, we went on a bus trip with other booster club members. This is usually fun and I won't say it wasn't fun -- i just didn't enjoy it as much and not because we lost. My intention was to get there early enough to get in the front or the back of the bus because of the noise. I knew that if I was sitting in the middle that I would be bombarded by noise coming at me from all angles. Well, my best laid plans as they say didn't work out. I was right in the middle. I did have my earplugs which were a godsend, but I was still not comfortable and was only hoping the bus driver would go faster and faster to get there. We stopped for lunch and I chose not to eat in the restaurant because it was too noisy so I got a little break from it. Coming back wasn't as bad, because we were coming back late and because the crowd was a little more subdued because we lost. I'm not sure if I'll be doing that trip again.

Next Monday -- we are off to the capitol in Atlanta for Alzheimer's Awareness Day. Hopefully we will have a good turnout.

I know I haven't written in a long time. Sorry about that -- couldn't think of much to say. The Public Policy Forum is coming up soon in Washington -- you can get more information at www.alz.org. I guess they are callingit Action Summit this year -- anyway -- I have some conflicting things going on and I'm trying to make it work. Please let me know if any of you that read this are going so if I decide to go we can meet up.

I'm off to Starkville Mississippi in an hour or so to see our UGA Women's basketball team play a game there. I promise I will write more tomorrow when I return.

Thousand Mile Stare

I know I wrote about this book back in December -- but it is now in book stores and I want you to read this book! Gary Reiswig writes about Alzheimer's in his family and it is not only heartbreaking, it is real and from the heart. Everyone needs to read this -- we have to find a cure for everyone -- and especially for families like Gary's. Gary's research reveals a lot and you get a chance to read some things about Alzheimer's that you normally don't have access to. He has done all the work -- please take some time to read this book. If you can't find Thousand Mile Stare at your bookstore, go to the website and order it -- you won't be sorry. www.thethousandmilestare.com