Photos from Thanksgiving

Jennifer and Alan were kind enough to invite us for dinner with Jen's parents. Nice to be a guest for a change! Thanks Alan and Jennifer!

Relaxing after Thanksgiving Dinner

Jen and her mom enjoying the food.

Alan after dinner

Alan and I sharing the swing at the park behind their apartment after dinner.

I love to swing -- although only kids were suppose to be on the swings I couldn't resist!

If I hadn't had a dress on I would have been in the middle of this!

Of course, everyone cleaned their plate!

Lots of good food made by Jen and Alan

Going through our Australian scrapbook with Jennifer's parents.

Alan found this wine in Atlanta -- from Australia -- and the little island where we saw the "Little Penguins".

Jen didn't have to call us twice to the dinner table!

Carving the turkey she made for us!

Thanksgiving

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We can all be grateful for so many things. I'm most grateful for friends and family. Today, I met a new friend. I've known other members of her family for a long time, but never got to actually meet her until today. What a lovely young woman she is. So beautiful, so well spoken, so loving and so down to earth. What a refreshing friend to meet. I'm thankful for that. When you think about it, you don't really meet that many people that truly become friends -- usually just someone you meet in passing. It's a treasure to find a "new friend".

We had a nice quiet Thanksgiving with son and daughter-in-law and her parents in Atlanta yesterday. Jennifer and Alan did most of the cooking and it was nice to sit back and be pampered a bit. I'm glad they are closer to home now and that we can enjoy their company more often.

My friend Ruby

came to visit me today.

Series about Alzheimer's

In today's edition of the Atlanta Journal Consitution, the first articles of several about Alzheimer's is published. The link is here http://www.ajc.com/health/slow-descent-into-the-1224104.html. There will be more articles in the weeks to come. Thought you might want to take a look.

The All Weather Friend's Guide to Alzheimer's Disease

is a book you must get if you are a friend or caregiver to someone with Alzheimer's. This book is a real "hands on" book in helping you to communicate with those that have the disease. Dr. Mary Cail is the author and she has certainly done her research on this book.

After I was first diagnosed people didn't know how to talk to me. They thought (and some still do) that I couldn't think for myself, that I couldn't understand them and they would talk around me, not to me. They would (and some still do) say --"You look great -- you don't have Alzheimer's", or "we all forget things every now and then I'm sure you're fine". They say things like this because they don't know what else to say. Dr. Cail helps you out with this. She gives you avenues to go down with those with the disease -- in all stages of the disease, not just early on-set.

Some of the stories in the book are sad, but you need to read them. It will help you understand the disease from the perspective of someone who has Alzheimer's.

In terms of full disclosure, I must tell you that she has used some things from this blog in her book, but that isn't why you should buy it. She deals with the "elephant in the room" kinds of things that happen on a regular basis to us that have the disease. No one wants to broach the subject but she helps you through this. She shows that we don't have to be "alone" in our disease if our friends and family know how to deal with it. Most Alzheimer's patients and family will tell you that after the diagnosis, friends pull away. You don't get those invitations to go out, you don't get company very often. Dr. Cail tells you how to feel comfortable in those situations.

Some of my friends point blank asked me after my diagnosis -- what should I say to you if I see you and you don't recognize me? I was grateful for the question, because they cared enough to want to know the answer. Today, sometimes I see people I know out shopping and they avoid me -- I don't know if they avoid me because they didn't see me or if they just don't know what to say. I know it's hard. but friends make the effort and this book helps.

Dr. Cail's book can be found on Amazon at
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=The+All-Weather+Friend%27s+Guide+to+Alzheimer%27s+Disease&x=0&y=0

I can't do the book justice here, but if you get the book, you'll be glad you did. And, share it with your friends -- it will help them understand Alzheimer's so much more.

I'm back

Finally getting to the computer to write a few things. We are back, trying to get over the jet lag and also colds we caught on the trip. The trip was great -- guess I really don't need to say that to those that have been to Australia and seen how beautiful it is. I don't remember a lot of what we did, but hopefully going through photos will help me. My daughter-in-law took a lot of photos and they are really great. My husband is going through them now, and I hope to spend some time trying to chronicle our time there. It was a tough trip, but I'm so glad I went. I know it probably wasn't easy traveling with me, but my family didn't let on if it was. When I got tired, Jen and Alan did get to go out on their own and I don't think I held them back too much -- I appreciate everyone's patience with me.

Up close and personal

No explanation needed.

Down Under Part Two

I was having a problem with the computer downloading my first post, but I seem to have corrected it. Things are still going great here in Australia. We have had some amazing experiences. Last night we went to Phillips Island, and saw thousands of "little penguins" come ashore for mating season. You can't take photos of them, but the penguins are only 12 to 13 inches tall and they are so cute. It was really amazing.

Weather is cooperating although we are going to have a little rain today. We are off to Rod Laver's arena today and the site of theAustralian Open. Golf is really cheap to play here but we won't be doing that -- as it takes too much time.

Alan is a great tour guide and getting me around the city pretty well. I get tired, but I'm trying to keep up. Jennifer and Alan are being very patient with me. I thank them for that.

Down Under

Well, we made it Down Under. I wasn't sure if I should kiss the ground or not when I got here as this is something I have always wanted to do. The flight over was long, but certainly worth it.

Sydney reminds me a lot of San Francisco. We toured the infamous opera house yesterday and it was gorgeous. I'll try to post some photos soon. We also spent some time with kangaroos, koalas, wmbats, dingoes, wallabys, and lots of birds yesterday. The variety of birds is just amazing and they are all so colorful.

The harbour is beautiful. As I see things I keep thinking about my friends back home as to what they would like about the city. Pody -- if you are reading this -- this is definitely a city for you and Rick -- with all the art, architecture and boats!!!

The time change has taken a while to get used to. I have sinced stopped asking everyone what day it is.

I have certainly become a follower on this trip. Alan has taken the lead and I am grateful for that. I've had a couple of meltdowns with all the people and the noise, but we have managed that. Sydney is a big city and I have to remember that it has lots of people and that bothers me. But, we are adjusting. Getting my medicine adjusted from morning and night time pills has been interesting. Alan isn't around me that much anymore so it is difficult for him to guess when things might be a problem for me. But, I'm here and I'm enjoying myself. He's taking care of me and that is good! Jennifer is taking lots of photos and once I get some more time on the internet I will try to post some.

The weather has been beautiful. It is the beginning of spring here. And, it is after the "busy season" so it is not as crowded (or so I am told) as it during the peak months.

Our airline, Qantas, is threatening to strike next week and we have four flights left including our return trip home next week. We are watching it carefully, but it would be a shame if we had to stay longer --- although Alan's new employer would not appreciate that much I'm sure.

Lots of seafood here as you can imagine. Sydney is heavily influenced by Asians. We are heading to Melbourne today and we are told that in addition to an Asian flair there as well, it has the second largest Greek population outside of Greece, so that should be interesting.

Thanks for reading -- more soon.

WALK DAY!

We had a beautiful day for our first Walk to End Alzheimer's. Thanks to all who came out, who gave and those that helped plan and work the event. I love you all!