Gratitude #83 - Sweet Biddies!
13 years ago
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
names
I need to tell you about some of the politicians in my state.
Interesting names they have.
Our governor is a chap whose first name is Butch. I am not making this up. His last name is Otter, which once was a very fine seaplane I am told. Butch has been our governor about a year now, he is having trouble with the members of his own party, but that is how it works.
Up to the time he became governor, his biggest claim to fame was to divorce the daughter of the richest man in the state. For a bill or so you would think they could get along.
Our Senator has been in the news a lot lately, so I’l leave that one alone. His name is kind of run of the mill anyway: Larry.
Hmm had a son in law by that name once. Daughter divorced him.
The other Senator, and I am not making this up either, is named Mike Crapo, pronounced with a hard A.
Our representative in congress is just finishing his first term. Someone calculate the influence of each congress person, this guy came out one from the bottom, so he is hardly a powerhouse. Our Larry senator is not too much higher right now.
Anyway, the first name of our congressman is Bill, which is fine enough. His last is pronounced Sally, but is spelled Sali.
I am not sure about the congress person, but the others two are decent guys, though I don’t think I voted for either of them, oh well.
Names aren’t really funny in the classical make fun of the dumb kid in 2nd grade sort of a thing, but unusual names are a kick.
Just ask Jay Leno!
ps. There is a minor pol who is running for something or other in my state and he legally had his name changed to Prochoice so it would show on the ballot. Of course, I wonder, will he change it back later?
Interesting names they have.
Our governor is a chap whose first name is Butch. I am not making this up. His last name is Otter, which once was a very fine seaplane I am told. Butch has been our governor about a year now, he is having trouble with the members of his own party, but that is how it works.
Up to the time he became governor, his biggest claim to fame was to divorce the daughter of the richest man in the state. For a bill or so you would think they could get along.
Our Senator has been in the news a lot lately, so I’l leave that one alone. His name is kind of run of the mill anyway: Larry.
Hmm had a son in law by that name once. Daughter divorced him.
The other Senator, and I am not making this up either, is named Mike Crapo, pronounced with a hard A.
Our representative in congress is just finishing his first term. Someone calculate the influence of each congress person, this guy came out one from the bottom, so he is hardly a powerhouse. Our Larry senator is not too much higher right now.
Anyway, the first name of our congressman is Bill, which is fine enough. His last is pronounced Sally, but is spelled Sali.
I am not sure about the congress person, but the others two are decent guys, though I don’t think I voted for either of them, oh well.
Names aren’t really funny in the classical make fun of the dumb kid in 2nd grade sort of a thing, but unusual names are a kick.
Just ask Jay Leno!
ps. There is a minor pol who is running for something or other in my state and he legally had his name changed to Prochoice so it would show on the ballot. Of course, I wonder, will he change it back later?
Saturday, April 5, 2008
homecoming
Miriam and I went to high school together.
It was and is a rather quaint school in many ways. Owned and operated by a church that takes education quite seriously, it had less than a hundred students when we were there in the ’50’s. The school accommodated students who lived in or near the school, or those who lived away, with a dormitory. Miriam’s family lived 165 miles up the road, so she lived in the dorm, while I lived in what we called “the village.”
My family, and to a lesser degree Miriam’s, have been involved with the school for generations. My aunts and uncles all went to school here, as did most of Miriam’s siblings. Our daughters are graduates, but it looks like that is the end of our family’s involvement. Our grandkids go to other good schools (or home school).
This weekend is homecoming for the alumni, and the school is celebrating it’s 90th year. Graduates and former students come from a good ways to spend a weekend with friends remembering the old times. The Alumni group spend a lot of time finding and encouraging the classes who graduated 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 years ago to attend. For church tomorrow, we will have 600 people.
It is a minor big deal. Since the school is located in the town we live in, we attend every year. I have been secretary, vice president and for the last two years president of the association.
So it was particularly relaxing last night, to go and not be in charge, to not have the be concerned about much of anything, but enjoying the program and friends.
Miriam saw a few old friends, but they seemed to confuse her a bit. It was the first time I have seen her just plain mixed up on that level. Her friends know of her disease, and were wonderful to her. Lots of hugs and “how are you Miriam”.
When we left, it was way after dark, and as we walked along I noticed her having trouble judging cracks in the side walk, of not handling curbs as well, and of the usual questions about where the car was.
Times like that are hard on the old guy.
This evening, the program was mercifully short (some of mine were way too long), and very interesting.
Once again I was reminded of friends and of how important they are, and to you Miriam, thanks for being my friend for all of these years. I love you.
It was and is a rather quaint school in many ways. Owned and operated by a church that takes education quite seriously, it had less than a hundred students when we were there in the ’50’s. The school accommodated students who lived in or near the school, or those who lived away, with a dormitory. Miriam’s family lived 165 miles up the road, so she lived in the dorm, while I lived in what we called “the village.”
My family, and to a lesser degree Miriam’s, have been involved with the school for generations. My aunts and uncles all went to school here, as did most of Miriam’s siblings. Our daughters are graduates, but it looks like that is the end of our family’s involvement. Our grandkids go to other good schools (or home school).
This weekend is homecoming for the alumni, and the school is celebrating it’s 90th year. Graduates and former students come from a good ways to spend a weekend with friends remembering the old times. The Alumni group spend a lot of time finding and encouraging the classes who graduated 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 years ago to attend. For church tomorrow, we will have 600 people.
It is a minor big deal. Since the school is located in the town we live in, we attend every year. I have been secretary, vice president and for the last two years president of the association.
So it was particularly relaxing last night, to go and not be in charge, to not have the be concerned about much of anything, but enjoying the program and friends.
Miriam saw a few old friends, but they seemed to confuse her a bit. It was the first time I have seen her just plain mixed up on that level. Her friends know of her disease, and were wonderful to her. Lots of hugs and “how are you Miriam”.
When we left, it was way after dark, and as we walked along I noticed her having trouble judging cracks in the side walk, of not handling curbs as well, and of the usual questions about where the car was.
Times like that are hard on the old guy.
This evening, the program was mercifully short (some of mine were way too long), and very interesting.
Once again I was reminded of friends and of how important they are, and to you Miriam, thanks for being my friend for all of these years. I love you.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
damocles
Remember the story Damocles and the sword?
Hero Damocles was the courier of a very rich and fortunate Greek ruler/tyrant named
Dionysius. Dionysius offered to trade places with Damocles for one day just to show him how it was to be the ruler. In the evening they had this huge feast, Damocles enjoyed himself as he ate and drank.
Then he looked up and there was a large very sharp sword hanging over his head, held up by a single horse hair. Damocles lost his appetite. The ruler had conveyed the message of how, as ruler, their lives are shadowed by constant fear.
Well I am not a ruler, but there is a certain dread in my life.
For a long long time I have had this rather unsettling feeling. It is hard to describe, sort of like the lights being turned down a notch, or having a fish net thrown over your head.
It might well be part of this Az thing. We know the first chapter in the book, but not the last ones. We would gladly read ahead, but that is not allowed. We have to do this thing, literally, a day at a time.
One week Miriam is working at the job she loved, and the next she is unemployed, retired and soon she was diagnosed with Early Alz. It was the sentence of death, and we both knew it.
In a way when we are born we are sentenced to death. The end is part of the beginning, in ways we don’t find comfortable.
And even if I can’t describe it accurately, I have come to understand the courier Damocles.
Hero Damocles was the courier of a very rich and fortunate Greek ruler/tyrant named
Dionysius. Dionysius offered to trade places with Damocles for one day just to show him how it was to be the ruler. In the evening they had this huge feast, Damocles enjoyed himself as he ate and drank.
Then he looked up and there was a large very sharp sword hanging over his head, held up by a single horse hair. Damocles lost his appetite. The ruler had conveyed the message of how, as ruler, their lives are shadowed by constant fear.
Well I am not a ruler, but there is a certain dread in my life.
For a long long time I have had this rather unsettling feeling. It is hard to describe, sort of like the lights being turned down a notch, or having a fish net thrown over your head.
It might well be part of this Az thing. We know the first chapter in the book, but not the last ones. We would gladly read ahead, but that is not allowed. We have to do this thing, literally, a day at a time.
One week Miriam is working at the job she loved, and the next she is unemployed, retired and soon she was diagnosed with Early Alz. It was the sentence of death, and we both knew it.
In a way when we are born we are sentenced to death. The end is part of the beginning, in ways we don’t find comfortable.
And even if I can’t describe it accurately, I have come to understand the courier Damocles.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
bring down the flag, Emily has gone home
It is a bit quieter here now, and more than a bit lonely.
We love you Emily, come back soon.
And thanks Linda for sending Emily.
Grandkids are all special. We have eleven (maybe even 13, depending on the method of counting). Time with each of them is special.
None of them come to visit as often as I might like.
But when they come here or when we go to their houses, it is so good to be in their company.
As you can tell, I am very fond of each of my grandkids.
Friday, March 28, 2008
my brother
Ben is an expert skier, has been for much of his life. This picture was taken last week when he was skiing with his daughter here in Idaho.
I wasn't there and didn't take the picture, but Ben is obviously enjoying the moment.
consequences
The law of unintended consequences is alive and well.
I took a pill to help my blood pressure and it affects my stomach. I take a pill to help me cope and it makes me sleepy, change to a different pill and I deal with insomnia.
Last year we went to court to get guardianship of Miriam. Mostly it was done so we could be sure of access to her records and care for her better.
A week or so ago I got a letter from the court. I had missed a deadline filing a form. I didn’t even know about it, or didn’t pay enough attention. So yesterday we went to the court house (Emily went with me) to find the correct form.
Turns out I have to file a list of Miriam’s assets. That is complicated by the fact that we live in a community property state, and what is hers is mine, and visa versa.
So the court wants a list of all of our assets. “Anything of $100 value or more.” Wow, think of that one. I have a shop full of tools. Used tools are not very valuable, or even salable, by the way.
We don’t have stocks, bonds, wide investments of any sort, so that part is simple, but I have to list my cars, my 4 trailers, house and so on. There is no way I will list each of my hundreds of tools. I’ll do some generalization.
Then each December I have to file another form to explain what I did with Miriam's income for that year. Since her income is very low that is not hard, but it still is a form I need to fill out and submit.
Who has guardianship of who here?
Oh well. I still think we made the right move.
I took a pill to help my blood pressure and it affects my stomach. I take a pill to help me cope and it makes me sleepy, change to a different pill and I deal with insomnia.
Last year we went to court to get guardianship of Miriam. Mostly it was done so we could be sure of access to her records and care for her better.
A week or so ago I got a letter from the court. I had missed a deadline filing a form. I didn’t even know about it, or didn’t pay enough attention. So yesterday we went to the court house (Emily went with me) to find the correct form.
Turns out I have to file a list of Miriam’s assets. That is complicated by the fact that we live in a community property state, and what is hers is mine, and visa versa.
So the court wants a list of all of our assets. “Anything of $100 value or more.” Wow, think of that one. I have a shop full of tools. Used tools are not very valuable, or even salable, by the way.
We don’t have stocks, bonds, wide investments of any sort, so that part is simple, but I have to list my cars, my 4 trailers, house and so on. There is no way I will list each of my hundreds of tools. I’ll do some generalization.
Then each December I have to file another form to explain what I did with Miriam's income for that year. Since her income is very low that is not hard, but it still is a form I need to fill out and submit.
Who has guardianship of who here?
Oh well. I still think we made the right move.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
mm
Emily has arrived, accompanied by this box of chocolates.
We are glad Emily arrived, with or without the chocolates.
http://www.moonstruckchocolate.com/Catalog_Product.aspx?catid=4&prodid=854
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
i dunno
Where do we go from here?
There is a site for Alzheimer’s spouses and that question was posed there. Do you have thoughts and maybe even plans for after this is over?
I wrote the following:
My wife was diagnosed 8 years ago. At that time I began to read and realized that she could be gone very soon, and I thought a good bit about life after her.
But now the disease has been with us for a long time, and we are getting older, and now I almost think that when I loose her, I will be lost too.
It is that part of the equasion that freezes my mind.
Like life now, I guess it will be one day at a time.
And that is the awful part of all of this.
I guess that about sums up the hope and dispair that is part of this journey.
Maybe our calling in life is to help our loved one be as comfortable as possible, and then to call it a game.
I don’t know.
There is a site for Alzheimer’s spouses and that question was posed there. Do you have thoughts and maybe even plans for after this is over?
I wrote the following:
My wife was diagnosed 8 years ago. At that time I began to read and realized that she could be gone very soon, and I thought a good bit about life after her.
But now the disease has been with us for a long time, and we are getting older, and now I almost think that when I loose her, I will be lost too.
It is that part of the equasion that freezes my mind.
Like life now, I guess it will be one day at a time.
And that is the awful part of all of this.
I guess that about sums up the hope and dispair that is part of this journey.
Maybe our calling in life is to help our loved one be as comfortable as possible, and then to call it a game.
I don’t know.
Monday, March 24, 2008
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