Rescuing Ourselves | Alzheimer’s and dementia

In case anyone wonders why there have been few posts here recently, for which I apologize, this is the reason.

My wife/lifelong partner has been suffering from Alzheimer’s/dementia for years, along with some severe physical disabilities. I am her chief caregiver. We have entered the late stages and as much as you can read about dementia, etc., nothing really prepares you for the reality.

It’s like being Alice going down the rabbit hole, except that instead of the colorful, sometimes delightful, wonderland she meets, this one is mostly dark and always getting darker. There are light moments, but they pass quickly.

As you approach the end-game it doesn’t get any better. In chess the game gets simpler as you approach the end. You only need to read a book or two and you can play like a master. But in the Alzheimer’s game the end grows evermore difficult and disturbing. The rules change in front of your eyes and you are never ready for your opponent’s next move.

So, I don’t have a lot of time for writing. Although I have three novels that I’ve been working on for some time, I’ve had to put them back on the shelf. However, I have many drafts of posts that have been waiting for my attention, sometimes for years. I’ve been searching these for a few that are more or less ready.  I hope to produce some over the holiday season.