Humor? F@#k ya!
It seems over the last month or so, Voyageur has become more of a Pollyanna than me :) I believe being a primary caregiver can bring out true strength of character. Yea, she gets to see all the crappy progression of dementia, but she also gets to experience Mom's wicked sense of humor. What I have found to be the most fascinating - at a time when Mom lost her best friend, the man she loved for over 2/3 of her life - and now with a diagnosis of a crazy disease that eats away her brain - Mom loves her kids with every ounce of her fiber (and tells us and shows us again and again) and finds crazy silly humor in the midst of chaos. The sweetest lemonade from the tartest of lemons.
The majority of my life I never really saw my mom. I've always loved her - but to me she was the quiet one who wanted her kids to have 'traditional' jobs - work 9-5, save for retirement, retire after 30 years from the same job - I guess I saw her as 'boring'. My dad was adventurous, outspoken, Yoda-like, believed in the impossible. I have come to realize Mom has always had those qualities too (not as adventurous as Dad - she will say the same). She is teaching me the value of humor in all aspects of life - she says stuff that wouldn't translate as well reading, but is hysterical and has me quickly in tears from laughing so hard.
So I will leave you with some links - some are good for reference, some for busting a gut.
Bill Cosby
Maria Shriver
US Against Alzheimers
Crazy Sexy Cancer (Not dementia-related, but incredibly inspiring)
Cats playing pattycake
Ellen DeGeneres
The majority of my life I never really saw my mom. I've always loved her - but to me she was the quiet one who wanted her kids to have 'traditional' jobs - work 9-5, save for retirement, retire after 30 years from the same job - I guess I saw her as 'boring'. My dad was adventurous, outspoken, Yoda-like, believed in the impossible. I have come to realize Mom has always had those qualities too (not as adventurous as Dad - she will say the same). She is teaching me the value of humor in all aspects of life - she says stuff that wouldn't translate as well reading, but is hysterical and has me quickly in tears from laughing so hard.
So I will leave you with some links - some are good for reference, some for busting a gut.
Bill Cosby
Maria Shriver
US Against Alzheimers
Crazy Sexy Cancer (Not dementia-related, but incredibly inspiring)
Cats playing pattycake
Ellen DeGeneres