Lawdy Miss Daisey

Just when I think I know something, I don't.

 I use my intuition, grit, determination, humor and love to navigate mom through the uncharted waters of what Alzheimer's and Dementia is for her.  It works.  For me.

My sister.... not so much.  When she's home to visit she gets tossed overboard and caught in rip tides that utterly take her by surprise.  Most of what works for me does not work for her when it comes to sticky situations: mom spending what should be grocery money on flowers and crochet supplies, a zillion trips to the grocery store for ice cream, not dinner or lunch ingredients.  She simply cannot talk her out of things and redirect her in some situations. Because sis has a car this trip, mom insists on going out more than usual.  Then mom sounds more like mom and not dementia mom prompting responses from sis that aren't...workable. I so feel for her.  I've been there.

No one wants to spend the time we have together sitting in frustration.  We know that time is precious and we don't know how much of the good stuff we have left.

All of this leaves me feeling just plain awkward and somewhat useless.  I can't help my sister as much as I want to help her. And neither she nor I can figure out what would work better in these situations.  At least right now, this moment.

This is a part of why yoga is so important for Dreamer.  It's calming, centering.  A place to recharge and reset, to try again with fresh eyes and perspective.

Humor and wit serve me well, for Dreamer it's yoga.

And to be fair, I understand why mom wrote dad's death date all over the place....but I'm not staying there and looking at those notes scattered around the house.  I'm so sorry you came home to those notes - I didn't know she had done that.

We calm ourselves, center and start fresh - often several times a day.  We center and keep loving, even in the rip tides.