Virtually every time we go to visit Lisa we open the door, walk in the house and announce our arrival. Lisa’s response is usually something about not being able to see who we are. When we ask her how she is, her response is usually “I’m hanging in there.” What does tha...

Well, it has been exactly 8 months since Mr. Ed died. And it is no coincidence that I am writing this on his – or what would have been his - 86th birthday. Ironically, another significant father figure in my life passed away yesterday morning and I am writing this whil...

Those of you who know Lisa and Joseph's true identity know that Joseph is actually my beloved “father-in-law”, Edward Lane Conley, and he boarded his long awaited flight to Mars last Thursday. Yes, "Mister," as I affectionately called him, passed peacefully from our ta...

As usual, I have been overwhelmed with thoughts and emotions that have prevented me from writing in a while. That is why I think this post needs to be about a caregiver’s general cry for help!

There are plenty of resources available for families, friends, caregivers and...

Ok. Its finally time for the long promised blog on Alzheimer’s or Dementia and doctor visits. Joseph was hospitalized for a few days about a month ago. My work with Joseph and Lisa has changed drastically since then.

It all began on a Friday afternoon. I was in the fami...

If you read my blog last week, you might remember that I promised to write about the medical issues that Joseph faced two weeks ago. I do want to write about the challenges of medical treatment and Alzheimer’s disease, but in the meantime, something more pressing has c...

I inadvertently took a week off from my musings. I think it is because I have been so overwhelmed with ideas I want to share that I did not know where to begin. But not writing for a week has felt like I forgot to brush my teeth. So I am back! And now the week off has...

Well, much to my surprise, I completed my first week with Lisa and Joseph without any catastrophes. Despite the fact that I have worked jobs with much longer days, jobs that are more physically and intellectually demanding, and jobs where I communicate with people all...

I am about to add another career to my long list of professional adventures: Caregiver. Next week I begin what I perceive to potentially be my most challenging job yet, caring for an aging couple that has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Well, I should clarify....

The summer Olympics have been over for a week now. My depression from the lack of 24/7 sports to watch is slowly subsiding. Only 1,424 days until the next summer games in Tokyo, 2020! But what will I do with all my spare time for the next four years and what will I use...