Not really a good memory item today, Mac not a happy camper when i go away, so since had to be away today..our walk and we did have that was a quiet one...I do have a good support person supplied from the Alzhiemer's Assoc. that comes for me to have respite every Tues, although she came today as i had to go be at a meeting.
Did want to mention our cat Mischa..he is the love of Mac's life and Mac never forgets to check on Mischa when he is out on the leash..makes sure he is in before bed time and makes sure to give him his treats. Recomment a pet for most elderly people, but for sure people with Alzhiemers can only benefit from pets.
For those who have responded to this blog, welcome - love your comments wish i could share them with Mac, but although he knows he has a problem he is not exactly happy to share the knowledge...
Many people think that Alzhiemer patients are off in their own world and do not know they have a problem - this is not the case with Mac...he knows. Just as he knows he should walk with a cane...but will NOT.
So onward and upward...tomorrow we bring the borrowed cane back to the CLSC, when we go for our walk, Wonder who will be using it???hmmm.
Thursday 31 May 2012
Wednesday 30 May 2012
Another day another memory...Wednesday May 30, 2012
This memory came as we did our usual daily walk. We could hear children out in the school yard playing at their lunch time. This made me think of the news on t.v. and in the paper these days about bullying, so mentioned this to Mac.
He said, I remember back in my days in St. Henri, we used to play on the street, both the French kids and English, we usually got along o.k. but one day a big kid came over from another street. I didn't know him and at that time I was going over to get my friend Bob, when all of a sudden this big French kid started to walk along beside me, elbowing me and saying eh, eh, eh, the other kids were all watching us, and I realized he was spoiling for a fight, so before he could do anything, I just hauled off and socked him in the face He was shocked and stunned, and ran off to his own street, the kids all watching giggled and looked happy about it, seems he was being a bully to them too. I think kids have got to learn to stand their ground.
Well that's often easier said than done. I told him a girl interviewed on t.v considered herself a bully,she said, you will probably never find a happy easy going kid being a bully, a bully is usually very sad inside.
Mac said well for sure this kid was not too happy when he ran away.
One other memory Mac this he says just about every second day, it usually starts with him saying...'we have been together a long time eh?" I usually answer "yes, going on 60 years" - his answer to this is "well we must have been apart for a really long time"..that's when I say, well really no, it's just because of your memory loss, you can't remember being together all those years" then he says, "well we have kids ...Leslie, Gaye, Valerie, Glenna and Maureen...but today he added, didn't we have one that died? Well No.. on thinking of this later am wondering if he is mixing up our families, as my sister had a baby in 1956 or thereabouts who died, I remember she was going to call this baby Carla for my dad Carl. We were all so sad and it certainly was a very emotional time and would definitely stay in our minds.
Some days I say do you remember my name,today his answer with a sparkle in his eye..hummm yeah Tommy right? Then he put his arm around me and said, you are Janet... oh happy day.
He said, I remember back in my days in St. Henri, we used to play on the street, both the French kids and English, we usually got along o.k. but one day a big kid came over from another street. I didn't know him and at that time I was going over to get my friend Bob, when all of a sudden this big French kid started to walk along beside me, elbowing me and saying eh, eh, eh, the other kids were all watching us, and I realized he was spoiling for a fight, so before he could do anything, I just hauled off and socked him in the face He was shocked and stunned, and ran off to his own street, the kids all watching giggled and looked happy about it, seems he was being a bully to them too. I think kids have got to learn to stand their ground.
Well that's often easier said than done. I told him a girl interviewed on t.v considered herself a bully,she said, you will probably never find a happy easy going kid being a bully, a bully is usually very sad inside.
Mac said well for sure this kid was not too happy when he ran away.
One other memory Mac this he says just about every second day, it usually starts with him saying...'we have been together a long time eh?" I usually answer "yes, going on 60 years" - his answer to this is "well we must have been apart for a really long time"..that's when I say, well really no, it's just because of your memory loss, you can't remember being together all those years" then he says, "well we have kids ...Leslie, Gaye, Valerie, Glenna and Maureen...but today he added, didn't we have one that died? Well No.. on thinking of this later am wondering if he is mixing up our families, as my sister had a baby in 1956 or thereabouts who died, I remember she was going to call this baby Carla for my dad Carl. We were all so sad and it certainly was a very emotional time and would definitely stay in our minds.
Some days I say do you remember my name,today his answer with a sparkle in his eye..hummm yeah Tommy right? Then he put his arm around me and said, you are Janet... oh happy day.
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Tuesday May 29,2012 Macsmemory continuing
Today at breakfast Mac had his furrowed eyebrow look, which usually means he is searching his memory...right...he said, "seems to me I can remember we went on a train to Florida.' So that was our honeymoon, Miami beach... Then lo and behold the Gazette featured front page news - The Ritz Carleton hotel had a facelift..showed that to Mac which triggered the memory of our reception after the wedding, we enjoyed that wonderful memory thanks to The Gazette.
When I mentioned that I would be going to my study group and book group, he said o.k. five minutes later...the question was asked - 'where are you going ?'
Well that's the memory for today...
When I mentioned that I would be going to my study group and book group, he said o.k. five minutes later...the question was asked - 'where are you going ?'
Well that's the memory for today...
The Walk for Memories
May 27,2012 Sunday The Walk for Memories
We, Mac, and I as well as Valerie, Gaye, Maureen (three of our four daughters) our Grandaughter Brianna and her sweet Finley our great grandaughter age 4 mos. Gaye's son Chris, Donald husband of Maureen, and their son Noah...were the Team called McConnell Memories...joining us too were our good friends Bruce and Jean Lovell for the walk at the Port in old Montreal.
Our usual walk is a lovely quiet one along the river in Chateauguay, but this was special, at first Mac was hesitant, a little angry, with all the noise of the band, the balloons, the cheerleaders, and hundreds of people - all dressed in blue...but gradually gradually, he became animated, enjoyed the wonderful ambiance of music, fellowship, super sunny weather and fantastic vibes..and to top it off a picnic lunch where Gaye and Valerie both won prizes of tickets to movies and the science center - what luck.
Although we have had many days walking around old Montreal in the past, there was nothing that jogged Mac's memory, his mind was so busy making sure of his footing, and when he did look around, his comments were mostly about the sweet little children running around the picnic area...and wishing he had a pair of sissors to cut the long long pony tail of his Grandson Chris.... later after a nap at home he only remembered the day when i mentioned our baby Finley and Chis's long pony tail...
We, Mac, and I as well as Valerie, Gaye, Maureen (three of our four daughters) our Grandaughter Brianna and her sweet Finley our great grandaughter age 4 mos. Gaye's son Chris, Donald husband of Maureen, and their son Noah...were the Team called McConnell Memories...joining us too were our good friends Bruce and Jean Lovell for the walk at the Port in old Montreal.
Our usual walk is a lovely quiet one along the river in Chateauguay, but this was special, at first Mac was hesitant, a little angry, with all the noise of the band, the balloons, the cheerleaders, and hundreds of people - all dressed in blue...but gradually gradually, he became animated, enjoyed the wonderful ambiance of music, fellowship, super sunny weather and fantastic vibes..and to top it off a picnic lunch where Gaye and Valerie both won prizes of tickets to movies and the science center - what luck.
Although we have had many days walking around old Montreal in the past, there was nothing that jogged Mac's memory, his mind was so busy making sure of his footing, and when he did look around, his comments were mostly about the sweet little children running around the picnic area...and wishing he had a pair of sissors to cut the long long pony tail of his Grandson Chris.... later after a nap at home he only remembered the day when i mentioned our baby Finley and Chis's long pony tail...
Saturday 26 May 2012
my first thoughts
my first thoughts when starting a blog about macs memories is what are his memories, because he has memory loss...but today he remembered living in our first apartment, the busy street with busses, the work to have it lovely and clean for our just newly married state...a beautiful memory ...so that's today and that's mac's memory today...hurrah.
here's a picture from a visit with our great grand daughter, Finley.
here's a picture from a visit with our great grand daughter, Finley.
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