Thursday, December 26, 2013.....Who sent us that card....

We are still getting cards and today we got one with a letter - Mac noticed and asked who sent it, well it was from an old friend - actually a girl whose parents and mine were close - so she was more like a cousin...and since she put us up to date about her life, I thought i'd just copy and paste my update to her in this blog, so for those of you who know all about us, this will be kind of a bore, so you can just stop now...

 

Hi Anna,

Just received your Christmas card and letter putting us up to date with your life , thanks so much.  I can't recall if i sent you a card - hope so - keep busy with mac so not always on target...Although..this move has been a good one for Mac and I, as you probably remember he has Alzheimers and here we have help in so many ways , i.e. an aide gets Mac  ready for the day and another gets him ready for night..and there is a nursing staff if necessary, meals etc, although i do most of our meals  we do go to the dining room about twice a week..

 

Somehow i seem to be going all the time, if I'm not washing clothes, i'm getting him ready to go out for a walk - baking, or visiting , going to doc or dentist etc.but the big thing is walking, which he is not keen to do in this weather, actually I'm not either i'd rather be skiing, but walking is so good for both of us..we don't go too far before we are both enjoying the cold fresh air -if it's too cold there is a shopping center nearby, he needs the walk, it stimulates his brain, actually mine too.  In these cold days it's great to come home to hot chocolate and cookies.

 

We love the ambiance here in lachine, not too far from the lake - it's heavenly in the summer...Sundays Mac and i walk to our beautiful St. Stephens heritage church (it's anglican) and really tiny about 40 pews in a stone bldg. 191 years old...he still does not like church but sits in the back quietly with me-too cold for him to sit outdoors which he did in the spring, summer and fall.  Christmas eve service was lovely and for once the church was filled up.

 

The people in the church are so so caring, .  of course we can't walk there in this weather,from our home here on 32nd to  church on 12th,  but someone usually come for us and brings us back.  Wednesdays we go to a study group,  mac does not participate, but sits and listens, once he said at the end...so much blah blah, and so little thought....which on some days is  so right.

 

The Seniors club -  The Teapot is on the lake at the bottom of our street...has a special bus to take seniors  shopping once a week,we have used this a couple of times - there's  a fun group of people and many different activities...we get there about once a week - this January there is special dinner for those whose birthdays are from Oct. to Jan.  Mac's bd is in jan. so we will probably go ...we already knew people here in Lachine, before we moved so that was, in a sense,  a really easy choice of location. 

 

There are also activities in our building, yoga, exercise class, bingo, oko - a kind of bingo with cards - music therapy with a neat guitar playing man called Richard, a library, birthday party day once a month...mac is not into these activities,except the music,  actually i'm not keen on bingo either..but we do the exercise and also at times  yoga but i prefer to go to yoga at the Dorval Community center.  .i have a respite person who looks after Mac - once a week - usually Tuesdays - have different functions i attend such as Book Club, Alzheimer's support meetings, and visit with friends... 

 

So that's about it for how we spend our days...our family had a great time this christmas, we are about 28 people with all the grankids and their boyfriends and girlfriends, plus i think you know we have a great grandaughter, Finley, who is really precious...We get to see one or another of the kids every weekend, either we go for dinner or they come here, and with so many in the family we always have a birthday to celebrate besides the usual holiday celebrations

 

Living with someone who has Alzheimer's is a challenge , but as I always say, rather be with Mac then without, so this is the best situation for us...there is a 2nd floor for those whose case is too hard for a spouse or partner to manage..and although i know it's there and may have to have Mac there some day, i'm not at that place yet - and live in the  hope it will never happen.  Mac is humourous and mostly fun to be with, of course many times  out of it, cranky, miserable,not always able to express himself, and definitely needs care, physically and mentally, but still loving and lights up my life, so that's it for this Christmas...

 

bye for now...love, janet