JOAN’S BLOG – TUE/WED., FEBRUARY 15/16, 2011 – ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND THE WESTMINSTER DOG SHOW

It is a fabulous February day here in Southern Florida. Bright blue sky, low humidity, light breeze, and sparkling sunshine. It Is in the middle of the afternoon, and instead of working in my office on the website, insurance issues related to my upcoming surgery, and banking business, I am sitting at the pool with Sid next to me. I should be inside working. I would be inside working, but he will not go to the pool – approximately 50 steps from my front door- without me. If I did not accompany him, he would stay cooped up in the house all day. It is like that lately – he needs me by his side, or at least in the same house/area as he is. So here I am, writing my blog on a large yellow legal pad. Okay, how bad can it be, considering the weather here and the weather in the rest of the country?

I bring up this “togetherness” subject, because there is little left of our Pre Alzheimer life. I still have my physical and mental independence, but he does not have his. I can come and go as I please. He cannot. My mind is always working, thinking, spinning. His is not. I am his world. He feels the need to be with me all of the time, even if there is no conversation. He does not have much to say about anything anyway, and I have to explain much of what I say to him.

Yet, it is possible to find a little joy of the old relationship in the most unexpected places. So it was with delight that I realized we could share an experience, and discuss it ‘like ole times’ when we watched the Westminster Dog Show Monday night. This has been an annual event in our house since 1986 at least, and maybe before that. You know from my blogs how much we adore dogs. We had a dog before we had a baby. Actually, we had one baby and over the years (36 years to be exact) had 4 dogs. It is with great sadness that there is no dog in our lives now, but I will crack if I have to take on one more responsibility.

The Westminster Dog Show is our Super Bowl. We comment on every player (dog), every move, their abilities, personalities, and of course, their appearances. Sid has his favorite types – large furry dogs with pointy ears. He is disdainful of most small dogs. I, on the other hand, have a few dogs I do not particularly like, but love all of the rest. Even those with faces only a mother could love. I can find an endearing trait in most any dog. (Except the Pekingese who won in its category Monday night)

On Monday night, while watching the 135th Annual Westminster Dog Show, it was as if Alzheimer’s Disease had never invaded our lives. Sid, was, as always, smitten with the German Shepherd – “Look at that beautiful face!  What a dog!” As he has done for 40 years, he howled when the Yorkshire Terrier was presented. “Yuck!  Uck! A rat with fur! (My apologies to Yorkie lovers out there – I just report the news – don’t kill the messenger.) “How can he see where he’s going?” was his response to the Old English Sheepdog. As the Keeshond paraded before our eyes, he yelled, “Hey, there’s a Honey dog!”, referring to our first dog, who was a Keeshond named Honey.

It has always been fun for us to “read between the lines” of the commentator’s description of the various dogs’ personalities. We knew darn well that an “independent thinking, active, curious” dog meant one who was stubborn, hyperactive, and into everything. I was thrilled to find out that in spite of AD, Sid was still able to glean the real meaning behind the euphemistic commentary. We laughed together about the dog who “ needs an owner who loves exercise”. We knew it was not a dog for us.

We had a lot of fun Monday night, watching and commenting on all the dogs, as well as the “fashion” of the handlers. I look forward to tonight’s line up, as well as the crowning of the “Best in Show”. As we always have, we will cheer if our favorite wins, and gripe and groan if our least favorite wins. The dogs of the Westminster Dog Show are bringing out a little bit of our Pre Alzheimer days. Just another joy dogs bring to our lives.

©Copyright 2011 Joan Gershman 
The Alzheimer Spouse LLC
2011 All Rights Reserved
Under penalty of copyright laws, this information cannot be copied or posted on any website, media, or print outlet, without referencing the author and website from which it was taken.

The material included on this website contains general information intended as information only. This site is not intended to provide personal, professional, medical, or psychological advice, and should not be relied upon to govern behavior in any certain or particular circumstances. The opinions in the blogs are solely those of the owner of the website. The opinions on the message boards are not necessarily endorsed by the owner of this website, and are the opinions of those persons writing the messages. All material on this web site is for demonstration and informational purposes only.           

The Alzheimer Spouse LLC 2010 All Rights Reserved