JOAN’S LABOR DAY BLOG – MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2008 – SOCIAL NETWORKING AMONG OUR MEMBERS

I do hope everyone is getting a chance this holiday weekend to relax a bit and spend some time with family. Our pool plans keep being dashed by clouds and rain. We always seem to be on one end or the other of a hurricane or tropical storm. I am just hoping that Hannah does not turn into anything major for us.

I would like to take the opportunity today to discuss a subject that comes up repeatedly through e-mails and sometimes on the message boards – the desire of many of you to connect with each other.  My most recent message board discussion on this topic explains that I do not get anyone’s e-mail address when they sign up for the message boards, and I have no way of getting you in touch with one another.

HOWEVER, since so many of you are curious about each other, and would like to connect by exchanging pictures, e-mails, phone numbers, and other personal information, I have decided to put up a specific section on the subject. This new “Connect with Other Members” section will combine all of the information that is scattered throughout the site and message boards on how to connect, and put it in one place. It will also organize everyone by the States in which they live.

How wonderful it would be if I could promise it would be up and ready by the end of the week, but anyone who lives with a spouse with Alzheimer’s Disease knows that life is unpredictable, busy, and can change in a second. All I can say is – stay tuned for the “Connect with Other Members” section. It is in the works.

And do not forget about the Caregiver Cruise – Many of us are going to meet in person in February on the ship . Did I mention that we are having a book signing party on the ship? Teena Cahill will be signing her book - The Cahill Factor - Turning Adversity into Advantage, and she wants my book to be ready so we can have a "twin signing" party. I'm working on it.

Feedback to joan@thealzheimerspouse.com