When I worked as a desk clerk in the 90s, I always knew that men from the south - they would call me darling. I was so glad I had the counter between us as I am not comfortable with being called names of endearment (to me) nor being hugged by men. In 1985 while visiting my in-laws, when we went to leave my FIL grabbed me and laid a big kiss on my lips. That was the end of hugging him when leaving. I later figured out that personality change was due to AD.
I am from the South and seems like there is a more "relaxed - familiar" way of greeting others. HOWEVER - a kiss on the mouth from someone other than a loved one is not one of them. I have been the recipent of those full wet sloppy kisses many times and don't like it. I do think it is a way that some will take advantage of the situation when they can. My MIL husband was one of those and they came from the North. He always got a distant handshake after the first time, as did the others. Yuk - poor thing is dead now so shouldn't speak ugly about him.
My husband's job took us to Europe, Asia and New England. I always tried to do "what the Romans do". And I only extend myself in our Southern way to those I know that are in that ball park. I don't think my professors or supervisors in the northern areas where I attended and worked would have kept me very long if I was greeting them with big kisses and hugs :-) Brings a smile to my face thinking about what their reactions would have been. My accent was enough.
I don't think it's just southerners who kiss. I'm a New yorker, and yesterday at church (of course easter) there were many members who we hadn't seen in quite a while. I happened to be ushering and I was getting kisses, and giving them left and right to those folks we hadn't seen since Christmas (lol). But seriously, we do kiss our friends or at least give a hug when we see them.
Have I told you before about the hospice chaplain who comes out every Wednesday to sing and do bible study with my DW? The first week he accompanied their singing by playing our piano, the next week my guitar, and tomorrow he's promised to bring his autoharp -- very talented and full of love and joy. That's the biggest thing going on in my DW's life these days -- she's confused about the details, but sort of remembers it has to do with the church and that someone comes and sings with her, and she asks about it every day. Anyhow, this past Wednesday Reverend Jeff asked her how long since she'd had communion, and she deferred the question to me. We concluded it had been at least two or three years, so he asked her if she'd like him to give her communion. She said she would (she's in favor of anything he suggests, even if she doesn't understand what it means anymore), so he went out to his car and came back in with his handy dandy communion kit, consisting of four silver communion cups in a leather case. He found a couple of wafers in one of the cups and I found a bottle of non-alcoholic wine in the pantry, so he set up shop on a pretty napkin laid on the piano, where he had been playing for her. He found and read the appropriate passages in his bible and then offered her a wafer -- which she just looked at in his hand until he finally placed it between her fingers and steered her hand to her mouth. He finally got her to take it between her lips, where she held it for a long time until he finally persuaded her to chew it up, explaining what it symbolized. Then he gave her the cup of wine, explaining what it symbolized -- and she then surprised both of us by swishing it noisily back and forth like mouthwash --- awwww! He admitted that was a first for him -- someone swishing their communion wine -- and I got it all on video (with his permission) -- funny, but sad at the same time.
The other night, my son made pork chops with Chalula Sauce (kinda like Louisiana Hot Sauce), pasta with butter, and peas. My DH says he meant to put the sauce on the peas (why that would make sense is beyond me, but hey ... its what he wanted), but he poured it on the pasta AND the peas. He ate everything!
The running joke around the house is that my DH is constantly eating everything. We share stories about how my DH ate ALL of the __________ (you can fill in the blank with all kinds of things like ... cookies in the box, brownies in the pan, the rest of the pasta that was enough for all of us to eat another meal (yes, with hot sauce!), and so many many other things). Let me put it this way, my DH is 5'7" and his normal weight was from 165 to 185. He now weighs 220! Less than a year ago, he weighed 192.
Today is a "foodie" day for DH. The phone just rang and he asked me who called. I told him it was just somebody trying to sell something and he said "were they selling something to eat?"
Love it, leave it to you guys to make me laugh on this rainy, rotten day. GC, I really thought you were going to say she did worse! Sharan, DH has FTD, is 6'4 and 250 in 2003 not 300. This is very typical, Jim has only eaten a strange combo once and I fired our Home Health Aide over it, but is hungry constantly. I say, go for it, for once in his life he shouldn't need to worry about his weight. With a life expectancy of less that 2 yrs, he should get pleasure where he can. (Wihin reason :o)
I wouldn't worry about the health issue but I would worry about how I would get him up if he falls. I haven't had that issue yet and I am sure it would be hard to try to keep him from eating but personally I think I would keep low cal things for him to eat. My DH weight 165 and is 5'9" now. I cannot get him up from the floor now without his help. Good Luck. We just go from one difficult phase into another difficult phase.
Chipper, that reminds me of a sunday past when wife started TALKING to a little girl at the communion rail while kneeling,(she was a teacher an thinks every little kid was one of her students) then as the pastor went down the line she rested her elbow on the rail an put her head in her hand as if to say will he ever finish,no place to run no place to hide,on the whole I'd rather be cutting grass
Bike ride this afternoon to visit DH's elderly aunt in a nh. The route, over pleasant country roads, is very familiar but there's one place where DH often forgets to turn off onto a smaller bike path. And he missed it again today, so I called out to make him come back and turn left. He did, but complained loudly (as usual) that it was NOT the right road.
Meanwhile we are continuing, DH on ahead as always and he gets the rest of the route right, even a trickly little turn near the end. (I'm proud of how well he's doing. Could it be the coconut oil?) Lock our bikes outside the nursing home, elevator up to auntie's floor, but when we get to room #217, her name is right there on the door but she is not in the room. This has never happened before. Of course, it is all my fault. DH glares at me accusingly and says "See, I told you it was the WRONG ROAD!"
(Auntie was just visiting a neighbor in the next room, of course.)
Oh, divvi, I just scared three cats because I didn't laugh, I howled when I read that! It's absolutely priceless. Come on, now, didn't you laugh when he said that? Awwwww.
Dylan saw the pictures of criminals in the post office and wanted to know who they were. I said Bad men, he said, why are they up there, because the police are looking for them, Who took their pictures, I said the police, he said, Then why didn't they just keep them when they took their pictures, duh...................
Oh, I love these! Lois - the lifting thing is what the gait belt is for. I didn't buy one because I didn't know how to use it, but google "how to use gait belt" and you'll find videos. I can do it without straining my back or my knee.
I know briegull. Best investment we can make. I have 2 in different lengths but just noticed one of the ends is missing from one so I need to buy a new end or another belt. Sure saves your back. My husband is really having a difficult time getting in and out of the car and in and out of resturant seats. I am having to have to physically pull him up by one arm. Scary that it is going to get worse. At home I could use the gait belt but would look rather weird to use one at a resturant. I installed one of those 5" risers with handles on one commode and it so far as eliminated his peeing on the floor while sitting on the commode. I am going to buy one for the other commode.
well it caught me soo off guard i was shocked more than anything. he normally just babbles and sticks in a few words and i can usually make out what he wants to say. this was plain as day. we were in bed and i was laying next to him and i usuallly 'test' him at nite to see where he is sometimes with our little talks. i couldnt believe my ears. nobody is going to tell me they dont have 'their moments' of lucidity. incredoulous is the word. he actually thought i was asking HIM who i WAS cause i didnt know! awwwwww... divvi
Took my husband to the ER. The doctor asked him "what brings you to our ER today?" His reply, "I don't know but thanks for having us." I choked on my laughter as did the nurse. The Dr. didn't blink. I guess he has seen it all.
Took DH to the podiatrist today - first time. I had faxed some info to the doctor whom we had never seen before. She was young, very personable and indicated to me behind his back that she had received the fax. When she started working on his toes he asked her if he would be able to tap dance or do the ballet after she finished - making a joke. But I don't think she realized it was a joke and she said, "well, Mr. T., I don't think you'll be able to tap dance or do the ballet any time soon". He said, "oh, that's okay, I never did do them well before I came in here".
This one made me laugh DH is in full time care and two ladies had died in a week in the unit ,one of the carers came into the lounge and said Im sorry to tell you Elsie passed away last night thats 2 we have lost in a week ,Don looked at her and said "you want to watch yourself girl you might be next" ,he still has a spark of humour at times lol
this disease morphs in my opinion. i have seen my DH sleep all day and nary a sign of intelligence that day -then like today he was up and talking to guy in the mirror and telling him about marching in the army:) 1-2-3-4! hilarious and quite amusing. so that is when i decided to see how far he can still count. much to my surprise he not only counted my fingers correctly but added that one of the fingers was shorter and counted only as half . (phranque i am not sure he wasnt meaning the thumb instead of little finger!). so its got to be some sort of 'alien' brainrobbing savage disease but 'lets up' just occasionally enought to let them come thru at times and knock us for a loop. for me to even say maybe hes not as bad as i think! its very strange indeed. Rosy,, its good to hear your Don still gives his aides a bit of good cheer! divvi
Jim will sit quietly with out saying a word, then one of the cute nurses will come by and he'll flirt! They got him up to transfer him from the recliner to his wheelchair and mentioned that he'd better not fall on them, so of course he faked a leg giving out and scared the bejeebers out of them! He thought it was hilarious, they were ready to smack him. :o)