A friend of mine whose mother has FTD posted this on facebook. It is sung by Whitney Houston. I thought it applied to all of us. You can also hear it at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VngT4Of3CR0
I Didn't Know My Own Strength
Lost touch with my soul I had no where to turn I had no where to go Lost sight of my dream, Thought it would be the end of me I thought I’d never make it through I had no hope to hold on to, I thought I would break
I didn’t know my own strength And I crashed down, and I tumbled But I did not crumble I got through all the pain I didn’t know my own strength Survived my darkest hour My faith kept me alive I picked myself back up Hold my head up high I was not built to break I didn’t know my own strength
Found hope in my heart, I found the light to life My way out of the dark Found all that I need Here inside of me I thought I’d never find my way I thought I’d never lift that weight I thought I would break
I didn’t know my own strength And I crashed down, and I tumbled But I did not crumble I got through all the pain I didn’t know my own strength Survived my darkest hour My faith kept me alive I picked myself back up Hold my head up high I was not built to break I didn’t know my own strength
There were so many times I Wondered how I’d get through the night I Thought took all I could take
I didn’t know my own strength And I crashed down, and I tumbled But I did not crumble I got through all the pain I didn’t know my own strength Survived my darkest hour My faith kept me alive I picked myself back up Hold my head up high I was not built to break I didn’t know my own strength
While the lyrics dont describe AD exactly, the story of visiting a love one in an institution might be familiar. This is a country song by John Conlee.
I don’t remember loving you And I don’t recall the things you say you put me through You tell me that you‘ve had a guilty conscience for so long You say that you walked out on me you say you did me wrong Well I just don’t see how that could be true Cause I don’t remember loving you
I don’t remember loving you You might talk to my doctor he drops by each day at two I get a funny feeling when I look into your eyes There’s something in your smile that gives my stomach butterflies You must look like someone I once knew But I don’t remember loving you
I don’t remember loving you I heard you mention children did you say there’s one or two You say I quit my job and then I drank myself insane
You said I ran down the highway screaming out your name Now that’s not the sort of thing that I would do No I don’t remember loving you
I don’t remember loving you I absolutely positively know that can’t be true But everyone I know here in this place is very strange If you hand me my crayons I’ll be glad to take your name In case I run across the guy you knew But I don’t remember loving you
I don’t remember loving you And I don’t recall the things you say you put me through You tell me that you‘ve had a guilty conscience for so long You say that you walked out on me you say you did me wrong Well I just don’t see how that could be true Cause I don’t remember loving you
Deb, here's the lyrics to a song I wrote back around last fall. I don't have the audio posted up on line yet, and even though I didn't write it with a dementia type subject in mind I think the lyrics could just 'fit the bill' here. I called it "In A Better Light".
If I cry too much, would you weep for me? If I rage enough, would you leave me be?
If I ask of you, could you be so kind, as to try to see me in, see me in a better light?
If I held your hand, could I walk with you? If I touched your mind, would I need to turn you loose?
Yeah, if you ask of me, to try to see your other side, do you think that I would, see you in a better light?
And before this world ends, will we look back and raise our glass, to some time back when, we stopped living in the past?
Yeah, when it all comes down. When we have fought our final fights, will we then see each other in, each other in a better light?...
Deb, I found another of my tunes for which I think the lyrics are on topic for your thread here. The reason I'm posting another is because I hope others will join in and try to make sense of this dementia madness through art. Original, copies, song, paintings, poetry, sculpture...., whatever!
After considering how these lyrics could 'fit in' with how most care givers feel about their LOs I changed the title from, "I'll Be There", to "Care Givers' Lament".
In the middle of the night, when storms roll in, and stars all shy a way.
When your moon don't rise for you, and you're lost in despair, before you're blinded by the darkness, I'll be there.
I will chase away your shadows, I'll be there. Like a guardian angel, I'll be there.
In the middle of the days, when rains pour down, and cold hard north winds blow.
And your sun don't shine on you, and nobody else cares, you'll not be forsaken, I'll be there.
When you need shelter I'll be there.
And, I'll be on time......... fore first teardrops fall.
I'll read your mind, baby, you'll never need to call, out for me.
When you need shelter I'll be there. Like a guardian angel, I'll be there.
I'll be there.
Deb, thanks for starting what I hope will become a long running and uplifting thread for all the good people who "hang" here.
Take care and hope you're doing as well as can be expected. And the same to all here. Ed