Marilyn65, I do know about the old sugar mill, but I'm not quite old enough to remember it in operation. Used to fish the canals around there fifty-some years ago, and used to sometimes have Sunday lunch "family style" at the old Fellsmere Inn back in the 60s or 70s.
The mill was still running in the 60's for a while. My mom use to work there as what they called a Sample person. She had to go around and collect samples from the different vats for the chemist to test every so many hours. Those family style meals at the old Fellsmere Inn sure were great. I moved here in 1959 and graduated from the old school. Boy this town was a culture shock for me when we first moved here. We moved here from Hollywood FL. And to only have 12 in my graduating class was strange.
Normally, Joan herself would pop by to welcome you personally, but she is "lounging" around on a caregiver cruise (teaching classes, how lounging is that?!) So I shall try to fill in for her:
Be sure to check the home page -- www.thealzheimerspouse.com. It's full of interesting info -- I find something new every time I browse there. For example, in the menu on the left side, there are many topics filled with information. Joan always suggests that newcomers to the site read "Newly Diagnosed/New to this website" first, and then check out "Understanding the Dementia Experience". That's an article written by Jennifer Ghent-Fuller, and an excellent description of what is going on in our spouses' minds, and what we can do to help them feel safe and loved. When you get a chance, scroll through the "previous blogs". Joan starts her own "threads" as blogs, and they often end up being discussed on the message boards. I'm sure you'll find many topics you can relate to.
Joan started her own Zazzle store recently, at our request. There's a link in the menu, and another in the center of the page. The store has some really neat items, specially designed for us; and if you like, you can even design your own. Also, if you ever need to shop on amazon.com, come here to link into their site, and Joan will get a teeny commission from your purchase. (She has done everything -- set up this site and run it, set up the caregiver cruises, lobby Congress -- without any compensation. We need to make sure she finds some source of income so this site will stay here for us!)
Information on the home page itself is updated frequently with new blogs, news and/or information updates, so many of us check there every day.
You can search for topics of interest on the message boards, using the "search" button at the top of the page. Enter a key word that might be found in the title of the thread (click on the "topic" button) or in the posts (click on "comments") Note: this particular site will pull up any comments that have the key word anywhere in the post, even if it's part of a longer word, so you can enter, for example, "myoclon" and pull up posts that mention myoclonus and myoclonic jerks.
You can search for posts by a member, by entering the member's name followed by a colon, and then clicking on the "comments" button, and then the "search" button.
You can start a new thread by clicking on the "start a new discussion" link in the upper left-hand corner.
There are also several fun threads where we hope you'll post -- "What are the Age Groups?" (for the ages of our spouses), "Ages of the Caregivers", and "Where are you from?" And then there's my favorite, "Before dementia what did your spouse do for a living?"
Another great thread you'll want to be sure to read is "Caregiver Tips - Things I wish someone had told me back in Stage 2-3."
The people here are wonderful. Let us know what we can do to help you.
I live in Spring, Tx., that is a bedroom community north of Houston, Tx. Our house is on the market and as soon as it sells, I plan to move to Austin, Tx., to be closer to my children and extended family.
Welcome Mrs T..... I'm glad to see another person from the good ole state of Alabama. I live in Cullman just north of you but I grew up in the Birmingham area. Sorry you had to come to this site but you will find it a wonderful place with so many caring people who will help you anyway they can.
We are now living in Harrison, Maine, a beautiful little village in the foothills of the White Mountains. We are an hour north west of Portland and 40 minutes from North Conway, NH. DH is orginally from Milwaukee and I grew up in Beverly, Massachusetts, and spent many years in Haverhill, MA. We thought we were living a dream when we moved to this beautiful spot 3 yrs ago. So much for dreams. Looks like Nikki, Marsh & MariposaMonhegal are the only ones anywhere near me. I'd welcome a lunch ANYTIME!
Jim's wife - welcome. It's "good" to have someone else from Maine. MariposaMonhegan hasn't posted since her first one almost a year ago. You're probably about 3-4 hours from us. We are on the coast - Blue Hill.
Marsh I will have to mapquest Blue Hill, maybe we could meet half way sometime for lunch. Bluedaze, I can't complain about missing the apples of Mass, the ones here in Maine are better!
Jim's wife, I see you are not that far from Lewiston-Auburn. Blue Hill is about 2½ hours from L-A.
Bluedaze, my younger daughter's husband is from Leominster. They now live in Lancaster. I love the Bolton orchard store. And we get really good oranges here in Maine (from Florida).
Marsh, where do you suppose a half way spot would be, I don't mean to be pushy but I do not know any other spouses, just you guys. Please don't feel that we have to meet. It was just a thought. I'm a mess tonight, tough day.
Bluedaze, you're right...or else we Texas women are just chatty gals. I - for one - expect to double our house quota of demented people sooner rather than later. It's been that kind of day. I cannot even write about it. It's that raw! Maybe later.
Bama Alabama Cullman decblu Alabama north of Montgomery Mrs T Alabama east of Birmingham jaydee Arizona Phoenix shoegirl Arizona Phoenix Mary Arkansas North Little Rock terry Arkansas Eureka Springs Bettyhere California Los Angeles Charles Summers California Fresno Diane V California southern Judi California Ione Kirsty Holding Fast California Marin County Mark California Los Angeles pollyp53 California Pilot Hill RaeAnn California Redding rglennon California Highland sanjosepat California San Jose Sunshyne California San Diego DarleneC Colorado Woodland Park Rk Colorado northern Shannon Colorado Denver KathrynnotEugene Connecticut Clinton Therrja Connecticut Hartford jean Delaware Wilmington asa Florida Tequesta Betty Florida bluedaze Florida St. Lucie West Carolyn Florida Bradenton Dagma3 Florida Tampa Dee Florida Venice doxie2 Florida Port St. Lucie FLgirl Florida The Villages gourdchipper Florida Grant GretchenFLA Florida near Tampa joyfh Florida Orlando kelrote Florida Winter Haven lilabqm Florida Orlando Marilyn65 Florida Fellsmere MissB Florida Port St. Lucie nancyt Florida Davenport Ro13 Florida Jacksonville tony Florida Orange City Trudy Florida Grand Island Don Georgia Tiger Jimmy Georgia North Metro Atlanta MMarshall Georgia Newnan SHELLSEEKER50 Georgia Valdosta The Queen Georgia Between Atlanta & Macon deanna1937 Idaho Idaho Falls dwgriff Idaho near Boise Apricot Illinois midway between St. Louis & Springfield ASY Illinois; Florida (winter) Chicago; Sarasota deb112958 Illinois Bridgeview Janet Illinois Bloomington blbrown Indiana Gary Kadee Indiana Kokomo Zibby Indiana Lafayette (rural) Iggy Iowa Northern Iowawife Iowa Council Bluffs Sheila1951 Kansas andy Kentucky Vickie Kentucky Stephanie K-G Lousiana Housma
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