I invite you to log onto the home page - www.thealzheimerspouse.com - and read today's blog. I think if anyone but an Alzheimer Spouse read it, they would not "get" it at all. But I am guessing that all of you understand exactly how I felt about what I wrote. Are you able to relate?
Good, Good, Good for you !!!!!.....I hope you can and will make those Friday mornings all about you and only you. I hope you can continue to enjoy your moment of "you time"
Good for YOU! I remember those spontaneous moments and some that were planned into my day. These moments of "I can do what I want w/o interruption" are life savers for caregivers.
beach, has been so on my mind. Here where they are everywhere, and I rarely went before. Now I crave it, and when I finally find some respite, (will I?), I am going to do just exactly what you did Joan. Then maybe some shopping therapy after.
fora caregiver a bit of spontaneity is so precious. i think of how i took for granted the ability to get in the car and 'go' anywhere i wanted. out of milk or bread, jump in the car and run to the store. nope. everything now must be planned due to the inability to leave our spouses alone so yes when the opportunity arises we feel like we are let out of jail so to speak. a day of reprieve and a chance to indulge in' simpleness' that seems almost prohibitive sometimes.
I am less than 5 miles from the beach and never go there unless we have company! Between caregiving and working full time, there is just never the right moment. If DH were not in a wheelchair, I might have become more of a beach-goer, with him at my side.
I am glad you have some time for yourself, Joan - heals the spirit, looking out on the vast ocean. :)
Joan I'm lucky enough to live on the beach...nothing can compare to sitting, watching the waves,and listening to the "sounds of silence" as they hit the beach to regenerate the soul. Ten minutes batteries recharge a bit and then back to reality
I live a couple miles from the beach. When I had a week-end respite chance, I took a room on the beach and just spent the time watching the sea, the people, boats, nothing remarkable, but it was so restorative. Wish this for everyone.
Glad you enjoyed that special time, Joan. Yesterday a good friend picked up Clare to take her to lunch and to a museum, giving me 4 hours to join some friends at the bowling alley and then do supermarket shopping on the way home. I loved that time 'away from reality' until Clare was brought home. First question I asked was, how was lunch. She said very nice. I asked her where she ate, at what local restaurant ... and, of course, she couldn't remember. I asked her what she ate for lunch ... and, of course, she couldn't remember. And so it went. But for me, ahh ... a wonderful 4 hour respite without dealing with all of that!!
On one of my 4 hour respite times I drove to a local park in the country and just sat on a bank and enjoyed the serenity. 4 years later I still remember the "peace" I found.
Joan, I am so happy for you. Isn't it funny how that lightness you said you felt is actually a feeling. So real. When you feel it it does remind you that you are usually feeling such a heavy load. I try every day to have a moment of lightness...I do my tai chi, smile for no reason, read my book but I know I am usually listening for Him. What is he up to, is he breathing all right, peeing on something etc. Getting away is the best! So bon mini voyages to you and all.
Joan, I am so happy for you... a little time for ourselves is all we need at times, to get back to our reality of caregiving and carry on some more. I hope you get to have some more "peace' time