Long weekend

Monkey had a great day with her Memere & Pepere on Thursday. It gave me a few hours to hang out with my Mom alone. We had to run to Kmart for a few odds and ends. While in Madawaska, we went to a new (new to me, anyways!) store called Fashion Connection. We spent way too much time there and ended up not being able to go the antique store. But we both got a couple of great shirts (considering we were going in looking for a winter coat for Monkey - which we didn't find).

That night, for the second time in as many weeks, I started feeling ill. For the rest of our visit, Monkey and I were enjoying a wonderful little stomach bug. Fun times, I tell you. My poor Mom got sick after we left, too. I think we've finally kicked it.

Saturday, Mom and Monkey did the Alzheimer's walk. My Mom, Grandmother D and myself had a grand total of $700 in donations!! How awesome is that?

Luckily, Monkey did great and there were no diaper blowouts during the 4 mile event. It was a cold day, though. Grammy had a hard time keeping her bonnet on her head. My mother-in-law happened to be outside at the funeral home when they were on their way past and she said just in that small stretch of road, she saw my mom have to replace the hat twice. I couldn't help but laugh.

And you know, a funeral isn't horrible enough in itself. I was sick the entire day. T went out alone that night.

Speaking of funeral. The eulogist shared a poem I thought was beautiful and powerful so I'm going to end this morning by sharing it.

The Dash
copyright 1996 Linda Ellis
I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
from the beginning...to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth
and spoke of the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
that she spent alive on earth...
and now only those who loved her
know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own;
the cars....the house...the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard...
are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
that can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
to consider what's true and real,
and always try to understand
the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
and more often wear a smile...
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read
with your life's actions to rehash...
would you be proud of the things they
say about how you spend your dash?

Unforeseen events

We were notified yesterday of a death in the family on T's side.

The funeral is on Saturday morning in my hometown.

Unfortunately, the timing makes it so that I can not participate in the Alzheimer's walk after all. Fate just doesn't seem to want me to do this walk. I couldn't last year, either.

My mom will still be going. And she will be accompanied by Monkey in her stroller (we don't want to bring her to the funeral with us).

With these circumstances, I'd much rather be doing the walk in the pouring rain (or snow) than have lost a member of the family.

RIP Uncle Roger. You will be missed by many.

Alzheimer's Memory Walk 2008 update

We're 1 week out until the walk. I've surpassed my goal twice in donations. So, I've increased my goal twice. I started with a goal of $50. I was a little worried with it being so close to the walk and my hectic life. How was I going to round up donations?

Turns out, I had nothing to be worried about. I hit $50 pretty quickly, so I increased my goal to $100. When I surpassed that after a week, I increased my online goal to $250.

I still need $55 to reach this goal. But, considering I signed up for this walk only 3 weeks out, I'm pretty impressed.

Again, I want to thank everyone for their support. I can't even begin to express my gratitude.

Now let's hope the weather cooperates so we're not walking 4 miles in the rain!

PS - If you haven't already and you would like to, please make a donation on the Alzheimer's website.

Difficult day

I'm giving myself a pass on all of the things I was supposed to do this afternoon. My house is still upside down and I just don't care right now. I feel bad for T when he's been working all day and comes home to this chaos, but I just don't have it in me.

I just had a horrible day emotionally. My grandmother (D - we don't call her Memere, so I'll just call her D here) is having some health issues and had a doctor's appointment here in Bangor. My Mom, Aunt B and Pepere came down for her appointment and Monkey and I joined them. Mom and Aunt B went in to speak to the doctor with D. So Monkey and I stayed in the waiting room to keep an eye on Pepere. He likes to walk and tends to just take off, so we couldn't leave him in the waiting room alone. Especially not in a strange town.

He obviously doesn't know Monkey. That's something I accepted the day I told them I was pregnant and he turned around and told D that it was too bad I wasn't married first (yes, the day that consumed our lives while preparing for it was no longer a memory for him--even though that's all he talked about for a year or more).

It's happened. So much sooner than I was ready for. He doesn't know me. At least, in that strange environment with just the two of us there, he had no idea who I was. He thought I was his niece for some time. It completely broke my heart and I nearly broke down right there in the waiting room. Even writing it out now is just so extremely painful.

This is the man that used to change my diapers. He used to cuddle on the couch with me. He used to take me to pick strawberries ("Look at the big F-ing berries!" - inside joke. D will get it and get a chuckle). And today he looked at me like I was a stranger.

This makes being 200 miles away so hard. So so very hard.

And on that note, I want to publicly thank everyone that has made a donation in support of the 2008 Memory Walk. Words can't tell you how very much I appreciate the support.

Alzheimer's

As some of you may already know, my Pepere (grandfather) is suffering from Alzheimer's. It's a horrible disease, much worse for the family than the person actually suffering it. He is happy and doesn't realize what is happening, but we are forced to watch him forget things and people. And we get to dread the day he no longer remembers who we are, his own flesh and blood.

Currently more than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's. Unless we find a way to change the course of the disease, 16 million Americans will have Alzheimer’s by 2050.

I want to do my part to fight this fatal disease – but I can’t do it without your help. Memory Walk funds help the Alzheimer's Association advance important research into better treatments and a possible cure for Alzheimer’s. And for the millions already affected by the disease, the Association offers care, education, support and resources in communities nationwide.


I'm participating in the Alzheimer's 2008 Memory Walk in Fort Kent on October 4.

Any donations made to the Alzheimer's Association are greatly appreciated.

You can support me here: Jodi's Donation Page.

Thank you for your support, either monetary or moral.