here we go

[fish]

nc's mom out looking for the cat, at 3:00 a.m. in the rain, miles from the house.

[Smoke]

That's not good! Hope she got home ok...Hows the kat?

[fish]

the cat never left the building

[Smoke]

Is there anyone else with her? How far are you from her.

[fish]

her son lives with her, but works daily and is gone at least 10 - 12 hours a day.



we are two hours away.



i only mention this stuff to show that we empathize with both you and Pam.



it is hard.



nc's mother may exist in 10 minute loops, but she is sharp, and she knows what is happening to her.



she now is saying she knows her time is almost come.

[Smoke]

Dementia/Alz/Old Timers...whatever you want to call it is a nasty disease!

It's coming to the point thet EVERYONE will be dealing with it in one way or another.

Hope NC's Brother is smart enough to see what is happening and reaches out for some sort of help..be it just a neighbor checking in on her or if she is more progressed to have an aid come in, or possibly look for an adult day center. It's tough for you guys being 2 hours away.

If there is anything we can help with, let us know.

[fish]

nc's bro is a long and interesting story.

birth condition that affected growth patterns, etc.

took him almost a lifetime to realize that he is not the idiot he was raised to believe he was.

as an outsider coming late to the scene i was shocked at the history.

but he is now very defensive. suggestions and offers of help are heard as criticisms.

so if we make them at all, they must be very subtle.

the idea has to be his.

[Smoke]

I understand, just don't wait too long that it puts NC's Mom in any dangerous or unsafe positions.

[Pam]

Sorry to hear that fish, and thanks for the email. It's hard, and that is such a gross understatement.

[fish]

as Smoke says, it is almost a universal experience now a days, getting very old.

one keeps reading about Alzheimer complications as the cause of death.

eventually the body forgets how to perform essential functions.

in the meantime someone has to take care of us. 

they can keep us alive, but they can't fix us.