[trigger warning: NOT political] Bittersweet time for me

[Bill]

My friend, always like an uncle to me, is in the throes of Alzheimer's. He's being taken care of by family out of the area, and they're now getting ready to sell the house that my friend will never live in by himself again. So they're boxing things up.


I had given my friend a very nice mantel clock.....I gave 3 that year, all the same, for reasons meaningful to me. One to this friend, one to my other best friend's family, and one to my Mom. I gave Mom's clock to one of her best friends, my other friend still has his.....and my friend's son just sent me home with the one I gave his dad over two decades ago. So now it's on my mantel. I have a grandfather clock, but I always liked those mantel clocks, and now I have one. Also got a couple of pictures.

Bittersweet.

[Aerovette]

Sorry to hear. It's a terrible affliction. My grandfather had it.

[Joey777]

My dad had it before he died of cancer. It’s a terrible, miserable, SOB of an affliction. As we get older, we just have to accept that health challenges are going to happen to us and those around us. Doesn’t make it any easier, but it is what it is. Every time you look at that clock you will remember your friend and the good times you had together.

[vettemed]

very difficult disease, for the patient and everyone else around them.

[Bill]

Originally Posted by vettemed

very difficult disease, for the patient and everyone else around them.

Worse for me because I was a caregiver for a loved on with dementia, so I know exactly what my friend's family is going through right now.

[Rodnok1]

Dementia is a horrible thing... I have a friend with early stages, it has progressed alot in the last few years. He's not 55 yet and doubt he'll know when 60 hits.
It's very odd as some days are normal and some are very bad. The things they will remember or forget has no rhyme or reason.
I missed a turn off on the way to a new dr last year and he became very upset as it wasn't the way he remembered. Unbeknownst to me as I don't live there they realigned a road and put a roundabout in, he hadn't been through the area either. I knew where we were but it fried his brain. We had to turn around go back and find the way he knew. We drive to anywhere new he wants to go with me driving a couple of times so he can remember. He tries to get hos daughter to go places with him so she can help but she's a whiney little bitch and seldom does.
It's gotten where I have to be very careful joking with him as he can't distinguish between joke and being serious sometimes. It will visibly upset him.
He makes very bad decisions sometimes, I try and talk every couple of days to keep up with stuff for him. Sooner than later he will need a full time live in person of responsibility. He won't move down here with me either so he could live with us as his daughter is up there by him and he won't move away from her. I can't be in 2 states at the same time unfortunately.

[mrvette]

Well, at age near enuff to 80 in a couple weeks, I doing 1/2 way decent, but like my neighbor next door who CRS at age 75.....it's kinda discouraging


Can't
Remember
Shit is what it stands for.....

[DJ_Critterus]

Always loved this movie. School of Life. Start the video at 3:23

YouTube (Short URL)

[Frankie the Fink]

My much beloved mother-in-law had Alzheimer's and she lingered about 8 years after first getting it. My wife and he 4 sisters rotated caring for her so it wasn't as bad as it could have been but still damned awful.....