For as long as I could remember, exercise had relieved stress and cleared my mind. These days, Mom rebounding, I hoped it would help me get my spark back too.
—excerpt from Living Is for Living: A Caregiver’s Story
What Is Your Reason?
Memory Dog Goes to the Hospital
It was the first time I’d signed a consent form on Mom’s behalf. As I waited for her bone marrow biopsy, I realized I was like a seeing eye dog, only my job was to provide short-term memory. When I told Mom later that I was happy to be her memory dog, she smiled groggily and asked me where my tail was.
—excerpt from Living Is for Living: A Caregiver’s Story
Vacation Defined (the dictionaries and me)
Vacation (noun)(vā-kā′shən, və-) “A period of time devoted to pleasure, rest, or relaxation”(thefreedictionary.com) … the sun on the horizon, the wind in the palms, the waves on the beach, my family in their beds asleep, and Mom at home safe and sound …
“… a period spent away from home or business in travel or recreation …”(merriam-webster.com)… exploring new places, reading a book just for fun, closing my eyes – sun on my hat, sand under my feet, enjoying new foods prepared by another, talking and laughing, together, apart …
“… the time during which a person temporarily ceases regular duties of any kind and performs other activities … typically used for rest, travel, or recreation, but may be used for any purpose …” (webster-dictionary.org)… I step away, I unravel, I rejuvenate, I rediscover, and I look forward to returning home to Mom.
—from Living Is for Living: A Caregiver’s Story
Step Four, Looking Inward with Love
AA’s Step Four: “Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.” I found myself fretting: was I doing enough to care for Mom? I was grateful for the gentle, healing opportunity offered by Step Four. (Al-Anon’s Twelve Steps & Twelve Traditions)
—excerpt from Living Is for Living: A Caregiver’s Story
Windows Down, Music Up
I was one of Mom’s caregivers and, so far, I was doing just fine. I could do this. In fact, I loved doing this, even when it was hard, thanks to Mom’s amazing attitude and the incredible support we received.
—excerpt from Living Is for Living: A Caregiver’s Story
