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Living Is for Living: A Caregiver’s Story is launched!

November 28, 2022

What I am letting go in publishing this book isn’t Mom; it isn’t my caregiving journey; it isn’t even all the reflection I’ve done along the way. What I am letting go is fear, the what ifs, the wish for one more do-over, choosing, instead, to let love fill our sails:

If you or someone you know is interested in reading Living Is for Living: A Caregiver’s Story, it is available to order at your local book store (just ask) and also online at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Sherman’s Maine Coast Book Shops, IndieBound, and Bookshop (just click).

Thank you for your interest and I wish you and your loved ones many blessings this holiday season.

Never too old to play basketball

July 7, 2019

It was an honor to be one of 130 Maine athletes to attend the National Senior Games where I played on Team Phoenix. Watching women, ages 50-90, play basketball, not only inspired me, it gave me hope – I wanted to be kicking ass when I’m in my eighties and beyond too!

—excerpt from Living Is for Living: A Caregiver’s Story

Father’s Day in Albuquerque

June 22, 2019

Me and Dad, circa 1974

That Father’s Day, sixteen years since Dad died, I heard him heckle when I missed foul shots, laugh when I threw elbows, and cheer when I backed someone down. When I worried about missed opportunities, I recalled his “don’t worry about what’s over and done.” And, when I noticed the 85+-year-old men playing on a neighboring court, I imagined Dad and his killer hook shot in their midst. Too bad I didn’t get that gene!

—excerpt from Living Is for Living: A Caregiver’s Story

Simple Kindness

October 24, 2018

When in doubt

In a world with atrocity, apathy, anxiety, distraction and just plain busy-ness, I was touched by all the simple kindnesses that helped me as I helped Mom. Thanks to those simple, and often unexpected, kindnesses, the pieces of our life in Maine were starting to fall into place.

—excerpt from Living Is for Living: A Caregiver’s Story

What is basketball? – aka caring for me

August 3, 2018

When a coach at the Not Too Late, women over 50, basketball camp said, “you’re only as strong as your biggest weakness,” her words resonated, giving me reason to keep working on me, on the court and off.

—excerpt from Living Is for Living: A Caregiver’s Story

Sandwiched – caring for Mom, while caring for kids

February 18, 2018

2004 2018

2004 2018

There’s plenty of literature out there about the challenge of being part of the “Sandwich Generation.” I too have sleepless nights worrying about Mom, as well as the kids. At the same time, I gotta admit, it’s pretty cool.

—excerpt from Living Is for Living: A Caregiver’s Story

Step One, admitting we are powerless #fillintheblank

January 6, 2018

AA’s Step One: “We admitted we were powerless over alcohol – that our lives had become unmanageable.” Although I couldn’t change the course of Mom’s Alzheimer’s, I could impact the quality of her days. Hence, it was oddly reassuring when I asked her at dinner, the weather raging outside our door, “Mom, do you like where you’re living?” and she responded, “Good building, good people, what’s not to like?” (Al-Anon’s Twelve Steps & Twelve Traditions)

—excerpt from Living Is for Living: A Caregiver’s Story

Happy New Year!

January 1, 2018

IMG_0368-1 — Reflections, December 2017

In Barbara Cooney’s Ms. Rumphius, a young girl tells her elderly aunt, “When I grow up, I too will go to faraway places, and when I grow old, I too will live beside the sea” to which her aunt responds, “There is a third thing you must do. You must do something to make the world more beautiful.”

—excerpt from Living Is for Living: A Caregiver’s Story

Step Twelve, Whole, Not Hole

December 3, 2017

AA’s Step Twelve: “Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to others, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.” This meant being present in the moment, right here, right now, maybe not all of the time, however, more and more of the time. (Al-Anon’s Twelve Steps & Twelve Traditions)

—excerpt from Living Is for Living: A Caregiver’s Story

Sweet Dreams, aka taking care of caregiver

November 30, 2017

Fitbits don’t lie!

It hadn’t made sense to get mad at the kids for disrupted sleep, nor did it make sense to get irritated with Mom. I just had to make a plan to get some shut-eye and stick with it.

—excerpt from Living Is for Living: A Caregiver’s Story

Raised in Maine, I had spent the prior 24 years parenting, mostly in Wisconsin. With our adult kids in the process of leaving the nest, my mom moved in, from Maine, leading to precious time and daily opportunities I had never anticipated. I launched this site in 2017 as a way to share that experience, hoping to pass along what I was learning about Alzheimer's disease, to process the challenging parts, and to have some fun too. I never anticipated the way the community of readers would fuel me in staying the course. Today, I am deeply grateful for that, and so much more.