BlogHer - midlife women - Comments

Alzheimer's Is Like Insanity!

midlifemuse — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 11:33:51 -0500

What a great observation! I've often thought that describing Alzheimer's as just "memory loss" doesn't come close to describing the devastation of this disease on the person going through it and the people around them who can't even understand what the journey is like. Unfortunately, calling it "insanity" fits like a glove -- at least for me on the outside trying to look in on what's happening with my friend. Thanks for sharing this, Lenore. And I'm joining in that chorus for science to find a cure.

Visit me at Midlife's A Trip.

Great Plan

midlifemuse — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 11:20:35 -0500

Love your gameplan to call your best friend with a "hug". And I bet you really enjoy the walk down memory land about your friendship. Are you going to share your "memoirs" with your friend--maybe as a birthday gift? Just a thought!

Aren't we lucky to have lifelong friends?

Visit me at Midlife's A Trip.

Sad...and scary

Lenore Skenazy — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 08:56:01 -0500

My mom has Alzheimer's and I keep waiting to wake up and hear, "Scientists Cure this Awful Disease!" Because we call it "memory loss," but it really is something pretty close to insanity when nothing makes sense any more. And now anytime I can't think of the word for "that yellow thing with lead in it that you write with," I of course worry I'm heading the same direction. I wish every good bit of luck to your friend, and to you, and to all of us! Come on, science. Hurry up!

That made my heart hurt but in a good way

Pugs — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 09:05:16 -0600

Susan is indeed lucky to have you. But I feel for you too. I've had my best friend since I was 11 (I'm now 47) and after reading this, I'm gonna call her up for a hug. We don't see each other nearly often enough but you've inspired me to start writing down more of my precious memories of my life with her.

Visit me at "The Pug Who Thinks Too Much:" http://pugsthinks.blogspot.com/

Thank You Mata

midlifemuse — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 08:46:16 -0600

i hope that sharing the story of my friend will help people understand the sad journey of early onset Alzheimer's.

By the way, I'll sent a Facebook friend invite to Kris Bakowski and will post the link to her profile when I hear back from her. It'd be great for BlogHer readers to connect with her on her blog and Facebook.

Have a great weekend!

this is very touching

Mata H — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 23:17:32 -0600

Susan is lucky to have you. Thank you for this tender post.

~~ Contributing Editor, Mata H. also blogs right along at Time's Fool

Thank you, Sally. Ann

apietrangelo — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:33:34 -0500

Thank you, Sally.

Ann Pietrangelo

My Website: AnnPietrangelo.com

HI

Sallybelle75 — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:37:39 -0500

You are brave and strong. I'm inspired by your optimism!

Sally Belle
http://thatscrazee.blogspot.com/

Other HomeStay options

wanderluster — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 07:05:45 -0500

I'm a huge fan of couchsurfing and globalfreeloaders. But for those wanting a bit more structure, Servas is an excellent way to stay with and meet the locals and be able to get beyond the surface of the culture.

Beth Whitman

Pam, You are absolutely

ByJane — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 17:58:56 -0500

Pam, You are absolutely positively invited. If I weren't spending my travel budget at BlogHer (and a wedding back east) this summer, I would be more inclined to take you up on it immediately. I'm also curious about Israel.

I will definitely check out Couch Surfing. I've started a whole conversation with MidLifeBloggers--right now on my blog, but soon on it's own site--and the travelling thing is definitely a big part of it.

By Jane

http://byjane.blogspot.com

Rome Rome Rome

Pam — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 17:53:36 -0500

So, I'm not invited? :-)

I'm right now reading a book about Michealangelo's Rome, it's an interesting read and doesn't help the craving I have for a trip to the enternal city.

I'm a big fan of the Rick Steves guidebook to Rome, it's quite a good one and so full of common sense. If I were shopping for a new guide to that city, that's what I'd buy.

If you do opt for trying out Couch Surfing or the like, I hope you'll come back around and post about the experience. We weren't able to get a place to stay during our last attempt on CS, but we got many invites to meet for coffee or to join picnic or the like. I still get the newsletter for CS/Hawaii and there's always stuff going on, I'll bet Rome is the same.

I'm super envious. We've used up all our travel dollars for a good long while and aren't going anywhere until the coffers are replenished.

Nerd's Eye View

Thanks for the response,

ByJane — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 16:32:52 -0500

Thanks for the response, Pam. I'm not on the fence about travelling alone. I was trolling for sites to visit for places to go, tips, hookups, etc.

By Jane

http://byjane.blogspot.com

Rome if you want to, all around the world...

Pam — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:46:12 -0500

Traveling solo is AWESOME. And traveling in a city like Rome, solo, Oh My God. I've traveled alone lots, and I gotta tellya, the whole mid-life thing, it's SO much better than traveling as a youngster solo. Yeah, okay, maybe you don't get hit on as much and that's a pro and a con, but also, you care so much less about what anyone thinks - okay, I do - and it just makes the whole adventure so much easier.

Check out my neighbor Beth's book, Wanderlust and Lipstick - it's quite a nice inspirational guide for solo women travelers who might need a nudge to head out on their own.

You also might consider - and I am NOT joking - checking out the social sites like Couch Surfing. You'd be surprised, it's not just 20 something hipsters. You may find yourself in the guest room of some lovely Italians who are not that different demographically from you.

But if you're still on the fence, just today I said this out loud: I should go to Rome. No kidding. Hey, I'll go with you. I have a pile of Rome guidebooks kicking around the house and I'm notoriously underemployed. I'm in.

Nerd's Eye View