Enjoyed the article, Don. I still have many vivid, happy memories of our years together as classmates, going all the way back to Arthur Circle. But if you told me your phone number right now, I would not be able to repeat it back to you. So the fear is there.
Otherwise, I have kept myself physically healthy, and am enjoying my golden years, leading a full and active life with my wife of 32 years.
Well Don, you've been reading my mind. It's very scary to have these thoughts but most of the time I can successfully convince myself to send my thoughts in a different direction. If it is to be, it will be, no matter how much I project into the future and worry. I need to take advantage of this time to enjoy the health I have now. It's great to see your dry sense of humor still there, even if it is about Alzheimers.
I've got the same fear. My Dad's older brother succumbed to Early-Onset Alzheimers in the 1980s. He was only in his 50s. Over the years, a whole branch of his family--his aunt and nearly half of her 12 children--have died of this dread disease. I've also lost several older friends to it. They were all so vibrant--smart, witty, funny and lively. This made the illness that much more cruel. But their memories are a huge blessing.
I was convinced for years that I was going to turn into my Aunt Bobby, whom you knew. But fortunately, by the time she did contract Alzheimer's, I'd realized that I wasn't her after all. With her experience of it, I also learned that the disease affects each person differently--for her, it was an ironic blessing, since her otherwise impressive memory had served mostly to torment her during her life. Once she forgot and let go, she was much happier. On the other side of the equation, my greater fear--more than what would happen to me--was what would happen to my parents. I feel so very lucky that both of them (Mom, to date) retained all their marbles. Thanks for sharing this topic.
Enjoyed the article, Don. I still have many vivid, happy memories of our years together as classmates, going all the way back to Arthur Circle. But if you told me your phone number right now, I would not be able to repeat it back to you. So the fear is there.
Otherwise, I have kept myself physically healthy, and am enjoying my golden years, leading a full and active life with my wife of 32 years.
Great to hear from you again. Thanks for writing.
Thanks, Dick! Great to hear from you. I wish you many more active and purposeful years.
Well Don, you've been reading my mind. It's very scary to have these thoughts but most of the time I can successfully convince myself to send my thoughts in a different direction. If it is to be, it will be, no matter how much I project into the future and worry. I need to take advantage of this time to enjoy the health I have now. It's great to see your dry sense of humor still there, even if it is about Alzheimers.
We have to laugh. Thanks for reading and stay tuned. And let me know what's on your mind that I failed to guess.
I've got the same fear. My Dad's older brother succumbed to Early-Onset Alzheimers in the 1980s. He was only in his 50s. Over the years, a whole branch of his family--his aunt and nearly half of her 12 children--have died of this dread disease. I've also lost several older friends to it. They were all so vibrant--smart, witty, funny and lively. This made the illness that much more cruel. But their memories are a huge blessing.
Happily, some of our worst fears are unfounded. You certainly haven't missed a step!
Here's an interesting review of a non-fiction book by a neuroscientist and author of "Still Alice." It addresses memory worry, a number of strategies (e.b., get enough sleep) and how it's ok to forget. https://www.newyorker.com/recommends/read/a-neuroscientists-poignant-study-of-how-we-forget-most-things-in-life
I was convinced for years that I was going to turn into my Aunt Bobby, whom you knew. But fortunately, by the time she did contract Alzheimer's, I'd realized that I wasn't her after all. With her experience of it, I also learned that the disease affects each person differently--for her, it was an ironic blessing, since her otherwise impressive memory had served mostly to torment her during her life. Once she forgot and let go, she was much happier. On the other side of the equation, my greater fear--more than what would happen to me--was what would happen to my parents. I feel so very lucky that both of them (Mom, to date) retained all their marbles. Thanks for sharing this topic.