This is a good thing. Alzheimer's get bad at end stage. They can keep you alive for a long time too.

RIP Sir Thank You for allowing America to glean a wealth of Legal information and thought from Your wife. May You rest in peace Sir.

Larry

Alzheimers, how sad for Justice O'Connor to come to terms with. I luckily haven't had to handle a loved one with alzheimers, yet.

RIP Sir

I help care for a woman with early Alzheimers.

At times, it just breaks my heart.

"I help care for a woman with early Alzheimers."

My great grandmother died at 96 after about 10 years slowly deteriorating from Alzheimers. It was worse in the beginning when she could still get around on her own. Things could get a little... messy.

By the time she got to her nineties she pretty much sat in her chair quietly most of the time. The little English she ever had was gone, more or less (native Italian) and the only response I was able to get out of her (apart from "who are you?") was if I came up to her and said, hey gramma, "voooo-laaare!"

"Oh oh oh oh!" She'd reply.

"Caaaan-taaaare" I'd return.

"Whoa oh oh oh"

We'd both laugh and I'd give her a kiss.

Thanks for the story, Hagbard. I help a friend care for his 91 year old mother who has been slowly losing her memory over the past few years. There are no words to describe how sad the process is to witness, let alone experience.

RIP, Mr. O'Connor.

Awwwww...sweet HC!

The women I help care for is 83. She has seven children who either don't have the time or do not have the patience to care for her.

This woman doesn't even know she has it. Her kids won't have her tested because she had a hard time dealing with it when her sister had it and passed away. But she is classic Alzheimers.

You're right about it being messy, HC. In fact it's dangerous for them....and others.

Three weeks ago, she forgot her little dog was outside with her when it took off and was hit and killed by a car...driver never stopped.

I've gone over and discovered she hadn't taken her meds from two days prior...the last time I was there.

I've gone over and found appliances running for no reason.

I keep telling the kids she should not be living alone.

It's scarey...and sad.

My Pop-Pop passed away in 1980 from the disease.

Gosh he was such a great Grandpa.

Totally gone though. He was in a home. Just stare out.

RIP Mr. O'Connor.

Thoughts and prayer for Sandy and the family.

"I've gone over and found appliances running for no reason.

I keep telling the kids she should not be living alone.
It's scarey...and sad."

Scary indeed. My grandmother (great grandma's daughter) had a funky year about 5 years ago. For a while she was forgetting whole conversations, which was wierd because she usually remembers them word for word. I was having flashbacks and secretly started to worry (I only mentioned this to my wife).

The worst part was the arguments where she adamantly denied we'd had these conversations (we're very close and speak as if we're brother and sister sometimes). Shortly after that she moved to a retirement community, her sisters moved to the area, she got involved with people again. I haven't seen any memory lapses since then. She'll be 84 in a couple of months.

That's great she"s interacting with people!!

This one won't even go to the store with me!

Mary forgets entire conversations all the time.

I call her every morning to remind her to take her meds and check on her. One time I hung up the phone after a conversation with her one morning and within two minutes, she called me and asked spoke to me as if I hadn't talked to her just minutes before.

She is constantly asking me the same questions over and over and over. One time I counted (he same question 9 times within a 15 minute time frame.

It can be so sad. But I wouldn't stop caring for her for nuttin'!!!!

"My Pop-Pop passed away in 1980 from the disease."

My grandfather was pop-pop too. Died in 1980 also.

Cigarette burning in the ashtray, beer on the arm rest.

Family lore says aneurism. I'm not sure if there was ever an autopsy though.

Man used to scare the ever loving mierda out of me. I remember 7 year old Hagbard watching my mom taking the call getting the news. Never want to see something like that again.

Life's a bitch. Then you die. Whole lotta fun, eh?

The only thing we got going for ourselves is that we are put on this earth to help each other to strive for something better than what we have.

Who the hell is dxlingr?

Who the hell is dxlingr?

#13 | Posted by dxlingr at 2009-11-11 11:50 PM | Reply | Flag:

I think your brain is busted, dude.

RIP Sir Thank You for allowing America to glean a wealth of Legal information and thought from Your wife.

Allowing?

The first woman on the Supreme Court of these United States...a huge milestone in women's movement for equality in all aspects of life...and "allowing" is the word you're going to go with?

Choose your words more carefully, Larry. Someone might get the idea that you're off your rocker.

Aren't most spouses SUPPOSED to discuss issues with great importance with each other especially ones in which require one or the other to be away from the other for long periods of time?? Isn't it customary for the spouses to get an OK or blessing from the other before they decide to take on such a monumental job as Justice of the Supreme Court?? If Your answer is Yes then aren't You as the one spouse allowing the other to live out their dream unincombered?? IE without the other that is taking on such a huge undertaking to be free of guilt free from worry that You might be upsetting Your Spouse by following their dream. Isn't that allowing in this case Sandra Day O.Conner to become Justice O'Conner and by extention Him allowing the United States to glean the vast wealth of information Legal information from Her. I say Yes. What say YOU Axiom??

Larry

What say YOU Axiom??

I say you could choose better words than "allowing" like it was 19-fucking-50 and she should have been in the kitchen baking a god damn cake, Larry.

Maybe it's been a while since you've had a relationship with a woman, but no woman I've ever dated, especially the woman I intended to marry, has ever asked me for permission to do anything she wanted to do.

Discussion and debate over the best course of action isn't the same thing as "honey, I'll allow you to work on the surpreme court. It'll be tough, but I'll make it through."

I can understand what Larry is saying to a large degree.

Married couples should discuss every major decision involving both husband and wife, so it's obvious that he agreed with her to pursue her dream.

Maybe allowed is too strong of a word, "sharing" your wife may have been a little better.

But I fail to see the need to jump all over Larry for one word.

Oh Axiom has had a Hard On for Me for quite awhile now. I am somewhat getting used to it. SOMEWHAT is the key word.

But I fail to see the need to jump all over Larry for one word.

I haven't jumped all over him, yet. There's no reason to.

I know what he means and I know his heart is in the right place. He still needs to choose better words.

Oh Axiom has had a Hard On for Me for quite awhile now. I am somewhat getting used to it. SOMEWHAT is the key word.

Awww, butter cup.

Let's hug it out, big guy.

sup⋅port  /səˈpɔrt, -ˈpoʊrt/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [suh-pawrt, -pohrt] Show IPA
verb (used with object) 1. to bear or hold up (a load, mass, structure, part, etc.); serve as a foundation for.
2. to sustain or withstand (weight, pressure, strain, etc.) without giving way; serve as a prop for.
3. to undergo or endure, esp. with patience or submission; tolerate.
4. to sustain (a person, the mind, spirits, courage, etc.) under trial or affliction: They supported him throughout his ordeal.
5. to maintain (a person, family, establishment, institution, etc.) by supplying with things necessary to existence; provide for: to support a family.
6. to uphold (a person, cause, policy, etc.) by aid, countenance, one's vote, etc.; back; second.
7. to maintain or advocate (a theory, principle, etc.).
8. to corroborate (a statement, opinion, etc.): Leading doctors supported his testimony.
9. to act with or second (a lead performer); assist in performance: The star was supported by a talented newcomer.

You're right about it being messy, HC. In fact it's dangerous for them....and others.

Three weeks ago, she forgot her little dog was outside with her when it took off and was hit and killed by a car...driver never stopped.

I've gone over and discovered she hadn't taken her meds from two days prior...the last time I was there.

I've gone over and found appliances running for no reason.

I keep telling the kids she should not be living alone.

It's scarey...and sad.

Oh gosh, Lisa, I know exactly what you are talking about. My friend's mom is much the same. I call her all the time, leave reminder notes for her, but she forgets what I said a minute after I've called and doesn't read the notes. When we go out to lunch, a minute after the waitress walks away, she forgets what she ordered. She knows she has a problem with her memory but doesn't realize how bad it is. She feels like people are always correcting and ciriticizing her. She often says, with tears in her eyes, I don't do anything right anymore. She doesn't live alone but she is sometimes alone for hours during the day. I know she won't want to go into a nursing home--her husband was in one for several years before he died--but she is going to have to have home healthcare aid or some kind of eldersitter stay with her so she isn't by herself. She was always an independent lady so she is going to hate that too, but what else to do?

"She often says, with tears in her eyes, I don't do anything right anymore. "

What a horrible way to feel.

It's so sad.

The woman I care for thinks her memory problems are just old age. And she won't move from her home even though the kids have offered for her to live with them. A nursing home? Forget it. Someone move in with her? No way. She's too stubborn and independent.

It's heartbreaking, Gal.

RIP Sir Thank You for allowing America to glean a wealth of Legal information and thought from Your wife. May You rest in peace Sir.

Translation: I agree with your wife's rulings on a political level, so I'll make a nice comment. If this were the spouse of John Roberts I'd say burn in hell.

The only thing we got going for ourselves is that we are put on this earth to help each other to strive for something better than what we have.
#12 | Posted by dxlingr

Words to live by.

I loved your story, Hagbard. There aren't many sweet Alzheimer's anecdotes, but I'll be telling that one to people.

My 85-year-old Irish Catholic grandmother has lost some of her mental faculties in the last two years. We flew her in with my mother to Florida, and on the drive home from the airport started talking about going to an Irish pub. She said something about a bar fight when she was young, so I told her "Nana, if we go to a pub you're going to get me into trouble."

Her response: "If there's trouble [long pause] I want a piece of it."

Incidentally, when my mental faculties decline, I'm going to continue running the Retort. You can expect a lot of stories in which I confuse One Life to Live with reality.

Incidentally, when my mental faculties decline, I'm going to continue running the Retort.
#29 | Posted by rcade

You'll be as one with some of the regulars who continue posting on the Retort.

Incidentally, when my mental faculties decline, I'm going to continue running the Retort. You can expect a lot of stories in which I confuse One Life to Live with reality.

Dammit, RCade. I wanted to flag your post as funny, but I was laughing so hard that my fingers were shaking and I clicked newsworthy instead.

Incidentally, when my mental faculties decline

Further you mean?

I'm going to continue running the Retort.

From yer walker?

You can expect a lot of stories in which I confuse One Life to Live with reality.

Readership will be confused but blogads selling soap will soar and make you very, very rich.

Able to buy mink-lined Depends if that notion takes yer fancy.

On Topic?

RIP John J O'Conner III

Condolences to Sandra Day O'Conner and other surviving family and loved ones.

As the disease took its toll on his memory, John O'Connor struck up a romance with a fellow Alzheimer's patient after moving into an assisted living center. His wife shared the story in 2007.

My 85-year-old Irish Catholic grandmother has lost some of her mental faculties in the last two years. We flew her in with my mother to Florida, and on the drive home from the airport started talking about going to an Irish pub. She said something about a bar fight when she was young, so I told her "Nana, if we go to a pub you're going to get me into trouble."

Her response: "If there's trouble [long pause] I want a piece of it."

Another great story. BTW, I called my Irish grandmother "Nana" too. She lived to be 99 and died in her sleep. In the end though, she thought her children were out to get her, which broke my father's heart.

On a more cheerful note, my other grandmother is 98 and lives in an independent living center. She is in a wheelchair, but her memory is still intact as well as her sense of humor. She loves wearing her Steeler pin every Sunday and watching the game on a 50 inch screen. She says she team nearly gives her a heart attack each week and enjoys "hollering" at the TV. Give 'em hell, Grams!

I help care for a woman with early Alzheimers.

At times, it just breaks my heart.

#4 | Posted by Lisa at 2009-11-11 08:48 PM | Reply

Both Grandma and Ma had it. The really sad part is walking into a room and having them look at you in fear because they no longer know who you are.

Exactly. Absolutely a heartbreaker. All you can do is help them along the way as best you can. Every day is a new day and few of them are good ones.

The really sad part is walking into a room and having them look at you in fear because they no longer know who you are.
#34 | Posted by 726

That is the worst. With my great grandmother she was always more annoyed looking as if asking "who is this stranger hassling me?" An aunt had the slightly afraid look with me until I'd tell her who my mother was. By the time she had to go to a home, she didn't even remember my mother anymore, who would come home crying after their visits.

"I loved your story, Hagbard. There aren't many sweet Alzheimer's anecdotes, but I'll be telling that one to people."

Thanks. I consider that an honor. My gramma was cool.

TY fer sharing everybody.

Alzheimers is a biatch but talking helps.

Be Well.

Wow, a guy none of us even knew, died. How horrible, and totally newsworthy.

Incidentally, when my mental faculties decline, .....#29 | Posted by rcade

........how will anyone be able to tell ?.......

Unfortunately this reminded me of the sad fact that many partners don't live for much longer than a year after their spouse passes. Both of my grandparents fell into that statistic......here's hoping Sandy lives many more happy years with the memories of a loving husband.

LM

I heard from somebody who knows that he used to beat her up.