“No freedom from the past, or from the future. But we keep making our way, as we have to.”
~ Darin Strauss, Half A Life

“I’ve lost the order of things. To the outside world, however, I show a different face.”
~ Mira Bartók, The Memory Palace.

“We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.”
~ Anaïs Nin

This you tube video of 100-year-old Shirley reminiscing about her beloved husband, Moe, will make you cry, smile, and laugh. But, most of all, it will leave you with poignant words to cherish.

Pass the tissue, please.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8TjO2FGnao

Startling statistics from the Alzheimer’s Association:

Impact on Caregivers

In 2013, 15.5 million family and friends provided 17.7 billion hours of unpaid care to those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias – care valued at $220.2 billion, which is nearly eight times the total revenue of McDonald’s in 2012.

More than 60 percent of Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers are women.

All caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s – both women and men – face a devastating toll. Due to the physical and emotional burden of caregiving, Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers had $9.3 billion in additional health care costs of their own in 2013. Nearly 60 percent of Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers rate the emotional stress of caregiving as high or very high, and more than one-third report symptoms of depression. https://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_facts_and_figures.asp#impact

After reading the opinion piece, “My Mother’s Keepers,” in the April 13 edition of the New York Times, I realized I’m not alone. What about you? If you think you are alone go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/13/opinion/sunday/my-mothers-keepers.html?emc=edit_th_20140413&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=65830396