Moments to Enjoy - a Visit With Mum

I read a book - studied really - entitled "the 36 Hour Day".  While the book is helpful in understanding how to deal with and care for a person with Alzheimer's and related Dementias, it can in know way relate what it is to really experience dealing with that care. More importantly it is difficult for anyone to put into words how one reacts to the varied situations that arise. Ggaod Bless Jack and Lana for what they have done and what they are doing.  I thank them so much for bringing Mum (that is what she likes to be called, though I still call her Mom) to visit with us and see her Colorado grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Mom is so "in the moment" of things - but the moments need to be constantly repeated.  At times there is clearly lucidity for extended periods of time... minutes even!  She and Carolyn - who I know is patient, but is even more patient than I thought, are putting together a puzzle.  The puzzle has 24 large pieces - and putting each piece in seems to take four or five minutes.  But it is getting put together.  The did one yesterday morning too...The results of that one shown below.  Pooh and his friends.  It is good to hear them laugh as they explore the different possibilities for each piece of the puzzle then give thumbs up for each successful try and a high five on completion.

It is interesting to see that there is a cycle to life and love of life and the joy that is found by "working so hard for it" as mom says.  You don't want to take the puzzle apart but you want to enjoy it for several days.  And then it is time to rest and relax.

Singing and exercising makes one laugh and be happy as well.  All of these things help keep the mind sharp - well as sharp as it can be anyway.  I do believe that mom being with Lana and Jack has really helped mom be healthier.  That means that mom will be with us in better mental and physical shape than she would be living alone.  There is no way that we can appreciate the sacrifices enough - but we can try!  Social interaction is a key component of that physical and mental well being!

Well, we are preparing for the Valentine creation party.  So much of the family will be over later to help out with that.  I - in the meantime - am enjoying writing and having a great Bloody Mary!

Moments are precious - friends and family are precious - never forget that.... give hugs and smiles freely- the life you have been given is yours to live to its fullest - so do that! Live all your moments and your life to the fullest!

Spring Cleaning - Yah, I Know it Isn't Spring Yet

Why do we do what we do - things like Spring cleaning?  It has almost become an institution, especially for Baby Boomers like me (I'm not sure anyone now even knows what a Boomer is)?  Well we have started this annual tradition - but we have started way early.  Perhaps because we have company coming.  That always seems to set the stage for setting the stage.  I think we naturally want to show our best.

My mom, 91 years young, is coming to visit.  Lana and Jack are bringing her out.  It will be an awesome treat as some of her great grandkids have never met her!  Her grandkids haven't visit her much either.  I think the last time we were together was a reunion that Jacque and Howard hosted in Montezuma Iowa. It was a Collins family reunion - that's mum's side of the family.

I was giving up hope that mum would ever get out here again.  It brings tears to my eyes that she is going to be able to make the trip and to meet her Colorado legacy - for that is what we truly are.  What does this have to do with spring cleaning? Well it is an occasion that has been triggered by new life and new generations.  We just had a new grandson (Bishop) born - we have another on the way and their great grandma Fahlenkamp is coming out and will be able to see them.

Don and Yvonne Fahlenkamp Family 2006 at Collins Family Reunion

It will be so nice to have Jack and Lana here.  Many of Carolyn's siblings have stayed at our home for various reasons.  Jacque and Howard have been here - but that's pretty much it for my side of the family so it is really a wonderful thing and I'm so looking forward to it for the kids, grandkids, and for Carolyn and I - so cleaning away and sprucing up!  And, most importantly enjoying every single moment of it!

On Being Fascinated

Fascination is an interesting thing.  I've been fascinated with water, fire, wind - all of nature and nature's many wonders.  I've also been continuously fascinated by Carolyn and our relationship - even how after 49 years knowing each other the fascination still abounds.  Kinda like this picture of her and the tree frog.  She asked me to take it!  I didn't know she liked frogs so much.  I like frogs - I have a collection of frogs (not live ones silly)!  Those collectible little bobble head frogs in all sorts of situations.  (I do like eating frog legs though - one of my favorite dishes! - sorry frogs!)

And skies - our skies have so many different looks and colors - their I can stare at the skies (both night skies and day skies) for hours, dreaming and wondering and being thrilled and saddened and, well, fascinated!

Taken by Lanny from Home

The skies over Colorado can produce awesome shapes and colors - right with many different varieties of clouds layered against a morning or evening sky.  They can be  utterly thrilling to look at in wonderment.  What struck about this particular formation was that Carolyn, even though we were miles apart parked the car and took pictures of the same sky with her camera phone.  Pretty neat!

Taken by Carolyn From a Parking lot

Photo by Carolyn from Parking Lot

These are just a few of things - so much more - babies, children, elderly folks (folks much older than I am), the rich, the not so rich, the poor, slot machines video games, arcades, mountains, fishing, golf - the human body! Oh my gosh, the human body.  Isn't it amazing how wonderful a creation the human body is?

Fascination is both mental and emotional, feeling and being triggered to action, to love, to laugh, to live!  Fascination - ain't it just great!  Be fascinate with life and all its moments!  Smile at folks - and you'll be fascinated what comes in return!

Another Beautiful Day

Delivered a rocking chair to the kids.  Carolyn and I stopped at Mama Alvino's.  We haven't been there for some time, but it was well worth the stop.  We both had calzones - Carolyn had a veggie and I had a Big Mamma (small one - but still big).  They were as good as we remembered.  We've been going there for over 30 years.  The gentleman that took our money remembered delivering pizzas to our house on Tucson street. 

The temperature has been in the high 50's today.  Xavier, Bishop, and Jeremiah are back home and happy to be there.  And we are so very happy that everyone is healthy and vibrant.  I'm grateful for that and much more...

We've enjoyed the day - and hope you have enjoyed yours as well.

Bishop Aries Marcell Fahlenkamp

Bishop

A new grandson born 10PM January 7, 2014.  We now have three grandsons and 7 grand daughters and one grandchild on the way!  I admit the initials are well, BAMF - but that kid will be tough and artistic.  We are proud and we are so happy that Xavier and Jeremiah are all fine - but tired.  He sent us pictures but I have not figured out how to download or upload easily from my phone yet. I wonder if this computer has Bluetooth?Anyhow, hopefully there will be pictures later!

Kairi, Bishop, Miah

I've added these pictures the following day.  I never did figure out blue tooth, but we did get  to the hospital and took some - downloading and uploading those I can do pretty quickly. WE are blessed to have all this love in our family  So now Kairi has another little brother! She appears to be enjoying that very much. Note that broad smile.  Kairi says that baby Bishop has her eyes.

Well, it is easy for me to say but I'll say it anyway - enjoy your moments, each one is very precious and once it is gone it can not be retrieved.  Count and be grateful for the many wonderful things you have to be grateful for.  Enjoy all there is to enjoy and the is a lot!

Family Matters

Carolyn and I are blessed to have so much family on both the Martinez and Fahlenkamp sides - not to mention some of the families of spouses and ex-spouses that are still very important in our lives.  Yesterday we enjoyed an after holiday Holiday Party.  There was family and neighbors.  We enjoyed the party, the laughter - the consolation and the news.  I especially enjoyed the chili and the time we had alone with our hosts (we were early arrivals!). I'm grateful for those things.

We were up early today and already have accomplished a lot for the day.  I continue to worry and fret a bit about Mum.  My son-in-law lost his mom this past week.  He is dealing with so much - he has a great wife to help him through all this - and he has others to call on when he needs or wants to all on them.

Carolyn and I are blessed to be healthy.  We work at it and it is so worth it to be so vital and vibrant and enjoying life as much as we do.  I do note that I tend to "not connect" with folks a lot - I often think it has something to do with the "fear of loss"!  Connecting can be a risk in that sense.  Maybe, just maybe, I need to take more risks and connect more with people.

I realize that I don't participate in what you would call "social sports" - like bowling- and perhaps that is the fear of connection and loss.  Golf is a sport, but not what I call a "social sport".  The lunches after golf with the Monday gang are social, but even there, I don't feel a part of the social set that is present.  Sometimes I feel I'm there because I fill out a foursome.

I think I'm a bit of a recluse!  Could it be?  I'll have to contemplate that - and a whole lot of other things!  Enjoy your family of families and all the moments you have - the good, the bad, and ..... well you know the rest!

My First 2014 Blog --- of course!

Well, it has been a very quiet day.  Carolyn and I crashed at about 00:15 - the kids, well, they crashed when they crashed.  The boys didn't get up until about 11AM, Kairi was up earlier and busied herself with the Galaxy tablet.  I played games and waited for breakfast time which really turned out to be lunch time.

I've made no resolutions, promises or commitments - makes things easier.  Carolyn has had a busy day - me I was mostly lazy - well not mostly - I was lazy! So - not much else to say - nothing else. Have a great year!