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The world is divided into two categories: the keeper and the non-keeper. I am not a keeper. I remember when my children would ask where a certain treasure was—a picture they drew, a one-armed clay figure they constructed, a half-eaten sucker from two weeks ago. I would look puzzled and reply, “I’m not sure.” The […]

I’m never very excited about New Year’s. Christmas is full of friends and family, fun and surprises, warm fuzzies and faith. New Year’s is a flip of the calendar, high expectations to do better, and resolutions to make it so. “Happy New Year” echoes hollowly everywhere I go, and I think, “How will saying it

Routines. We all have them, and there are ways in which they sew the fragments of our days together. Here are some of mine: ·      Up at 5:00 a.m., shower, dress, make the bed. ·      One cup of hot lemon and honey, my pain pills, one coffee. ·      Make my breakfast smoothie, make my lunch.

Do you ever dream of having someone look after you? After a particularly long and demanding day, I think about someone making me a cup of tea and giving me a foot rub. Maybe a neck rub, too. There’s usually a beach involved, with rhythmic, lapping waves, warm sun and a book in my hand.

                                       Our beautiful Lucy If a medication claimed to lower your risk of heart attack, and increase your chances of survival one year after a heart attack, would you consider taking it? If it lowered your blood

Hannah during a 2009 visit “Grandma, can I go to your work? I really like dressing up in a party dress and talking with everyone.” Since Hannah was six months old, trips to Christie Gardens have been part of her life. When she learned to walk, she would toddle, and then run, down the long

Dull. Repetitious. Tedious. Boring. Do you feel like yawning? I lay my head back and close my eyes when I hear the words. Or, I jump up and find something to do. Boredom, especially if it lasts for more than a few hours, causes me to slide into a dull stupor. My thinking goes on

“Can I help you?”“How can I help you?”“Let me do that for you.” These well-meaning words can be exactly what’s needed in the situation, or they can be the first, crippling step toward helplessness. “The three plagues of loneliness, helplessness and boredom account for the bulk of suffering among our elders.” 1The elderly deal with

Loneliness, helplessness and boredom. If you’ve spent any time around those who espouse the Eden Alternative, the words roll off your tongue. The first principle states: “The three plagues of loneliness, helplessness and boredom account for the bulk of suffering among our elders.” 1 Loneliness doesn’t need definition. We’ve all felt it. It’s not necessarily

“This is what makes us different.” The wife of one of the residents stood by my desk with a glowing face. “You’re not perfect. Nobody’s perfect. But this…” she waved her hand, “this is wonderful. Special. This is what makes us different.” She was referring to the many staff in all departments who dressed in