I know. I treasure every hour I can escape. Even a 30 minute trip to the grocery store is a treat these days.

The company I worked for invited me to their Christmas party next Saturday night. I am anxious to see some former co-workers..
get out.. eat.. have a drink... escape.

You are so right . Just getting out and being around other people.
Talking to other people. Having fun.
It is hard to get out sometimes and I still feel guilty when I do go without Ken but it sure helps me cope with some of the challenges.

A Christmas party with old friends. Sounds like fun.
Have a drink for all of us,

Getting out, taking to a few friends (having normal conversations) seeing something different all that good stuff just does wonders for moods and your health.
I'm so glad you got out Deb, we all need this and maybe more then ever at this tiem of year when there is so much pressure.

Our sons stayed at our house this weekend and gave me a four-day respite. It was wonderful. My sister and I drove to W.Va., got a hotel room and did whatever we wanted. Had a dinner on Sunday (prepared by her kids) so she could celebrate Christmas with them. But came home to the same problems and was crying again by this morning, trying to get hubby to get cleaned up so he could go to his day program and I could grocery shop _ it didn't happen. Oh well, it was a fun weekend.

sorry boxermom, hope you are having a better day

PS have you tried anti-depressants? I take a low dose everyday, helps keep me sane.

What would we every do without our really good friends? (Those that are truly sympathetic to our situations). Some of my friends don't come around much anymore because they don't know what to do or what to say, and I wouldn't care if they didn't say anything except that they care. I am so happy that you were able to spend some time with your friends.

Love to you,
Sharon

This will be the first Christmas with my Mom in the Nursing Home. I don't know how I'm going to handle that. She was so disoriented today when I visited her..said she hadn't been to bed all night for some reason, she'd had to sit in her wheelchair all night. I knew this couldn't be true, but sometimes there's just enough truth in what she says to make me wonder, so I ask about it. The aide who was working this afternoon said he had put her to bed himself last night!
Then she started saying how bad she wanted to come home. It just breaks my heart. I brought her home at the first of Nov. and it was a catastrophe. We ended up having to call an ambulance and taking her to the hospital. The doctor told us, we couldn't possibly take care of her at home so we had to place her back in the NH.

I'm sorry ZZ, maybe she will be a little better on Christmas.

THE HOLIDAYS ARE REALLY HARD WHEN YOUR DEALING WITH SOMETHING LIKE ALZHEIMERS (OR ANY OTHER SERIOUS ILLNESS)...THERE IS A PART OF YOU THAT WANTS TO FIND THE JOY OF THE SEASON YET SO MUCH IS WRAPPED IN THE SORROW OF THE CONINUING LOSS.
MOST OF US ALSO HAVE TO DEAL WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO REACT TO OUR LOVED ONE WITH THE AD AND BECAUSE OF THEIR DISCOMFORT MANY TEND TO AVOID US WHICH ONLY MAKES THE WHOLE THING SADDER AND LONELIER.

The whole holiday season from Thanksgiving on is hard. He is not interested at all in any part of it. It is hard having my husband turning into my 5 yr. old. A friend called today to tell me he gave her a black look when he announced he was walking home alone in the dark after the Christams Eve service and she said he could not do it. I get lots of black looks, but I stick to what I know works. If you can get away do it often.
Take care of yourself. And don't ever feel guilty. Have whatever fun you can arrange for.