Trippin' with Susan Straley

Sunday, August 4, 2016 The cruelest part of dementia, I think, is the roller coaster.  Just when you are feeling adjusted to the loss of your loved one, they have a great day.  George is back!  I fall in love all over again. How does that happen?  If the brain cells are dead like the doctors say, then how can someone who couldn't carry on a conversation for many weeks is now all of a sudden able to chat with you?  Someone who can't think what to do with themselves now thinks to take out the trash and the recycling.  Now, I know what you are thinking.  He is home in familiar surroundings.  But before we left on our trip we were home and he wasn't listening and comprehending my side of phone conversations and was forgetting about the trash and recycling. He had good days when we were traveling.  On Sunday after we got back from our trip George had a VERY good day. I have heard of people on their deathbeds.  Laying there close t...

Wednesday, June 29, 2016 We are always moving.  Whether it is on our bikes or in a car or on our feet.  Sometimes the moving is from one stage to another -- from denial to acceptance, from independence to dependence... We did our exercises by the cliff and then we were hungry so we knocked on our host's door.  She swung the door wide and welcomed us in with a big smile.  How nice is that! She put George to work chopping onions and I went to work making coffee.  Peyt put out a nice spread of an omelette with spinach, onion and colored sweet peppers.  She dined with us and the conversation flowed wonderfully. Then off we were to bike.  We drove to the trail that Peyt had shown us yesterday. Across the Hood River Bridge. Up a winding road for only about 1/2 mile. It was very windy.  I asked another couple that was just starting their ride how long the rail was.  He said 9 miles round trip. It was a W...