TO BE ALIVE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL, SELF-ORGANIZING UNIVERSE--
TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DANCE
OF LIFE WITH SENSES TO PERCEIVE IT--
IS A WONDER BEYOND WORDS.
~Joanna Macy
Of Note: Last week a close friend of my Mom's moved to an assisted living center due to dementia and a multitude of chronic illnesses. He could no longer live at home and had no one to provide the level of care he needed on a 24-hour basis. Over a decade ago, she lost my Dad to Alzheimer's Disease. He was diagnosed when his employer called Mom and said Bill needed to be tested because his work had declined dramatically. Following that testing, it was shown that Dad had a 6th grade math level. That news was startling as he had worked as a mechanical engineer all his adult life. Over the next 8 years, Dad's mental status declined precipitously, and the last three years he lived in a nursing home. Currently, 5.5 million people suffer from Alzheimer's Disease, a number which is projected to grow in the United States to 14 million as the baby boomers reach old age. On the 5 to 10 year horizon is earlier and better diagnosis and the regular use of biomarkers although few new therapies. By 2050 it is predicted that there will be a whole slew of treatments based on advanced research and drug trials. What's more, preventative measures may even be common. Our children and grandchildren will no longer look at Alzheimer's Disease as a death sentence with a protracted ending but an inherited chronic disease that is caught early and treated aggressively. For them, nothing will get in the way of active participation in the dance of life with senses to perceive it well into advanced old age.
Today's Weather Report: Alleluia, it was 53 degrees Fahrenheit today with clear skies. All the better to dry the caulk at the hunting cabin. I applied it two days ago and, yesterday, the stuff was still quite tacky. In my mind, plans were forming to take the Mr. Buddy portable heater and apply some BTU's to the outdoor application. Thankfully, it appears that will not be necessary since the caulk is now setting up quite nicely. Now, we need a heavy rain to test my work. The downpours last week proved that my previous work around the windows was successful, and the inside was practically dry. Now only this corner remains as a problem child. But I'm on it, as my husband would say, like "ugly on an ape." If this application of caulk does not work, another certainly will. Oh yes, today was Election Day, and my polling place was busier than ever. Thank heavens, this election cycle is over, and we can move on. All that negative campaigning certainly could not be good for the psyche of our nation--or the world for that matter.
Today's Weather Report: Alleluia, it was 53 degrees Fahrenheit today with clear skies. All the better to dry the caulk at the hunting cabin. I applied it two days ago and, yesterday, the stuff was still quite tacky. In my mind, plans were forming to take the Mr. Buddy portable heater and apply some BTU's to the outdoor application. Thankfully, it appears that will not be necessary since the caulk is now setting up quite nicely. Now, we need a heavy rain to test my work. The downpours last week proved that my previous work around the windows was successful, and the inside was practically dry. Now only this corner remains as a problem child. But I'm on it, as my husband would say, like "ugly on an ape." If this application of caulk does not work, another certainly will. Oh yes, today was Election Day, and my polling place was busier than ever. Thank heavens, this election cycle is over, and we can move on. All that negative campaigning certainly could not be good for the psyche of our nation--or the world for that matter.
