Good Works vs Cancer

Posted on May 23, 2016 by admin

 

If_Only_Good_Works_-_2016-05-22_1352

Let’s all get together for goodness’ sake and scare cancer away,
Alzheimer’s, MS, CS, et al, with it. And three cheers for good works!

Good Works

If good works could spread like cancer,
Wouldn’t that heal the world?
What if we all could spread niceness?
What if we all could love?

If good works could spread like cancer,
Everyone could be a dancer,
If we could all sing the same song,
Harmony would grow strong.

What if we could give out goodness?
Cancer holds the secret,
It knows just how to pass things on,
Cancer knows where to spawn.

What if goodness, love and kindness
Could kill off all the hurt?
What if we could learn from cancer?
It knows just how to share.

All good works are works of kindness:
Kindness is contagious,
And if practice makes for perfect,
Perfect your own good works.

What if good works spread like cancer?
What if we all agreed?
Would cancer then give up the fight,
Prove good works the stronger right?

If goodness could learn from cancer
And then infect us all,
We could start a health pandemic…
What if, for goodness sake?

— —

Source Forgotten

I was reading something the other day that inspired this, but like all my greatest ideas, the something reference self destroyed. But what if cancer’s strongest strength got turned on him and we turned his strength into his greatest weakness?

Well, this all might be very simplistic, but if science is doing that, then they are on track to gaining the upper hand on cancer, and that means hope for the rest of us: as in conquering Alzheimer’s is within reach. And all the other scourges.

If only.

Give generously to the research society fighting the disease in your family.

Posted in Advocacy, Alzheimer's, Cancer, Care Giving, Memories, Poetry | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Don’t forget grandpa: he likes hugs

Posted on May 20, 2016 by admin

 

Don't_Forget_Grandpa_-_2016-05-19_1808

This is my pioneering dad in his farming days. He didn’t get to be a grandpa for very long.

Don’t Forget Grandpa

He likes hugs too

Don’t ever let your grandpa feel left out.

Grandpa always has a pocketful of peppermints.
“Grandpa can I have a peppermint,” the child asks.
“Oh. I don’t have any peppermints today,” he says.
“Yes you have,” the child says, “you always have.”
“Do I always?” Grandpa feigns. “Where?”
“In your pocket. Right there.”
“Oh, let me see.” And he pats all of his pockets in turn.
“Nope, no peppermints.”
“Grandpaaw!”
“Which pocket?”
“That pocket. Right there.”
“Oh my goodness. So I have,” says Grandpa.
What a surprise. The child is delighted. “Can I have one? Please?”
“Oh, I suppose.”
And grandpa gives him a peppermint
And, of course, the rest of the grandkids swarm him, and plead, and Grandpa pretends to be peeved.
And then he holds out his peppermint bag and they all choose a mint.
And then they all give him hugs.

Don’t ever forget about Grandpa

He loves his hugs as well

Grandpas in my day were very austere, and in my life, mostly absent.

Both of mine lived elsewhere, and both died when I was still very young.

Where I spent my childhood, Grandpas were pioneers. They opened up and settled the land. Even my dad was a pioneer. He established a country store in pioneer country.
Even later, in town, I practically never met anybody else’s grandpa. If you have a grandpa, see him regularly. If he lives with you or nearby, consider yourself lucky. Talk to him. Learn his stories.

That is part of you. Don’t leave it so late that he might get Alzheimer’s and forget his own stories. Guaranteed, you will then regret not having made the effort. (I do.)

Come to that, you don’t know how much time you have.

A friend on our Alzheimer’s on-line support group came up with this expression: “The things you don’t remember, I’ll never forget.”

Things You Don’t Remember

H. W. Bryce

The things you don’t remember
Are the things I’ll not forget;
Each mem’ry’s like a member
And our fam’ly won’t forget.

Don’t you worry now my friend,
I never will forget you,
I’m here with you until the end;
It’s okay if you forget.

I’ll keep your mem’ries for you,
I’ll remind you like a son;
I’ll keep them safely for you
So your memories live on.

The mem’ries I’ll remember
Are the things that you forgot,
Each month until December
We will mark forget-me-not.

Hug your grandpa today, ’cause grandpas are a dying breed. Of course, they are, they’re growing old, and age takes us all in the end. So don’t forget your grandpa, he likes hugs too.

Posted in Advocate, Alzheimer's, Care Giving, Grand parents, Grandpas, Memories, Poetry | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hug Your Grandma

Posted on May 16, 2016 by admin

 

Hug_your_Grandma_-_2016-05-15_1238

 

Hug Your Grandma

Hug your Grandma just a little bit longer,
Tell  her you love her, every time you see her,
Hold her just a little bit longer, precious moments,
You never know if there will be enough time.

Hug her while she still knows you,
You know you’ll never forget her,
Part of you comes from her,
You never know how much time you have.

Smile and kiss her hand, she always makes you happy,
Her love is unconditional, she has earned your love.
Hug her now, hug her tight, while she still knows you,
It’s time to thank her, spend some time with her.

Grandma pioneered here, did you know?
Grandma pulled plow here, did you know?
Grandma cooked for fourteen, did you know?
Grandma had eleven children did you know?

Grandma never said that, did she?
Grandma thought she didn’t need to
’Cause she was busy being Grandma
Her recipe’s in the mulligan stew.

So hug your grandma a little bit longer,
Make your hug a little bit stronger,
Thank her every time that you see her,
Tell her I love you, listen to her purr.

Hold onto her a little bit longer,
And do for her a little favour,
Do for her as she always did for you,
Ease her burdens if  just a little bit.

Go ahead. Hug your Grandma. Don’t make her wait.

Traditionally, when I was wee little, grandmas were remote beings; mine was stiff backed and stern. They sometimes came, they sometimes stayed, for a little while; always strong willed, sometimes bossy, sometimes made mothers cry. But they lived in harsh times, requiring harsh strength. Breaking land was back-breaking work.

But while the next generation had it a little bit easier, those grandmas never shook off the harshness, and they used it on their kids because they wanted their sons and daughters to be a little bit stronger; and the grandkids, too. Love was never mentioned. Even so, grandma always saw things right, and was always full of sound advice. And always there for you.

And even harsh grandmas require love. And though they may be taken by surprised by a warm and loving hug and an I love you Grandma, be assured that the experience will melt her heart, just a little bit, the while she shakes it off with a gruff scowl and a harsh Oh you!

So do for her as she did for you. And thank her with some love.

Here’s hoping your grandma was the soft and silken kind who knew love and gives love.

Go ahead, hug your grandma, just a little bit longer, each time.
—

PS: My friend and fellow blogger Marianne of https://alongthesideoftheroad.wordpress.com/
referred me to Daisy at https://daisywillows.wordpress.com/about/
From there I picked up this, another point of view, a little more contemporary, from a grandkid:
http://www.gabvine.com/this-kids-love-letter-will-make-you-tear-and-hug-your-grandma/158283

ALSO, here’s a poem I found while searching for a picture for this column, and no, the lady in the picture is not my grandmother:

Grandma’s Hugs Are Made Of Love

Submitted By: Beverly Faith

Everything my grandma does
is something special made with love.
She takes time to add the extra touch
that says, “I love you very much.”

She fixes hurts with a kiss and smile
and tells good stories grandma-style.
It’s warm and cozy on her lap
for secret telling or a nap.

And when I say my prayers at night
I ask God to bless and hold her tight.
Cause when it comes to giving hugs
my grandma’s arms are filled with love!
-Author: Unknown

From:  http://www.scrapbook.com/poems/doc/9056.html
With proviso: If you are the copyright holder of this poem and it was submitted by one of our users without your consent, please contact us at http://support.scrapbook.com and we will be happy to remove it.

—
Picture Credit: https://pixabay.com/en/dependent-dementia-woman-old-age-63611/
CC0 Public Domain Free for commercial use No attribution required

Posted in Advocate, Alzheimer's, Care Giving, Grandmas, Memories, Poetry | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Don’t Wait: No time

Posted on May 13, 2016 by admin

 

Don't_Wait_-_2016-05-13_0738

Don’t wait

Don’t wait until tomorrow before you do
what you know you should have done today.
Don’t wait until tomorrow or next year,
Don’t assume you have the time,
Assume you don’t.
Do it now.
Or else already it’s too late.
Do not collect regrets,
Do not keep forgets, don’t save them up,
Give of your love today, give it now,
Postmortem praise
Is never heard inside the grave;
If you don’t you will regret.

Tell them now

Tell them now, appreciate them now,
Do something good for them today,
Let them go with precious memories of love,
Of warmth and kindness,
A knowing that you cared,
That their life and time were heaven spent
And that your time with them is deeply felt,
That they are valued most.
Make a living toast.
Don’t save it for the funeral speech,
Say it now, don’t wait.

Don’t Wait

Don’t wait to ask what was it like
When they were young and prime.
Don’t look back and say
I never thought to ask when they were here,
For if you don’t you’ll lose a bit of self,
And there will always be an empty hole
For you to fill with wonder if…
Ask them now to tell you all,
Their storied memories
of what it was that made them them.
Don’t wait.

I know

Take my word, I know,
For it’s a heavy blow
That hits me now
That she didn’t get to share
Her childhood joys with me,
And that I never told her what
I did when I was just a teen…
And yet… we made such a team.
But still I wonder why,
Why did I wait?
Don’t wait.

CREDIT: https://azharologia.com/waiting_for_you_by_jjap/

 

Posted in Advocate, Alzheimer's, Care Giving, Memories, Poetry, Waiting | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Carry On: Smile

Posted on May 9, 2016 by admin

 

Carry_On_-_2016-05-09_0726

Carry On

Carry On is a free-form (attempt at poetry).
Please read to the end.
Preferably in an accent like the
illustration above.

Well I don’t know if I can carry on
Carry on, carry on, carry on…

This hardship just won’t let me alone
It is the hardship that carries on
Carries on, carries on.
It is the hardship that carries on,
And it leaves me raw to the bone.

Sometimes I laugh in his face
And spit in his eye,
And when he cringes I laugh
Up a storm and enjoy
His discomfort  as I know
He thrives on mine.

Oh I try very hard not to feel down,
And then I try again some more,
But it feels more like I tore
A piece of my soul away.

Oh hardship, hardship, hardship,
You just chip away
At my very heart and soul.
Why can’t you just go away?

Well sometimes when I cry
Cause it hurts too much,
Tears turn to laughter
Cause what else is there to do?

Sometimes I just want to shed
This troubled mortal coil.
Everything I do you foil.
Haven’t I now bled
Enough to feed your thirst?
Why can’t you first
Go back to your evil bed?

And let me just carry on.

I can’t stand your carry on
Carry on, carry on, carry on.

So said the Prior to the flee.

—

Life is a flea circus!

Sometimes the world gets you down, and sometimes, you have to fight back.

Don’t forget to smile today.
— —

CREDIT: Clip Art. No other source detected.

Posted in Alzheimer's, Care Giving, Dementia, Humor, Memories, Poetry | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Books, Blogs and Butterflies

Posted on May 8, 2016 by admin

Hi fellow bloggers. I just want to forward an interesting story today. My new friend Daisy Willows of https://daisywillows.wordpress.com/2016/05/06/still-jackie/?c=2826#comment-2826

led me to a blog that had a Japanese ghost illustration. I reposted the blog and my friend in Thailand responded with the story of that ghost.

You can read the story here:

http://spiritedaway.wikia.com/wiki/No-Face_%28Kaonashi%29

Cheers,

–Herb

https://hwbrycewrites.com/2016/05/08/books-blogs-and-butterflies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Alzheimer's | Comments Off on Books, Blogs and Butterflies

I, Advocate: for you

Posted on May 6, 2016 by admin

I, Advocate - little flower - Capture

For one in need

I, Advocate

H. W. Bryce

I am advocate, I will stand with you,
Whatever it takes, that’s what I will do.

I will not judge you, no matter the stands,
Your case will be safe in my capable hands.

When you are weak, I will prop you up,
When you’re forlorn I will fill your cup.

I will find some way to solve your case,
I will make bureaucracy cut to the chase.

I will work without cease on your behalf,
I will ease your burden, I’ll be your staff.

I am advocate, I will partner with you,
Together we’ll fight to prove things true.

Whatever you need to help you to heal,
My word is my bond, my handshake my deal.

I, Advocate - blue flower - Capture

You, Advocate

You are your loved one’s Advocate.
Who else will stand up for him?
You know his heart very well,
His habits, his mores, his needs,
And it’s fight! Fight! Fight!
For his spirit, his strength and his pleads.
Now that he’s weakened and lost,
It is you who must, at all costs,
Protect his dignity and rights,
And save him from deeds
And neglect and abuse.

You are your loved one’s advocate,
Be that a man or a woman or child;
The fight might turn wild but you must be mild
And considered in fighting the fight,
For to argue and shout is definitely out
If you are to win any bout for your charge.

You are your loved one’s advocate
When your loved one can’t speak for himself.
When he’s in need it’s you who must heed
The call to duty to act. You must learn all the ropes
To know how to protect his hopes
And fulfill all of his basic needs.
And who else is there but you?
You are your loved one’s advocate.

— — –NOTE– — —
Being an advocate is an honorable thing.
It’s an honest and worthy calling,
So it’s all that you’ve got that you bring
When a life needs a good overhauling.

Be the eye of the storm,
vicious in your client’s defense,
The lightning bolt of ideas and arguments.
Be the wind that carries the day
And sweep caring and sharing into our hearts
To build a better day. You can always find a way.

Posted in Advocate, Alzheimer's, Care Giving, Heroism, Justice, Poetry | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment