Donna and I are nearing four years of co-habitation, but aside from camping trips we have not been able to travel since Donna needed regular help and moved in with me. This last year I have made strides in self-confidence and ability to ‘deal’ with the various challenges of caregiving with Donna– and as such… Continue reading Donna and Travel, take one.
Tag: outdoors
Fleeing the Flames, chasing Donna’s Dreams
I have done more than inherit Mom’s preferences, she raised me with her habits. As a career teacher, she loved the outdoors of BC and elsewhere to a degree that getting into the woods was probably the single greatest benefit of being a teacher who had her summers off. I grew up knowing that at… Continue reading Fleeing the Flames, chasing Donna’s Dreams
Heatwaves, Hamburgers and Handydarts
When it is as hot as it is in Vancouver (well, Burnaby) Canada now, there is little chance in thinking deeply on any other subject. I have complained many times about the Handydart system in BC for elders and incapacitated people of all ages. But, I must say, the existence of this service has made… Continue reading Heatwaves, Hamburgers and Handydarts
Woman, 87, with dementia forced to sleep outside after being made homeless
Joe Roberts Wednesday 1 Aug 2018 A frail 87-year-old dementia sufferer is comforted by her son in a hotel room after spending a night sleeping rough next to a canal in Birmingham. Unemployed Darius Nenius, 45, and his mother Irena were made homeless two weeks ago when his benefits stopped and he ran out of… Continue reading Woman, 87, with dementia forced to sleep outside after being made homeless
Heat and beating it
There are only a couple of weeks a year that exist in Vancouver hot enough to be dangerous. The danger, of course, escalates with your age. So how do we have lives together that are also safe? Fortunately, we have lakes.
One Big Grumble
This is a Friday, a day that Mom normally goes to her day plan. However, without a phone call or other ‘head’s up’ the HandyDart refused to carry mom today because of weakened brakes. This when I was planning to go and get them on my own today, but that is now not possible– and… Continue reading One Big Grumble
Donna, Boating and Expressed Joy
I took mom to Deer Lake and out on the pedal boats for the third time this year last week (end of September 2017). When we arrived and went into the water it was more still than the other times. It meant we could move very easily, and that I had no clue just how… Continue reading Donna, Boating and Expressed Joy
Camp-fireside wisdom from Donna
Mom couldn’t get camping with a campfire until October, the weekend of the 7th to be exact. There are many moments from that part of our trip that mean a lot to me, but the one that truly messed with my head was strong enough to leave me a little stunned at the time and… Continue reading Camp-fireside wisdom from Donna
September 12, 2016: Mom gets back to the Skagit– where she belongs.
Mom is the reason I am so utterly lost without getting away from the city, some of my earliest memories are of her, dad and I camping. My first actual memory in my consciousness is inside the RV. One of her favourite places has been part of her life since the 50’s, changing in meaning… Continue reading September 12, 2016: Mom gets back to the Skagit– where she belongs.
September 5, 2016: Mom attends BC Fed labour day.
I still often underestimate how much of a difference getting out into the real world– even when it is likely to involve a place that is “busy” and involves slowing down less. In this case, the weather was okay, the outdoor events was very good and the sensation of happily enjoying others company and being… Continue reading September 5, 2016: Mom attends BC Fed labour day.