Roses and Julia Child help with technical difficulties.

Limitation is such a neutral word. I had to change the batteries in my car and home alarm fobs. The last time I did this, I probably had the TV on, was engaged in a conversation, with food cooking on the stove -- and I changed the batteries with no problem.

Not so the other day. I got completely lost. Spent 10 minutes trying to open one of the fobs, then realized it was already open. Put the wrong size battery in each fob. Mixed up the new with the dead batteries. Started to feel the tears coming on.

So I went out in the garden.
Had a talk with God, via roses (Julia Child yellow variety) that are still blooming.
Went to Walgreens and bought another set of batteries.
Came home, fixed some chai tea.
Thought about roses and Julia Child.
Took everything veeeerrrryyy slowly.

Both fobs now have new batteries.

I think it was the roses that did it.
Or maybe Julia Child.

St. Francis and Alzheimer's? Yes!

I have this sign on the inside of my front door to help me remember what I might need when I leave the house...and to remind me who is in charge.

The picture is from the labyrinth at the San Damiano Franciscan Retreat Center in Danville, so this sign also reminds me that as my brain becomes a labyrinth, in the center of the maze is always a loving God.










On the outside of my front door is a plaque I bought at the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, Italy. It reminds me and my friends "Peace and All Good", the Franciscan greeting.

This is the Tau cross of St. Francis. And here is God's paradox: "Tau" is also the name of a protein in the brain that, when defective, can result in Alzheimer's disease.

So I will wear my Tau cross to keep on the loving side of that paradox, and I bet it will work better than any medication I might end up taking.

..and this is the cherry tree in Assisi I rested under after a hike to the place where St. Francis and his followers went for retreat (and that day was the most beautiful day of my life, other than the day my son was born). I describe how Francis led me on that hike here:
St. Francis leads the way 

It's official...what the neurologist said

The bad news first:

After giving me some more cognitive tests (I drew a clock with time at 11:10 correctly except for the short/long hands -- I resisted the urge to go digital) and neurological tests (I can walk a heal-to-toe straight line -- another blessing of sobriety), the UC Davis Alzheimer's Disease Clinic neurologist stated that my Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is the variety that is the precursor to Alzheimer's and that I may "need more assistance in the near future." The official lingo is Amnestic Multiple Domain MCI.

He recommended I drive only short distances to familiar places. He recommended I put a sign on my stove -- "Use the Timer" -- and use microwave meals whenever possible.

..now the good news:

I will be taking part in the groundbreaking Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) which is so waaay cool -- not run by Big Pharma, and they will advise all the latest research.

More important -- I absolutely insist upon enjoying life..."we will see where our experience can benefit others" -- and as 1 out of 8 baby-boomers will be joining me on this road, I want to demonstrate how you can lose your mind AND have a good time doing it. WHY NOT?? I want to turn this around from the "long good-bye" to the "long hello to something COMPLETELY different"...where is Monty Python's giant foot when I need it?..oh...here it is:

In truth, my future will probably be a lot harder on my beloveds (if you're reading this, you are one of them) than on me. And I don't want to minimize that this is serious stuff...but no person, place, thing, or illness gets to define who I am, and I am (and will continue to be)

-- meganthemegan.