Where Did I Leave My Glasses?

Where Did I Leave My Glasses? by Martha Weinman Lear
The What, When, and Why of Normal Memory Loss
My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book had a personal message for me as my Dad suffered from dementia the last ten years of his life as did one of his sisters and one of his brothers. Only my Mom's younger sister has a problem with dementia.  I think about the big "A" a lot when I can't find my glasses.  I can find my car keys...they are in a basket on the stairs leading into the garage. I put them there before I go upstairs.  If I find them in my hand at the top of the stairs, I walk back down and put them in their basket...my husband has bought into this scheme...it is working.  I am and have always been a list maker...nothing new for me.  I gave my husband and one daughter the disease early on in our marriage. The other daughter was also born with the "list-making disease"...my lists work, too! That is, if I "remember" to look at the list.


This book gave me some good and encouraging information.


Bottom line: I don't have Alzheimer's; it's all about getting old!  When I can't run my life like I always have because of faulty memory, it's time to get help.


My "aha" moment while reading this book came at the halfway point.  
Quote: (see p. 129):


"'You know, a lot of us have complaints about our memories.  I have complaints about mine. The key thing is, To what degree is it affecting your ability to do what you always do? Yes, a lot of us are forgetful because we have so much going on in our lives, and yes, our memories do get worse as we get older, and no, I don't feel my memory is as good as it was when I was twenty.  But if someone were to ask me, Well, does it get in the way of your work?  Can you still do what you want to do? Can you pay your bills? Can you do your job? Can you still run your life the way you're accustomed to running it?'


Author's reply: 'Yes, of course I can. So that's the demarcation.'"-!Aha!


Other tidbits of information that I may or may not remember:)
1.  Exercise in the morning will help jump start my brain for the day's activities.  Walking is the best exercise to improve multitasking, planning, scheduling, focusing on the matter at hand and aborting that perilous left-hand turn. (an aside from me...I am already saying: "I take a route where I don't have to make any left-hand turns.  So am I going in circles?")


2. We all tease about our memories from an early age. Around 20 I couldn't remember why I went to the kitchen...I had to return to the point of origin to remember...aha!  However, when I stop teasing or even hiding the fact I don't remember, it a sign..I need to get help.


3. Again a quote: "But the enormous discovery scientists have made in recent years is that the aging process can be regulated.  It is controlled by certain genes, and caloric restriction activates these genes."(p.168)  Guess who's been watching her calories and will continue to do so?


Disclaimer: "This review will not spoil your reading of this book. There will be a message in it for you.  It may be the same message as mine.  Then again, it may be your own personal message."


I recommend this book to you!



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The King's Speech

I just watched "60 Minutes"!  The segment included an interview Colin Firth and his nomination for the movie "The King's Speech".  I have to tell you...tears are still in my eyes and I have just blown my nose!  I have already blogged about this movie, but I was overwhelmed with the "60 Minutes" segment.  




Number 1: I was alive when this was happening...beyond thinking about!  


Number 2: Scott Pelley, CBS reporter was shown actual documents of the interaction between the King, George VI and his therapist/friend, Mr. Logue.  The documents are in possession of Mr. Logue's grandson.  I wish I was in Scott Pelley' place.  I could feel myself there when he held a letter from the King...it was beyond my comprehension...therefore, the tears!  


I can hardly wait for the Oscars.  I actually saw the movie! ....more tears to come...I promise!

Valentine's Day at Swan Lake

We took a day trip to celebrate St. Valentine's Day!  I had seen a post on a blog from a member of the Arkansas Women Bloggers .
I knew I had to go! 












I am a collector by nature. 

A Swan TV Lamp
from the 60's

Hull Pottery Planter

At one point I was 
an avid collector of 
ceramic swans.  
I out of my "swan" phase now...
but still had to see them.  

What a wonderful site! 
They come to Magness Lake, E&W Refuge outside Heber Springs, Arkansas, each year on their way North.  











They usually leave around February 14 so we were really lucky they were still there.  

We had a little trouble finding the lake. (Mainly because I forgot to bring my directions:)  We gave up and stopped for lunch.  A nice waitress at Mack's Fish House gave us good directions.   As I suspected, if we had just gone a little further down the road, we would have been more successful.

Sugar Loaf Mountain, Heber Spring, Arkansas

We were actually only a couple of miles away when we took this picture of Sugar Loaf Mountain.  

All's well that ends well!
We had a nice lunch, met a nice lady and saw the swans.  It was a great Valentine's Day.  Hope your day was as lovely as ours!