Taking a break from the reality of our lives

I have been so negligent with this blog but our lives have been in turmoil with the sale of the house and planning for the big move.  I feel like I had been running fast and furious for the last few weeks.  I continue to be amazed at how the fairy dust keeps falling on us and how everything seems to be coming together with no big glitches so far (knock on wood).

It seemed crazy when we took off for Colorado in the midst of the chaos of selling the house and moving but the plans had been made long ago.  We received 5 offers on our house in the one day it was on the market...3 over the asking price and of course, we took the highest bidder.  The dreaded inspector came and fortunately found nothing serious wrong but of course, some minor stuff that needed to be taken care of.  The last three weeks have been really hard for hubby and very confusing as different repairmen have been in and out of the house.  It has meant moving him and his stuff around and that upsets him. 

He has a difficult time with directions to do anything.  Is this a "guy" thing or Alzheimer's? I try to give him just one very specific one at a time but there have been days when I haven't been too patient with him while juggling three repairmen in the house at once.  I will say something like "Put this in the freezer."  He will make it to the kitchen and then stand there.  I have to think about all the jokes about the elderly forgetting what they came into a room for.  He can find the room but not the freezer.  One day it was the microwave even though he was standing facing it.  He just couldn't make the connection.

We have found a place to land...not on the beach as we originally thought but in Houston...a Brookdale Plaza facility for independent living.  It is the only place that hubby has said he would like to live there...bigger selection of food on the menu and there are quite a few men.  Many of the other places seemed to be predominantly old ladies on walkers.  And a plus for me is that my oldest and dearest friend has recently moved in there and loves it.  So off we go to a 2 bedroom, 2  bath apartment and we have two weeks to get ready to do it when we return.  It is not a continuing care facility but I decided we will just have to cross that bridge when we come to it.

This trip to CO with hubby's twin and wife has been wonderful for hubby.  He and his brother can talk for hours pouring over the NY Times with coffee and he has adapted pretty well to the routine.  We are spending a week at the YMCA camp at their invitation and relaxing.  We took a day trip to Nederland, CO to see this magnificent carousel...a beautiful thing with all the animals hand carved by a local sculptor...rides are $1...can't beat that and he had a great time riding his zebra.  Then an awesome lunch of Indian and Napalese food at Katmandu restaurant.  A fun day for all. 
I had no idea how badly I needed this but evidently my sister-in-law did...God bless her.

Oh My...the fairy dust keeps falling...

I always thought if I could just relax about this move, the Universe would provide as long as I did my part to make it happen.  SO finally after weeks of sorting, giving away, packing I felt we were getting really close.  And many thanks to some dear friends who spent days with me going through all kinds of shit and helping me make decisions.  Oh and one painted the front bedroom and bath.  The repairs are done and I hired a cleaning lady to come in for two days and scrub.  Then the realtor brought in a "stager" who moved a few things around (we are still looking for some) and we were ready to go. 

We signed the listing contract and put the sign in the yard on Friday.  Saturday morning the phone started ringing to arrange showings.  We were gone all day as 6 different parties came through the house.  Another came on Sunday.  By Monday we had 5 offers on the table.  HOLY MOLY!  And most over our asking price!  We picked the one that is $10K over and that would take a couple of our cats (we can't take them all with us).  But we will continue to show the house until the 7 day grace period is over,,,who knows, maybe an even better offer will happen but I am thrilled to have this one.

Needless to say this has been very discombobulating for the Alzheimer's patient.  Bless his heart!  He has done pretty well but having his stuff moved has so confused him.  And yet he is excited in a good way about finding a place.  He is "sundowning' earlier....getting confused and tired now around 4:00 in the afternoon.  He still wants to go everywhere with me but frequently sits in the car and listens to the radio if I'm not gone too long. He has lost interest in the computer and spends a lot of time reading the newspaper.  The good news is that he has made great progress going through his piles of printed emails and eliminated much of it.

Every now and then he clouds over and is angry.  When questioned, he rails on and on again about not being able to drive.  He looks at me furiously and says "You took away my keys.  This is all your doing."  No amount of explaining it being the doctor's recommendation as well makes any difference.  But I just acknowledge his feelings and redirect the conversation and he eventually calms down.

I am sure that this move is going to be difficult for him but I think once we get into a routine, he will be fine with it.  I'm hoping to get him interested in some activities and socializing with others.  It is so tiring for me to be his only social life.  He doesn't want me to call his friends to come by...I think he is embarrassed.  He enjoys going to church and talking with the guys there and Saturday we went to our great granddaughter's 3rd birthday party where he had a good time.  And next weekend our son will be here for a party at his brother's house with the family around which is good company for him. 

But for now...it is onward through the fog.  The adventure is unfolding just the way it should so far.  Next step is to find a place to park ourselves and our much fewer goods.