[jiffypop]

ok, folks. this isn't exciting news. it's something we all know, but it bears repeating - ENDLESSLY!!

here's the deal - many of you know that i'm dealing with the alzheimer's mom and that she's getting worse. sad. tragic, heartbreaking and HARD to deal with, since i get very very very little free time. we have a live in now, but he's gone on friday nights and saturdays, returns around 2 pm on sunday. so, saturdays are hard, and after a long week of work, i need some time to myself. we ALL need time for ourselves.

sunday - yesterday - was a real low point. i ran out of the house once the live-in came, and just started driving. wasn't sure where i wanted to go or what i wanted to do, but i knew i needed SOMETHING. in an ideal world i would have gone to the gym, but i didn't.

i drove to a nearby town, where a yarn store was open on sundays, and walked in, saying, I DON'T NEED YARN, I NEED INSPIRATION! and there, in the sale bin, was something snuggly. i picked it up and cuddled it, and realized that i needed to make something FOR ME. i needed something FOR ME. it wasn't food - i needed real, solid COMFORT from myself.

so, i bought three skeins of this wonderful, lush stuff, and have started making something FOR ME.

go do something for yourself. not for anyone else. not because someone thinks it's what you should do. ONE SELFISH ACT that satisfies something in you - food will never reach it.

a long way to go, still. but it's a start. and it felt so right after i made this decision. and i'm even more proud of myself that i realized that this was something that wouldn't be solved by EATING!!!!

whew!!!!

[KO]

Bravo JIFF! I think we could all take a page out of your book!

[Pazazz]

Awesome!!! YOU HAVE BROKEN THE ICE!!!

[Chickadee]

Wow Jiff. I hate to admit it, but even this far out from surgery, I would probably have headed straight for the chocolate. Good for you my friend. You are a strong woman and a caring daughter too.

Chickadee (yeah, I know, I never post anymore!)

[Lolow]

Jiff, my heart goes out to you. We lost our brother to Alzheimer's this past October and I (and all our family )know what you're going through. Our town didn't have places where you can even take them for a little while to give his wife a break. We chipped in and would help her at home until finally he had to be put in a home for his own safety and his wife's health. We were afraid we would lose her before him, due to the stress that is put on a caregiver.
There's now a place in town, if your mother can make it to a wheel chair or something) that will babysit patients for an hour up to four hours. It's a Gods-send for people who just need a little time for themselves, even once a week. Also support groups helped me tremendously, just to understand what was going on. God will bless you for taking care of your Mother.


Blessings.