2016 | - Part 3

June 29, 2016January 19, 2018

Moments of Pleasure

Yesterday was a good day. I had to strongly encourage Kate to attend morning worship, but she loved the preacher as she had on Sunday. If she had been able to remember hearing him, she would have been eager to go. One of the good reasons to attend the worship service is to assure ourselves of a good seat for the main lecture of the day. At the end of worship, Kate wanted to use the restroom. I took her there and waited outside the door for her. Then we walked back to the seating. I always walk ahead of her. She likes me to do this because she doesn’t know which way to go. When we got to our row, I walked in to our seats. When I looked back, Kate was not behind me. I looked closer to the front and saw her walk into the first row. She was about to take a seat when I called to her. She didn’t see me at first but finally did and came to sit down with me.

One of the symptoms she has had for several years has worsened. That is her eyesight. I don’t mean to say that there is something wrong with her eyes although she is in the early stage of her cataract development. I am confident from what I have learned about Alzheimer’s is that it is part of the dysfunctional patterns of the brain. She frequently doesn’t see things that are right in front of her. When I point to something I want her to see, it takes her a while to focus on that particular thing. Often she never sees what I was pointing out. I think what is happening now is that she loses sight of me as she is following. For quite sometime, I have looked back periodically to see if she is still right behind me. I was doing so as we went back to our seat; however, it only takes a moment of distraction on her part to lose me.

Greg Boyle did another outstanding job presenting a sermon consisting mostly of stories of his life working with gang members to make their lives better and more productive. His stories are quite moving, and, at certain moments, he seemed moved by them as well. Kate was quite moved. I take this as a good thing as it was for me.

That was followed by the main lecture that included Pamela Paul (editor of the NYT Book Review), David Lynn (editor of The Kenyon Review), and Lorin Stein (editor of The Paris Review). They were outstanding and Roger Rosenblatt was at his best as well. It was another Chautauqua highlight for both of us
We went back to Hurlbut Methodist for lunch as we did on Monday. We got into a lengthy conversation with a woman from Ontario. She is a regular here. It was another good Chautauqua experience.

Kate was ready for a little rest after lunch and told me she would rather remain in the room than attend Bishop Spong’s lecture. I went and enjoyed it. Then I came back to see if Kate would like to attend a 3:30 lecture by a man who performs as Teddy Roosevelt. She did, and we went back to the Hall of Philosophy for that. We both enjoyed it, especially Kate.

We then went to dinner at the Afterword Café. We followed dinner by coming back to the apartment where Kate chose to remain. I went to the evening entertainment, Tiempo Libre. It was an entertaining program. The musicians described their intent to make it a Cuban party. They invited members of the audience to the front and to the stage to dance as they played. It was a good evening

When I got back to the apartment, Kate was asleep with her clothes on. I think she was worn out from the day’s activities. She got up while I took a shower and prepared for bed. Then she undressed and came to bed as well.
At 5:45 this morning, I awoke and looked at the time. Kate then asked, “Why are we here?” I answered, “We are at Chautauqua.” She didn’t say anything else. I believe she was really awake but confused about where she was. That has occurred a number of times while we are traveling. Typically, she will say something like this. “I want to take a shower in our bathroom.” That is not said as a wish but that she believes our bathroom is right here someplace. I have to say there are times during the night when she talks in her dreams. This could have been one of those occasions, but I don’t think so.

June 28, 2016January 19, 2018

Reminding Me of our Caribbean Cruise

Yesterday was a very good beginning of our week with Roger Rosenblatt and Friends. Kate seemed to enjoy every program we attended. I am, however, observing some signs that remind me of her behavior while on the cruise. She seems to be unusually tired, and last night, she did not go with me to the evening entertainment in the amphitheater. She got up about 30 minutes ago and took a shower but got back into the bed. I had laid out clothes for her, but I discovered that she had gone through her drawers and pulled out other ones. She doesn’t seem to be approaching the day with any enthusiasm or eagerness

I feel a little torn in that I believe she will enjoy herself if she goes with me to events, but I don’t like to force her. I am strongly encouraging her to attend the morning worship. The preacher of the week is Greg Boyle, a catholic priest who works with gangs in Los Angeles. He is an excellent speaker

(8:53 a.m.)

Good news. She got up and dressed and came out on the porch with me to eat the muffin had had gotten for her. She was in good humor and appeared rested. We are going to the morning worship.

June 26, 2016January 19, 2018

New Events This Afternoon

Kate continued to rest for quite a while this afternoon. I thought she was just tired. That was correct, but she had another problem with diarrhea. This time the sheets and pad on the bed were soiled. I rinsed them with a little soap and water in the bathroom sink. I felt I also needed to machine wash them. I went to the laundromat to see if it was open today and found that it was and how much it costs for the soap, the washer, and the drier. I came back to the apartment. By this time I had received a call from Jesse who was trying to coordinate on my getting her 2 tickets to Hawaii using my frequent flyer miles. When we finished our conversation, she was to text me on the exact flight information so that I could make the reservations.

I decided to take the bed linens to the laundromat while waiting for Jesse’s text. When I got there, I found it was closed. It looks like we will spend the night on the bed without bed linens. We do have a comforter. In the morning I will see that I get them washed and dried.

When I came back to Kate, she was hungry. I took her to get a sandwich. She ate about two-thirds of it and then started working on her iPad. By this time it was close to 5:25. Thinking that the evening vespers with our preacher of the week started at 5:30, I asked if she would like to go. She wasn’t very enthusiastic, but she said she would. As we walked over to the Hall of Philosophy where it is held, we saw people walking back our way. I asked if they were coming from vespers. They were; so we turned around and headed back to the apartment.

We heard the organ in the amphitheater and saw that the Chautauqua organist was giving a demonstration to a group of children and their parents. We stopped and listened. Then we started back to the apartment once again. Now I felt hungry. We went to the Brick Walk Café where I got a salad. Kate was not at all perky walking toward the Hall of Philosophy or walking back for my dinner or while I was eating. I finished my salad, and we came back to the apartment. She had gotten hot sitting outside at the café. I was pleased to find that it was cooler on our porch, and there was a gentle breeze. Kate started to sit down and then felt she just had to go inside where it is air conditioned. I stayed on the porch. It has been about 45 minutes. I am going to check on her and remind her of the sacred music concert that she had told me she wanted to attend. I think she will enjoy it if she goes, but I am not sure she will go.

June 26, 2016January 19, 2018

Sunday Afternoon

This is a continuation of the post I started before lunch.

As I was saying, Kate was ready to go and then went back to the bedroom and got into bed. I went in to see if she wanted to rest a little more. She indicated that she did. Once again, she wasn’t in bed too long. We went to lunch. The line at the regular register was so long that we went to the “Grab and Go” line where Kate got a slice of pepperoni pizza. I got the strawberry and walnut salad.

After paying I looked around and Kate had disappeared. I looked in several places and finally found her sitting at a table with the same couple we sat with last night. Kate was not as talkative today. When we finished eating, Kate asked me where the nearest restroom was. I showed her. It turned out that she is having a problem with diarrhea. When she came out, she was quite hot. We came back to the room where she took off her clothes and got into bed. I gave her an anti-diarrheal medication. That was a little over an hour ago. She is still in bed. She seems to be quite tired, but she and I both enjoyed the morning worship service. I am now hoping he will want to go to the evening sacred song service. I don’t want to leave her alone. The good news is that we are close enough that I could sit on our porch where I am listening to a concert performed by one of the military bands. Of course, I would rather be in the audience, but this would be the next best thing.

I am beginning to think about the possibility of coming back here for the last week in August. I think Kate would be up to it. I am certain that next year is out.

June 26, 2016January 19, 2018

Off To a Good Start

We just returned to our apartment following the Sunday worship service. It reminds me of why we like it here. Tom Becker, the president of Chautauqua, gave his opening welcome and statement about Chautauqua. I told Kate that it could have been the sermon of the day. Kate indicated she would like a copy of his remarks. I had already been thinking about getting a copy. I suspect they will be printed in the Chautauquan Daily tomorrow. In a short presentation he captured everything that draws us here. I hate to think this will be our last visit. I have even begun to think about the possibility of coming back for the last week if we could get a room. The service was capped by a beautiful sermon by our preacher of the week, Father Greg Boyle.

June 26, 2016January 19, 2018

At Home at Chautauqua

We arrived at Chautauqua yesterday afternoon around 3:00 p.m. We are staying in a new place this year, the Rose Cottage. It is a bit small but works well for us. The location couldn’t be better. We’re about 75 yards from the Amp (Amphitheater) and directly across the street from the Brick Walk Café where I get my coffee each morning along with muffins for both of us.

At dinner at the Brick Walk Café, Kate approached a couple at a table and asked if we could join them. Naturally, they accepted. It turned out to be a great Chautauqua experience. They are very interesting people from New Hampshire. This is their first time here. The husband has had a strong interest in Thomas Edison since he was six. They are here because Edison was married to one of the founders of Chautauqua. His wife is a musician. She taught music in the school system and also plays the piano, organ, and harp.

Our entertainment last night was The Temptations and The Four Tops, both Motown groups from the 50s and 60s. Kate really enjoyed herself despite being hot and the music loud. I believe she is so into performances that these things didn’t matter.

We’ve encountered no problems so far. I have told two of our neighbors and he owners of the Rose Cottage about Kate so that they will be attentive if they observe anything unusual.

June 24, 2016April 16, 2019

The scariest thing that has happened so far, and I am at fault.

Tonight Kate and I went to the Royal George Theater in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario to see Shaw’s Mrs. Warren’s Profession. I had forgotten until we arrived at the theater that I could not get seats together. I gave Kate the seat on Row C, Seat 19 while I took Row J, Seat 10. Knowing that Kate might be confused in locating her seat, I went with her along with the usher to Row C. The usher walked in front of her. I walked behind. There was only one empty seat, #19, and it was the third seat in from the aisle where we were standing. Both the usher and I pointed to the seat that was hers. Then I left to find my seat.

At the end of the first half, I got up to see if Kate would like something to drink. Most of the people were coming out; so I had to wait a few minutes before proceeding to her seat. When I got there, her seat was empty. I was surprised because I couldn’t understand how she had gotten past me. That led me to go back to the lobby. I didn’t see her there. Then I went outside where many of the audience were passing time. She was nowhere to be found. I asked one of the ushers if she had seen her. No luck. Then I went back outside and saw the woman whose seat was beside Kate’s on the left. She didn’t recall seeing Kate get up and didn’t seem to remember seeing Kate at all. I went downstairs to the ladies room. There was a long line. I waited a while. She didn’t come out. The woman seated next to Kate came down. I asked her to see if Kate were in the restroom. She was not.

I watched as the audience returned to their seats and they were about to close the doors. The theater manager held them open a little longer thinking she might show up. I couldn’t imagine that, but I appreciated their efforts. I told the manager I would go back to our hotel to see if she had gone there. I knew she would be unable to find it on her own but thought someone might have helped her find it. I also knew she wouldn’t remember the name of the hotel.

As I started walking, I turned on my phone. I saw that I had received a call from a Niagara-on-the-Lake number. It came in at exactly 8:45. Intermission was not until 9:00 or shortly thereafter. There was no voicemail message; so I called the number. It was 9:23. No one answered. I called just about every extension. I did, however, get the name of the place from which the call was made; so I walked 3 blocks down the street to the hotel.

There were two people at the desk. One of them was the person who had called. She said Kate had come into the hotel lobby and was looking at some printed materials they had on display. Megan was on the phone at the time. When she got off, she asked Kate if she could help her. Kate said that she and I were staying at the hotel. The woman checked the guest list, and we were not on it. Kate said she must have been mistaken. She asked the woman to call my cell which she did. She said she thought Kate had talked with me because she gave the phone back, thanked her, and then went outside presumably to meet me. The employee felt terrible about letting her get away. I tried to reassure her and told her if anyone were to blame, it is I. She stayed with me for about an hour after that. During that time we went back to the theater where the manager was standing outside looking for anyone fitting Kate’s description.

Before we left, we called 911. I gave all the information to the woman who answered the phone. I did the same thing when the police arrived. They had several cars. Three or four of the officers walked the streets checking on her. They had also put out the word to be looking for her. Fortunately, I had two pictures of her today in the clothes she was wearing. I was able to share them with the police though as it turned out that was not necessary.

The theater manager was quite helpful. She decided to lock the side doors of the theater and have everyone walk out the front entrance. She stood on one side. I stood on the other. We were looking to see if Kate had someone come back into the theater. No such luck.

One of the officers and I did a search of the ground level of our hotel in case she had come back there. We did not find a sign of her. No one at the hotel had seen her. Finally, the officer said he felt he should go out on the streets with the other officers to continue the search. He told me I should stay at the hotel in case she came back there. I stood outside the hotel as the officer walked away. Before he was out of sight, he turned around and came back toward me. He had his cell phone to his ear. When he was close enough for me to hear, he said, “They found her. They’re bringing her here right now.”

When Kate arrived in the police car, I asked where they had found her. He said she was in the tavern of a hotel down the street drinking a glass of water. Kate was as “cool as a cucumber.” She told the police officer that “My husband can tell you I’m not good with directions.” She said she never panicked during the whole time. I don’t know how long that was, but it appears from the people who were sitting on either side of her in the theater that she never sat down. That would have been a few minutes before 8:00. They found her about 11:15. Even the woman at the hotel corroborated her story that she was cool. She said that she would never have guessed that Kate has Alzheimer’s and that she seemed at ease. There was no sign of alarm.

Kate and I talked about the events of the night back in our hotel room. I said, “Well, we’ll have quite a story to tell.” She told me she did just what I had always told her, “Just stay in one place. I will find you.” She said she talked with a number of people in the tavern, and they were very nice.

I also told her I thought that it would be good for her to carry something with her that would have my cell phone number and the place we were staying. She agreed that was a good idea. I thought she might balk at that. The interesting thing is that I had brought some of my business cards with me along with a plastic case attached to a lanyard just for this purpose.

So how or why did it happen? I’ll never know exactly, but here is my best guess. Although I explained that we were sitting separately and went with her to her seat, I think she simply forgot even though it had been only moments before. She must have looked around before going to take her seat and wondered where I was. Thinking that she had walked away from me, she went to find me.

I feel like saying, “You can’t imagine my relief,” but I suspect you might have a sense of it. It was a nightmare. I consider it a major error on my part and feel rotten about it.

It is now 12:43 am. Kate is asleep. I am about to join her, but I just had to get this down while everything is fresh on my mind. Now if I can just get to sleep.

June 20, 2016January 20, 2018

A Very Good Weekend

Saturday morning, Kate and I made our customary trip to Panera where Kate got her blueberry muffin. We were there about an hour before we decided to eat lunch there as well. During lunch, I looked for a movie and found a movie called Me Before You. It hadn’t gotten rave reviews from the critics, but most audience reviewers liked it. We decided to try it. We came home and had a little time for Kate to rest a little. Before 6:00 we went out for pizza. It was just a simple day, but we both commented on what a nice day it had been.

Yesterday was a little fuller. Kate slept later than usual, and I simply relaxed listening to sacred music, checking email, posting a father’s day note about my dad, and reading the paper. The big event was a trip to visit Ellen and our friends the Davises in Nashville.

We reached Ellen’s place about 1:00 and stayed until 3:30. It was a very good visit. In the past, Kate has felt that other people tend to look at me more than at her. I think this occurred yesterday, but I found myself looking at Kate when Ellen would look at me. I think this helped. A couple of times I asked Kate if she would like to tell Ellen something about our trip to Lubbock or something else. In each instance, Kate said, “No, why don’t you tell her.” This has not happened much in the past. I couldn’t help thinking that it represents her awareness that she can’t remember enough to put herself in a spot like that. I don’t think Ellen thought a thing about it. It was done very naturally.

Kate and Ellen had an interesting exchange that didn’t go very far, but I thought it was going to be a little like the conversation that might occur in a support group. Ellen expressed her frustration over not being able to get her brain to come with the right words to say when she is talking. Kate said she had similar problems. They said just a few things back and forth and then moved on. On future visits, I may attempt to encourage this kind of conversation.

This was the first time we had seen Ellen since she had her seizure a month ago. I thought that her speech had worsened since then. On the other hand, I thought her walking had improved. She walked across the room quickly and showed no sign of imbalance. She said she is now using a cane instead of her walker.

From Ellen’s we went to visit Ann and Jeff Davis. Then we went out to eat together. During dinner, Ann and Kate talked to each other quite a bit. That gave Jeff and me time to talk ourselves. I told him that I was happy to see Kate have this time with Ann. We went back to their house after dinner and remained there for about an hour. Once again, there was plenty of time for Kate and Ann to talk. On the way home, Kate commented on what a good visit it had been with both Ellen as well as Ann and Jeff. I wholeheartedly agree. It was a tonic for Kate.

Today we met Evelyn, our decorator, at a tile shop where we picked out the tile and granite counter top for our master bath. Kate told me in advance that she would let me handle things. I told her I wanted to make sure we picked out things that she would like as well. When we got into looking at options and talking about the details, Kate walked around. This is something that she would have been leading if this were ten years ago. Now she seemed as though she were not interested. On the other hand, she did express pleasure on the things we picked out. Tomorrow morning we are meeting Evelyn to pick out the toilet, sinks, and fixtures. Kate did say she would like to go. I am glad, but I suspect that she will not have much to offer. Perhaps I will be wrong.