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Sleepy This Morning

Kate and I are staying in a B&B in Arkansas, where we are staying in connection with a wedding of Kate’s cousin’s granddaughter this afternoon at 4:00. We got to bed around 10:30 last night. Kate has had a hard time getting up. I started waking her up just before 8:00. I finally went down to breakfast at 8:30. I came back, and she was still in bed. A while ago I told her we needed to leave.

She is just now getting up. Now I need to finish getting ready myself, but I wanted to note that I am observing more signs of her being worn out. This seems to happen when we are out of town and stay up later than usual. She also didn’t have time to rest much yesterday afternoon although she did take a 20-minute nap/rest.

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Visit with Jesse

We had a nice visit with Jesse the past three nights. Kate had a wonderful time. We enjoyed daily mornings at Otherlands where we got a bagel and muffins along with coffee and tea while we worked on our iPads. It is an active place that has a welcoming atmosphere.

We have also eaten two nice meals at lunch. We have always found interesting places to eat in Memphis.

Of course, there are the usual  signs of Kate’s AD, but that hasn’t kept us from enjoying ourselves.

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Revealing Comment

Kate and I are in Memphis sitting at a table at Otherlands, a popular coffee shop. She is working a jigsaw puzzle on her iPad. I am checking in on Facebook and email and responding. She just looked up and me and said, “You going to have to take out an ad in the paper saying that  “my wife needs a friend.” The loss of close friends is clearly a problem, one I have mentioned before, but this “out-of-the blue” comment illustrates her own feeling about not having anyone she can call a friend – at least one who is in town. I am glad that we were able to have lunch with Ann and Jeff when we passed through Nashville two days ago. It will also be nice to spend a few days with Dorothy and Mitch Hinely this coming weekend. In addition, the time spent with Jesse and her boys has been therapeutic as well. I am thinking about making more of an effort to travel here during the week in the months ahead.

I feel that we may only have as little as a year before it may not make much of a difference; so I should capitalize on the period of time when it matters most to her.

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A Couple of Experiences on the Road

We left Knoxville for Memphis yesterday. We stopped for lunch in Nashville with Ann and Jeff Davis. Early in the conversation, I asked them to tell us about their recent  trip to Italy. They had told us a little when Kate said she wanted to tell them about the wedding we are going to this weekend. It is the wedding of a granddaugher of her cousin Tina. It seemed a little abrupt as the Davises had said so little about their trip. I said, “We just finding out about their trip.” She said she thought they were through. I just let her go on with her explanation of the wedding.

When she told the story, it was somewhat disjointed. She first said she had to back up and tell them about her cousin Tina. It was a challenge for her to explain and it took her a while. I helped her with a couple of things. I think she gets frustrated with so much conversation by other people, and she wants to be involved as well. But she doesn’t have as large a set of things she can talk about. A little later in the conversation she said somewhat sternly that she wanted to a chance to say something.

As we left the restaurant, she asked, “What was this place again?” I told her, and she said, “I knew that.” Of course, she really did know that. She simply couldn’t remember what it was until she was reminded of the name.

When we got to Memphis, we went into a McDonalds for something to drink. While I went to the men’s room, she went to a table occupied by a staff member and sat with her. When I got back she was engaging in a conversation with the woman. This is something else that she might not have done years ago.

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Thoughts Niagara-on-the-Lake and Chautauqua

As we come to the end of our week at Chautauqua, we are a bit sad to leave. I don’t recall ever feeling any other way. This is clearly the most special place for us. Despite losing Kate three times, I have made arrangements to come back next year. This time for two weeks. I am influenced by several factors. First, this year’s visit has gone well. Second, Roger Rosenblatt will once again host a week with his “friends.” This is Kate’s favorite week. We have been here twice before when he has hosted this week. Third, lodging space is going fast, and I found a very convenient place a short distance from the Amp and across the street from the Brick Walk Café. In addition, it is on the first floor. Finally, I am able to purchase trip insurance that would I cover the cost of the two weeks if we are unable to make it.

Chautauqua will be our last holdout. I do not plan to cease coming until it really is impossible to do so. One of the things that will influence me in that decision is how to handle trips to the restrooms. That would be difficult in airports when she is unable to take care of herself. The same would be on the grounds here at Chautauqua.

Right now I can’t predict what she will be like next summer or in May when we are booked for a cruise from Rome to Amsterdam. At this point, I have found the risks involved in planning for such things are minimal. I suspect I will have a much better sense by the end of February when I have to make my next decision about the cruise. I can cancel without any financial cost before that time.

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Lost a Third Time

I lost Kate once again, but this is the time that has concerned me most because I believe it signals a new stage in her decline. We had been to the Brick Walk Café to get her a Dr. Pepper. Then we went to the Maple Group Real Estate to arrange for next year’s visit to Chautauqua. From there we were going to watch the Scott Roselle Talk Show. As we passed by our apartment, I told Kate that I would like to get some papers up to the room and that I would be right back. When I got back, she wasn’t there. I looked all around and couldn’t find her. I went back to the Brick Walk Café, to Roselle’s show, in the library, around the Amp, as well as the streets around the inn and Bestor Plaza. While I was looking, I ran into a friend from Long Island. He offered to help me look for her. I told him he needn’t do that but he did anyway and stayed in touch by text. After an hour, I called the Chautauqua police and asked for their help. I gave him a description of her and what she was wearing. He said he would send someone to meet me at Heather’s Inn. In five minutes or so an officer arrived and took the same information from me. He said there would be two of them looking for her. He asked me to stay around the inn in case she showed up here. In about 20-25 minutes I got a call from the police saying they had found her and that they were taking her to the inn. I looked over there and saw her getting out of a security golf cart. I went over and thanked him. Kate did not seem flustered. I suspect that might have been a little different had the police not been there. She told the officer that I know how bad she is with directions. I gave her a hug, and we went upstairs to our apartment. Neither of us said anything about where she had been, how long she had been gone, or what had happened. We both understood just about all we needed to know. I did say, “I’ll bet you got hot.” She had been walking for an hour and a half. Later I asked her about her walking away. She did not want to talk about it. My interpretation is that she doesn’t really know what happened or why.

The troublesome aspect of this is that this Is the first time she has gotten lost by walking away, and it happened so quickly. In prior situations it has occurred because she did not follow me or she simply got lost because she forgot where she was supposed to go. I fear that this means she could mean we are reaching a point where I cannot trust that she will stay in a given location. This afternoon I did take a chance by leaving her at the apartment while I went to a session in which she had no interest. I was gone a little less than an hour. Before leaving I asked her to promise me she would not go anywhere. It was clear she understood why I said that and that this morning’s experience was one she didn’t want to relive. She said, “Believe me; I’m not going anywhere.” Of course, she may have already forgotten this experience. I know she will have forgotten by tomorrow morning.

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Planning for Next Year

Despite losing Kate twice and experiencing several awkward or unpleasant moments, I am making plans for next year. I have found a place where we can stay the first two weeks of the season. It is a very short walk to the Amp and right across the street from the Brick Walk Café where we eat many of our meals. I get my coffee there each morning. It is also the primary place where we get ice cream.

Kate has enjoyed herself, but she gets bored a lot despite the activities. I am just grateful that she enjoys most of the lectures and entertainment because I know she can’t follow much of what she sees and hears. She gets irritated with me and not just in playful way. She resents my help. From my point of view, I see that she is not able to do many things; so that leads me to try to prevent problems.

The first part of the week she wore the same clothes three days in a row. After I suggested a change, she has worn a different outfit three days in a row. I didn’t even say anything to her. I did notice some soiled spots on her slacks and cleaned them off.

Her short-term memory creates some surprising experiences. For example, yesterday after the afternoon lecture, I asked if she would like to get some ice cream. She gave me a strange look but said she would. When we arrived at the café for ice cream, she wanted something more substantial. I got her a pizza and got an ice cream for me. She ate one small slice of her pizza and couldn’t eat any more. She said she wished she had gotten ice cream. At dinner she told the server she wanted water to drink. In a few minutes before our drinks were delivered, she asked the server for a Coke. She had completely forgotten that she had already ordered water. Yesterday afternoon she asked me a question. Then she said, “”Of course, I won’t remember it 10 minutes from now.” I told her that was all right. I would give her the answer again.

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Losing Kate Again

This morning while Kate and I were seated on the front row of Scott Roselle’s talk radio show at Chautauqua, she got up and walked outside without saying a word. Knowing how geographically challenged she is, I got up and followed her. She appeared to be looking for something as she walked toward the front door of the bookstore. Before she got to it, she started up the steps to the post office. I called to her. She stopped and I asked her where she was going. She said she was going to the rest room. I told her the rest rooms were behind the library and took her there. I knew from past experienced that it would not be easy for her to find it. Before she went in, I pointed to the place where we had been and told her to meet me there. I said, “Just turn left when you come out.” Then I went back to where we had left our cushions and iPads on the front row of Roselle’s show. (BTW, he was interviewing Erik Larson.) I sat for a moment and then gathered our belongings and walked back to the restroom. I didn’t see her; so I waited outside the door. In a few minutes, a woman walked out. I described Kate and asked her if she had seen her. She said she hadn’t but went back in to look after I told her that Kate has Alzheimer’s. It turns out that Kate wasn’t there. That put me in a quandary. I looked for her for about 15 minutes, perhaps more, walking in the area near the restroom, the front of the library, the brick walk, and our apartment. I finally saw her standing in front of our apartment. She was looking at it as though she was confused as to whether this was the way into our apartment or not. I walked up to her. I didn’t say a word. I just put my arms around her. She rested her head on my shoulder. She didn’t say anything either. We haven’t spoken about it, but it was clear that she had been frightened and relieved to see me.

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Resting

About 30 minutes ago, we came back to the apartment after the morning lecture, lunch, and catching part of a band concert on Bestor Plaza. Kate immediately went right to our bed and is still there. I am about to leave for the Hall of Philosophy for the 2:00 lecture. Afterwards I will return to get her for a 3:30 presentation by Amelia Arehart who has flown the flight of the original Amilia.

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Change In Irritability?

Lately I have noticed what may be an increase in Kate’s irritability. Here is an example from this morning. This is our third day at Chautauqua, and she put on the same clothes she has worn at least the other 2 days. Last night I had reminded her that her suitcase was in the closet. Earlier this morning I put it beside the chest of drawers in our bedroom where she would see it. When I saw that she was wearing the same clothes, I said something about it. She did not take offense. I said, “Here is your suitcase.” She said sternly, “Put it on the bed.” Then she added, “How am I supposed to get it there (meaning by the chest)?”

Something else that could become a problem is a habit she has developed. It has two variations. The first is simply a very audible yawn. This is most common in the morning after she gets out of bed. It also occurs when she is tired or bored. While we were waiting for the opera to begin last night, she started yawning with the accompanying audible yawn. I said something to her about how loud she was. She was very irritated with me. I don’t know where this leads, but I fear that it will become something that is a bother to people around us. I remember that Sharon Billings said she carried a card with her to give to servers and others in restaurants and other places letting them know that her husband had Alzheimer’s. I may need this in the future.

Since beginning this post, Kate has changed her top, but is still wearing the same slacks. I cut her a couple of pieces of zucchini bread. She ate a banana and is now resting beside me on the sofa. This continues to be a pattern. It is as though getting up and eating something wears her out. I would think that her desire to rest relates to the strain of being outside the confines of her familiar territory; however, she does the same thing at home. The difference is that at home she always has the yard in which she can busy herself.

All these things continue to cause me to wonder if coming back to Chautauqua next summer is a good idea whether for one week or two. I really want to come back. She enjoys being here, and it seems easier for me to guide her into more things to do than at home. So far I have been unsuccessful in trying to get her to walk around the grounds. That seems like it would be something she would enjoy, but she reacts quickly and negatively when I suggest it.