tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270328419517591210.post4294280296703931443..comments2024-02-03T06:46:13.585-07:00Comments on manhandled threads: forgetting as an optionJoe Madlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00689856999523884499noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270328419517591210.post-7268763854823441252012-10-30T17:08:34.314-06:002012-10-30T17:08:34.314-06:00the setting would have eased some of what was awfu...the setting would have eased some of what was awful about my sister's experience... sorry to have commented twice. I didn't get a message about comment being held and thought I'd made it vanish!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270328419517591210.post-12119500435427923352012-10-27T08:19:30.643-06:002012-10-27T08:19:30.643-06:00Lovely post. Thank you.Lovely post. Thank you.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14833157355487053315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270328419517591210.post-79346350663289155262012-10-25T21:12:49.779-06:002012-10-25T21:12:49.779-06:00i'm so pleased your mother found that peace, n...i'm so pleased your mother found that peace, nadia. it is a lovely place to be.Joe Madlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00689856999523884499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270328419517591210.post-32281919905072715452012-10-25T21:12:07.108-06:002012-10-25T21:12:07.108-06:00thank you, eva! it is true...but we so often grasp...thank you, eva! it is true...but we so often grasp at our past and into our future that we often forget that it is truly the present that matters!Joe Madlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00689856999523884499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270328419517591210.post-4107462224854486602012-10-25T21:11:25.513-06:002012-10-25T21:11:25.513-06:00the cottages that i work in are part of the green ...the cottages that i work in are part of the green house project, which is quite different than a nursing facility. they are homes, usually with less than 12 guests in each, that are designed to keep the "institutionalization" out of the guests experience. there are no gleaming waxed floors or antiseptic hallways in these. they are set up like large entertainment-minded homes...with an open kitchen, formal dining room, breakfast bar, fireplace, sun room and individual bedrooms with private bathrooms. staff is kept to a minimum and we wear street clothing rather than scrubs. the nurses visit, rather than stay in residence and run the show (the elder sharaths are specially trained cna's that manage the cottages and administer meds and cares). we stress family and living with dignity and love.<br /><br />i have worked in the nursing home on the campus, too, which is like what you described. i definitely prefer the cottages. but then, when it comes down to it, it is about the people, not the place, so if there weren't the cottages, i would be in the home doing the same ministry.Joe Madlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00689856999523884499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270328419517591210.post-50802900504894689812012-10-25T21:06:16.478-06:002012-10-25T21:06:16.478-06:00it never ceases to amaze me to what degree they kn...it never ceases to amaze me to what degree they know that they no longer remember, but have learned to adapt and still hold onto that joy! your great aunt sounds like a lovely person!Joe Madlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00689856999523884499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270328419517591210.post-70398567960324419692012-10-25T21:04:56.278-06:002012-10-25T21:04:56.278-06:00yes. it is always the moments that we experience a...yes. it is always the moments that we experience and how attentive we are to them that matters most!Joe Madlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00689856999523884499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270328419517591210.post-17984728098035374062012-10-25T21:04:25.368-06:002012-10-25T21:04:25.368-06:00keep enjoying their presence!keep enjoying their presence!Joe Madlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00689856999523884499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270328419517591210.post-36813539354810645822012-10-25T21:03:09.672-06:002012-10-25T21:03:09.672-06:00thank you, valerianna. it has indeed been a life-a...thank you, valerianna. it has indeed been a life-altering experience. one which i continue to enjoy every day.Joe Madlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00689856999523884499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270328419517591210.post-58545031068829773992012-10-25T21:02:22.696-06:002012-10-25T21:02:22.696-06:00thank you for sharing your experience! your aunt s...thank you for sharing your experience! your aunt sounds like a delightful woman!Joe Madlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00689856999523884499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270328419517591210.post-14105325391223526902012-10-25T21:01:27.873-06:002012-10-25T21:01:27.873-06:00yes. there is so much about the downside of it all...yes. there is so much about the downside of it all. it's always nice to hear about an upside. :)<br /><br />been working on a couple things this week, will be posting in the next day or two.Joe Madlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00689856999523884499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270328419517591210.post-71532010478705986712012-10-25T21:00:25.782-06:002012-10-25T21:00:25.782-06:00thank you, marie. i enjoy reading about other peop...thank you, marie. i enjoy reading about other people's life lessons so thought i would share some of my own...Joe Madlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00689856999523884499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270328419517591210.post-19738225830656989302012-10-25T12:34:57.271-06:002012-10-25T12:34:57.271-06:00This is a beautiful post, Joe. I found that my mot...This is a beautiful post, Joe. I found that my mother who had been angry most of her life with me, finally found some peace when she could finally forget. It was a blessing. And may you find the courage and strength and peace to continue working with people suffering from Alzheimers.<br />best, nadiaMulticoloredPieceshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06161913409399066123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270328419517591210.post-39771072956605436142012-10-25T10:18:25.604-06:002012-10-25T10:18:25.604-06:00you are an angel, Joe!you are an angel, Joe!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270328419517591210.post-43506787297843353082012-10-25T06:24:13.230-06:002012-10-25T06:24:13.230-06:00Thank you for this post!
Good wishes from me,
evaThank you for this post!<br />Good wishes from me,<br />evaeva a(r)t workhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14039656222732100507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270328419517591210.post-10238378527949773582012-10-25T06:23:41.596-06:002012-10-25T06:23:41.596-06:00Thank you for your post. Yes, we shouldn't car...Thank you for your post. Yes, we shouldn't care so much about the past or the far away future...<br />Good wishes from me,<br />evaeva a(r)t workhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14039656222732100507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270328419517591210.post-6028306667613643422012-10-25T05:39:32.463-06:002012-10-25T05:39:32.463-06:00wow... I visited my sister for about a year when s...wow... I visited my sister for about a year when she was on an Alzheimer's floor (she was there for rehab), so I have a real sense of what this place is like that you describe. I always felt such a clamor to leave. You are an angel.<br /><br />and, the idea of 'forgetting to judge' what I'm making is a potent one. Plan to sit with that for the rest of the week.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270328419517591210.post-68222327722273137272012-10-24T20:06:59.034-06:002012-10-24T20:06:59.034-06:00what a beautiful post. my dear great aunt had alz...what a beautiful post. my dear great aunt had alzheimer's, and had this joy and abandon you describe. running around naked and giggling, being introduced to old friends & saying with laughter, "they tell me I know you, I'm sure you're a lovely person, but it's all gone now!"handstorieshttp://handstories.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270328419517591210.post-66982388835964048762012-10-24T19:58:18.595-06:002012-10-24T19:58:18.595-06:00Humbling, Joe. You are a good man, both for what y...Humbling, Joe. You are a good man, both for what you do, and how you choose to see the gift in it.Cheryl Razmushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15569568671357207377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270328419517591210.post-80693735181950409312012-10-24T18:27:26.279-06:002012-10-24T18:27:26.279-06:00What a wonderful post. They are truly lucky to ha...What a wonderful post. They are truly lucky to have you (and you them) in their lives. When we come down to it, it is the moments and how we live them that count! <br />XOXO Cat Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270328419517591210.post-27200153842118017422012-10-24T18:19:08.927-06:002012-10-24T18:19:08.927-06:00As one who also has been with the elderly, the les...As one who also has been with the elderly, the lessons they teach are more valuable than any education I learned in school. Thank you for telling their stories and being a shining star in their lives. xoJeanniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11367949314724875797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270328419517591210.post-72631157966530418172012-10-24T17:56:22.626-06:002012-10-24T17:56:22.626-06:00A moving and reverent post, Joe. We make so many a...A moving and reverent post, Joe. We make so many assumptions.... and it takes and kind and open heart - with healing hands attached - to see the beauty in people that others will see as broken no matter what. Sounds like you are gaining much wisdom from working there, and have enough wisdom already to see it!Valeriannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02621130622153365184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270328419517591210.post-16796443651400302732012-10-24T14:55:09.147-06:002012-10-24T14:55:09.147-06:00Beautiful post, Joe, and beautiful picture. Having...Beautiful post, Joe, and beautiful picture. Having personal experience of dementia with several of those dear to me, I know a little of what you are saying - that the pleasure in forgetting leaves all the bad things behind, but also that each experience, being "new", brings renewed light and joy - when I take my much loved aunt to the shops she is so thrilled because "I can't have been to the shops for a hundred years, it's all so fascinating". The potential for delight is always there, but there is also grace in those souls who can face these things with dignity. I'm sure your kindness is a blessing to them each day.kathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16852963693304001127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270328419517591210.post-27805550180828733142012-10-24T11:47:47.709-06:002012-10-24T11:47:47.709-06:00Joe...thank you.Joe...thank you.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17185798765137874091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270328419517591210.post-55967007669943344962012-10-24T09:37:34.226-06:002012-10-24T09:37:34.226-06:00thank you joe.thank you joe.judehttp://spiritcloth.typepad.com/spirit_cloth/noreply@blogger.com