I thought I’d write a little update about how Amanda is doing.  Health-wise she has been just fine (knock-on-wood) except for some allergy sniffles this spring.  She loves her apartment and we are pleased with her staff.  Everybody’s happy!  She calls and messages me a bazillion times each day.  I guess that’s okay – at least I know what she’s doing.  haha  Amanda loves having her own place and shows it by being good and bossy about things sometimes.   Feel free to pay her a visit.

A few weeks ago I planted some pink impatiens outside Amanda’s door wall, next to her patio.  Not many people at the apartments bother to plant anything, so I hope it will be a cheerful welcome of color once they really fill-in.  Amanda also has a pseudo pet.  Almost every afternoon, a momma duck comes by and quacks for bread.  Amanda keeps a plastic bag full of old bread by her patio door so she is ready to feed the duck when she shows up.  It’s kinda cute.

Amanda and her duck made me think of how we are all caregivers.  Even though Amanda herself is looked after by me and her staff, Amanda has someone (or something) dependent on her for care.

Last night I went to an author event of local Michigan writers at the library in Canton, Michigan.  My friend, Elaine Pereira, was there promoting her book.  It is called “I Will Never Forget” and is the story of Elaine’s relationship as daughter and caregiver to her mother who suffered from Alzheimer’s and dementia in her last years.  Oh – there’s that word again:  caregiver.  I also made a new friend with author Angil Tarach-Ritchey who wrote a book about aging in America and the coming elder boom.  Her book is titled, “Behind the Old Face.”  Both books are very good reads (I’ve read Elaine’s – just bought and will read Angil’s.)  Elaine shares with the reader the heartfelt story of her mother and how she had to navigate her mother through the uneven road of dementia.  Angil has thirty years of experience in senior care and writes passionately about making improvements in the care of aging adults.  Both books deal with caregiving.

 

I believe all of us are caregivers.  We start life caring for our toys, pets, and siblings.  As life journeys on, we care for our own children, needy friends and neighbors, and then to aging family members.  It never ends.  It can also be overwhelming.  If you haven’t read my book yet, “Amanda, Perfectly Made” now is the time!  The past twenty-nine years have been a journey of cheers and challenges, hopes and dreams, tears and triumphs.  Taking care of the old and the needy is just part of life.  I hope any of these three books I’ve mentioned will inspire, educate, and entertain you.  All three books are available on Amazon.com.

Act 20:34-35 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.  In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said:  It is more blessed to give than to receive.

just Laurel