My Aunt is an amazing woman. She has always been an important part of my life. I was lucky to grow up about a 15 minute car ride away from where she lived with my grandmother. Auntie never married and when we were growing up she was the cool aunt, the one we asked to drive us on dates before we could drive. The one who was always ready to go on an adventure with us that our parents weren't ready for. Everyone who knew me growing up also knew "Auntie". And everyone still calls her this.
Auntie is now 82 years old, and has Alzheimer's. Up until about a year ago, we were fortunate because she had a distant cousin who lived with her and helped care for her. This allowed her to remain in her own house. Now her cousin has passed, and so has the torch of taking responsibility for her care. At first, she was able to live with a close friend. But recently it became necessary for her friend to take the next step in her own life which involves selling her home and moving away. So my father and I have stepped in.
At this time, she is living with my father, who is a spry 80 himself. But on Monday and Tuesday evenings, I get to be her caregiver. On Mondays I come to his house and spend time with her. On Tuesdays she comes to my house and spends time with my family.
So these evenings are the basis for this blog. Every evening is an adventure with my Aunt, and most of her escapades are obscenely funny. I hope you will enjoy her antics and I hope you will feel free to share similar experiences you have had. And if anyone who reads this finds the fact that I find humor in my aunt's condition offensive, well all I can say is lighten up! My Aunt cared for my Grandmother who had the same condition. She would completely appreciate the hilarity of the situations we get into, because she was once there herself. Someday I hope my kids get a kick out of me too. My time will come, but right now it's my turn to be a loving caregiver who takes pleasure in the insanity life has thrown my way.
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