Monday 31 December 2007

thank you for reading in 2007

I want to thank everyone who read and commented on my blog these past few months. As you will know, this has been a particularly stressful and worrying time for me and a huge transition for Mum. Your goodwill and encouragement, your suggestions and shared experiences have all helped tremendously. As you can imagine, facing this situation feels very lonely and so it has been an unanticipated benefit of the blog to have some companions along the way. Thank you particularly to BigAssBelle, LSL, Sorata, Dee, Henrietta and Y|O|Y.

Looking back at this blog, it seems possible to chart my rise in blood-pressure from the frequency of posts. I've written a record 31 entries in December, more than for any previous month and sobering when I notice that I was rarely writing more than a handful of posts a month at the beginning of the year (hang on, Greg, how many posts is a handful?)

I anticipate that I won't be posting quite so frequently from now on, provided that Mum continues to settle well at her new home. I'm naturally exposed to far fewer examples of her mental decline while she's being cared for on my behalf. However, I'm sure I'll have plenty to report at times, and I think it's necessary I continue her story, to document her progress in this next phase of her life.

Wishing you all the very best in 2008.

Greg x

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

HAPPY 2008 to you! I hope & pray that it's a good year for both you and your mom. I haven't always commented because sometimes reading makes me feel so sad, knowing the road that I will be following more & more in the future. But I thank you for sharing your journey -- your insights have been very helpful. God bless! D

Sorata said...

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU TOO!

I'm so happy that you've settled your mom into a great Home and that things seem to be less of a pressure for you. Now you can take some time to relax a bit and let your mind breathe.

Thank you for sharing your journey with us.

Greg said...

Thank you, both.

Sorry if I've made you feel so sad, Dee. Kind people are telling me that I've done what's best for Mum, and I hope they're right, so it's not all sad. I can't believe how much I've managed to get done since September. The journey is by no means over. I've got to go and clear my Mum's old place and sell it, which will be hard to do on weekends. Meantime, I'm hoping Mum remains happy in her new environment. I'm asking all relatives who visit her to report back to me, just in case Mum's just saying what she thinks I want to hear.

So, yes, Sorata, the pressure is off, slightly, but I don't think I can relax just yet.

It's my pleasure to have shared my journey so far. I hope it DOES help other people in some way. It has certainly helped me cope putting it up here and the responses have been a very welcome outcome.

Greg xx

Anonymous said...

No Greg, YOU don't make me sad, seeing and hearing about your mom's decline makes me sad, knowing that I will be seeing more and more of that in my own mom also. AD is an awful disease. I think you're doing a great thing for your mom -- by loving her and looking after her, even if she isn't living with you. So many are alone through this disease and that's so sad. D

LSL said...

Sending good wishes to you for a new year that contains more peace than the previous one. Lots of hugs.

BigAssBelle said...

i hope you continue to experience some relief from the stress of your mother's illness in this coming year. i hope, too, that she settles in well to this new place. what a blessing that you were able to find someplace for her. wishing you lower blood pressure, more peace, and the retention of your own sanity and health . . . hugs, lynette

Greg said...

Thank you both for your wishes and hopes for the New Year. The few days "off" I've had over the Christmas break have been sleepy ones. Considering how maddening and scary it was to have Mum with me, the house feels emptier without her with me. It just shows, you can get used to pretty much anything. Yes, I'm hoping to address my own problems in 2008, if given a chance.

Anonymous said...

hey greg, i just saw your comment on my blog and had to come tell you that Animal, Vegetable, Miracle has been lifechanging. I read it over Thanksgiving. it just did something to my mind ~ in a positive way. i haven't been excited about gardening in a couple of years, but i feel that old passion returning for growing my own food and cooking. great fun. i loved it. i'll be interested to hear what you think of it. hugs, lynette

Greg said...

Thanks Lynette. That book was a gift from someone very special who knows me and my dreams. I hope it has an equally galvanising effect on me. I'm already enjoying cooking again, but growing my own vegetables would be very fulfilling (and filling, obviously). G