Keriann goes to 1st grade

FIRST DAY of first grade (Tues.) - Keriann is very excited about starting school. She's especially happy to ride the school bus with her friend Bryna. Bryna was to come get Keriann at 7:55 a.m. Keriann arose before I did and was dressed and ready to go at 6:45. That meant she had one hour and ten minutes to ask repeatedly when it was time to go.
Keriann took a nutritious snack (carrots) and $1.25 for lunch. She came home with $1.25 and a note saying she owes $1.25. She told me, "It was too late to pay." She wanted to bring a packed lunch the next day because she doesn't know when to pay.

2nd day (Wed.) - Keriann brought a cut up apple for a snack. I gave her the $1.25 for Tuesday's lunch, $1.25 for today's lunch plus 35 cents for icecream. When I asked if she enjoyed her icecream, she told me she didn't have enough money for icecream. Then she pulled out another note saying she owed 65 cents for today's lunch. Now I was confused.

3rd day (Thurs.) -Keriann brought a baggie of carrots for a snack. I wrote the teacher a note explaining the amounts of money I sent yesterday. I asked, "Did Keriann lose some of it?" I taped the note to her folder, which goes back and forth between the teacher and me every day. All I sent was the $1.25 for today's lunch.
The teacher never got the note. Keriann came home with another note saying she owes 65 cents.

4th day (Fri.) - I sent $1.25 for today's lunch, 65 cents for Wed.'s lunch, a cut-up apple for a snack and this time I wrote directly on the folder instructing Keriann several times to "show this to Miss Davis." I told Miss Davis, "Keriann lost $1.00 on Wed."
Finally, success. Miss Davis actually received my note, and yes, she did find a dollar that no one claimed. The money came home with Keriann that day. Four baggies full of decayed snacks came home on Friday too.
Yes, this promises to be a GREAT year!!!

Living in denial

Mom gets confused about what day it is, what we are doing or where we’re going sometimes. She loses things and gets frustrated. She’ll tell the same funny stories like we’ve never heard them before. Her geriatric doctor recommended I read a book about caring for loved ones suffering from Alzheimer’s/dementia. I bought the book, but I couldn’t even bring myself to open it.

I realized I simply don’t want to read it.

It’s my way of dealing with this 
very cruel disease.
I don’t have to read about it. I could write a book about it. I watched my two great aunts “deteriorate.” We’re told to prevent dementia by keeping our minds sharp doing puzzles and reading. But Aunt Lou was very well-read. She was brilliant, graduating from prestigious Wellesley College at a time when few girls went to college. I watched the disease take over her mind and body until she needed to live in a personal care home.  Aunt Elma raised four children and was a very fun person.
Then the next generation, both of Mom’s beloved sisters.
Aunt Elsie Lou was a librarian at Kutztown University and Aunt Buffy was a gifted artist.
The progress was slow but they both ended up bedridden,
not recognizing their own children or grandchildren.
WHAT A HORRIBLE DISEASE THAT ROBS PEOPLE OF EVERYTHING!

 Now it’s Mom’s turn. How soon will it be my generation as my cousins 
are entering their 60s? 

Both of Mom’s sisters had it for 25 years, 
getting symptoms in their late 50’s or early 60’s. You don’t usually hear of people who live with it for that length of time. In fact I've NEVER HEARD of anyone who had it as long as they did.

Mom was certainly blessed not to get it until
later in her years!

Denial is my chosen way to handle Mom. I just want to focus on positive things. Instead of going to a caregivers support group or reading about Alzheimer’s, I am too busy taking Mom places. I throw her walker in my car and I take her to Burrell Lake Park. She walks slowly all the way around the lake. She’s 87 and I am so proud of her. I take her to Keystone Park. I take her to Kennywood, the museum, a nephew’s football games, out to lunch. We don’t have to spend money. We are happy building a fire in a grill at the park on a cold day. We went to a shelter in the middle of a summer storm. We go hear a band play on Wednesdays. I take her to the library. We play Scrabble.

Every day with Mom is a blessing!

And the most unbelievable experience yet? We went camping at Crooked Creek last week. My 18-year-old daughter, Julia, and I slept on air mattresses in a tent and Mom slept in the back seat of the car. She loved the entire camping trip. Julia pitched the tent and I built a campfire and cooked dinner. A friend joked that Mom would be fine even if she’s homeless, living in the car!!! Mom is certainly a TROOPER!

Amy Louise Geertz Kriss

Lower Burrell, PA

Party with Grandma (B.S. Productions)

Do you love to party? Looking for new and exciting things to do? Now, the world’s leader in entertainment, B.S. Productions, has teamed up with everyone’s favorite senile delinquent, Agnes, to bring you “Party down with Grandma!” That’s right folks, B.S. Productions has been hard at work creating

the most exciting parties with Agnes.

The following are just a few of the party packages

now available from B.S. (Bob and SaraH)

PARTY WITH GRANDMA NIGHT

You won’t believe the fun you’ll have as B.S. breaks out the games, see the competitive side of Agnes as she makes word after word in SCRABBLE. Watch your money disappear as she wheels and deals her way to the top in MONOPOLY!  You won’t want the evening to end!

MOVIE NIGHTS WITH GRANDMA

Critics the world over are raving about this revolutionary new party plan by B.S. Eat snacks with Agnes while watching a movie that the staff has chosen, on a color television. Mike Smith of the New York Times calls movie nights, “the most entertaining thing the human race has seen since the invention of beer!!”

SHOOTING THE BREEZE WITH GRANDMA NIGHT

One of the more relaxing plans, yet still breathtaking, as we kick back and listen to Grandma talk about things no one cares about. Hear which local establishments have the best bathrooms. Learn how modern technology has destroyed her life. And of course, hear what those damn democrats are up to.

JOIN NOW!!!

Call Bob or SaraH now at 412-225-9452 and you will receive invitations to all B.S. events - kisses from SaraH when you attend such an event. A chance to see Grandma smile – A close relationship with SaraH. So what are you waiting for?

Don’t miss this chance to experience the awesome party power of Agnes!!

 

CALL NOW!!!

B.S. PRODUCTIONS