This Sucks, And Other Fun Thoughts

Was I the one who wrote about this being a PRIVILEGE?

Never mind me.  I must have been out of my mind.

Last night I was thinking of the saying "wrung out and hung up to dry" and I added "...in the desert with vultures picking me apart".

I never want to do this again.

I never thought I would say it, but dementia sucks big time.

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We have had three shifts of caretakers since my dad has been home from the hospital. 


Amanda is the daytime caretaker.  She is 50-ish, short, somewhat round, with graying hair put up in a bun.  She took no time in telling me that she is Native.  I loved that.  Me, Ms. White Scotch Irish, would have said Native American, but now I think that that is an insult.  Her ancestors were here before any America could be tacked on.  That's our story, not theirs. 


Amanda was raised by her grandfather, a medicine man.  She sits by my dad and does beading for her grandchildren who are all Native dancers.  The photos of her grandson and granddaughter in full regalia are works of art. 

She is totally my idea of Grandmother.  Powerful.  Wise. 


She is teaching her grandchildren the Native ways.  How lucky they are!

When a grandson's classmates were making fun of him for his long hair, calling him a girl (like they used to do to my boyfriend in the early 70s) she gave the principal an offer:  She would speak to the class about her heritage for 1 1/2 hours for free.  The principal set it up.  Amanda asked her grandson to dance for the presentation. He did.  The class got educated and also saw the talent that the grandson has.  Now the kids think that he is one cool dude.  End of harassment story.

I love her...