Life Goes On « Alzheimer’s Disease « Science

First published March 5, 2015.

Yeah, ob-la-di ob-la-da life goes on bra
La-la how the life goes on
Yeah, ob-la-di ob-la-da life goes on bra
La-la how the life goes on

I realized today, that life does go on, just as Sir Paul McCartney wrote in my favorite Beatles song. I did a Tweet, stating that the word was back to normal, the Braves lost. Someone answered, that it wasn’t important, it was just Spring Training. Of course it’s not important, not that way. It is important, though, because, for the first time since 1978, I was not able to call my father and tell him the world was back to normal, the Braves lost.

I finally shed a few tears. I realized that part of my life was over, then, I texted my youngest niece, Laura. She’s a baseball fan. Unfortunately, she’s a Yankees’ fan. I just don’t know where I went wrong. I told her.

When I lived in SC, in the little house across the drive from my parents, I had satellite. They did not. When the Braves were on, my father, the dog, and sometimes his cat, would walk what was about a block and a half, across the field, maybe the road, depending on which animals were with him. My mother would call, saying they were on their way over – to watch the game. He’d sit there, with his dog, my dog, and his cat would go crawl up on my bed, with my two cats. I’d come up with something for a snack. Once the game was over, he and the dog would leave. The cat would spend the night, and I’d drive her back over, the next day. Quite often, he’d leave his dog with me, and take Clancy, my poodle, back with him.

He always watched baseball. Then, about eight years ago, he stopped watching it. We should have known something was wrong, with just that. He no longer paid attention to the box scores, the standings or post season. Alzheimer’s had robbed him of that.

If only we had known…

Today, I realized, texting my niece, that life does go on. The family tradition and love for baseball has been passed to another generation. There are indications that Catie could be a baseball fan.

Life goes on, just like Sir Paul wrote, all those years ago.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

SJ Reidhead (aka The Pink Flamingo) is a writer based in New Mexico. The author of two published novels, both westerns: Dust Devil and The Second Mrs. Earp and two published works of non-fictions: TRAVESTY: Frank Waters Earp Agenda Exposed and A Church for Helldorado, Endicott Peabody's 1882 Tombstone Diary. One of the leading authorities on the life of Wyatt Earp and Tombstone during the Earp years, she is writing a series of murder mysteries set in modern day Tombstone. The author is also working on a book about fashion in the Wild West. When complete, there will be over 2100 unpublished antique photographs dating from 1855-1910.

The author's work has appeared in Wild West, True West, Blogcritics, and The Tombstone Times. Recently the author has had to deal with a father who succumbed to Alzheimer's Disease. This is leading to a book dealing with the frustrations of dealing with the frustrations of the disease, finance, legal, health-care, and things no one bothers telling families about it. A portion of the book will contain entries from a blog she kept, detailing the struggle with her father's AD. She is also working on a murder mystery series set in modern day Tombstone and Cochise County. Several books of essays on Christian living are currently in edits. A book of essays and revisions of articles about Wyatt Earp has been completed and will include her latest work detailing her theory about the murder of his second wife, Mattie.

SJ Reidhead has been involved in Republican politics since she was 'a little kid'. During the Reagan years she was a lobbyist working with various non-profit organizations who were attempting to salvage NASA and the American space program after the disastrous Carter years. In spite of ups and downs, and numerous disappointments, politically, it is obvious the only political hope for this country is via the Republican Party. Along with politics she is an opera fanatic, has been known to stalk baritones to the point of being a baritone junkie, and loves baseball.

The Pink Flamingo went on line on October 4, 2005.

THE PINK FLAMINGO STORY

It started out as a joke. During the seven years I worked with the girls of my parish, leading a youth group, one of the things that I stressed were manners. Part of having manners, the way I see it, is to know how to set a proper table, host a party, cater it, and clean up afterward. I was fortunate enough to have a group of very talented girls in my youth group. They learned how to plan for, and execute large church functions, very properly. During one such function I noticed there were several incredibly tacky pink flamingos sitting on the table. Knowing the girls were up to something, I said nothing. A few months later they did the same thing at a function I was hosting at my home. I said nothing. They had a birthday party for me. More pink flamingos appeared - and a joke was born.

Thanks to the girls, all of whom are now grown, I have a collection of pink flamingos. It has become an ongoing joke. When I began working on my political blog, I realized the only possibly title was The Pink Flamingo!