Murphy showed up at Sunday Mass surprising Fr McKenna because Murphy never made Sunday Mass. After service Fr McKenna caught up with Murphy and the following conversation occurred. Fr McKenna: Well Murphy, I am delighted to see you at the mass today, what prompted you to come. Murphy: Well Father, a while back I lost a prize hat I really loved. Mc Guinn has one like it, and knowing he faithfully comes to mass. During service he must take it off and leave it in the rear of the church. I figured when he went to communion I'd steal it. Fr McKenna: Well Murphy, I notice you didn't take the hat, what changed you mind. Murphy: well Father, upon hearing your sermon on the 10 Commandments I realized I didn't need to steal the hat. Gr. McKenna: When I spoke of the Thou Shalt Not Steal Commandment you decided that being without the hat was better than burning in hell? Murphy: No Father when you Spoke of the Commandment Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery I remembered where I left my hat.
^^^^^ Taking care of my 84 yr old Father with a severe case of Dementia/Alzheimer the last 7 mos has been pure hell. Odd how one with Alz can't remember what happened yesterday or an hour ago, let alone a few mins prior. Yet can recall what happened decades back..... the old cojur recalls all the many and I mean many women he slept with while married to my Mom. Almost proud, he boasts as if each woman was a prize trophy. After hearing this shit for the better part of the last 30 yrs; and telling him I don't enjoy his stories of cheating on my Mom; his wife, or his adultrous ways, I finally told him, (a once devout [my ass] Roman Catholic he was)........ "Dad you need to go to confessional, but on 2nd thought forget that, cuz if you did the Priest would say, Sir there is no time for your week long confessional, you will be going straight to hell".........sorry I feel this way, but shit after decades of abuse mentally, I can't help myself...... I've been married to Kim my first and only wife. Neither of us have ever cheated on the other, the baseline of our union over 35 yrs, be true to the one you love, never so much as thought about cheating on my wife, tho' I've had women give it a try, I was never buying, and proud of the fact I've remained monogomous since I was 24 and married....if that counts for anything. It doesn't matter if I correct him 10 times in an hour over this issue, as he will simply continue on talking to himself, repeating over n over the same shit, while I bow my head in disgrace and leave him talking to himself.....sad to say the least. Never want to give up on anyone, but there comes a time for self preservation of ones self.......!!! Anyone have any relatives they've had to deal with this disease??? If so I'd love or need to hear about your experiences, they can help my own dilemna, feel free to PM me. MOst peeps have their parents or loved ones put into Alzheimers Convalescent Units by now, yet this man refuses the cognition testing, as well as he refuses to be moved from his home of 47 yrs, of which I don't blame him. I've long felt every human deserves to die in their own bed, but check that, on 2nd thought there will always be those who need hands on 24 hrs a day help. The endless middle of the night calls, saying someone stole his watch, the keys to his car, et al. When he simply can't remember where he put those things, yet he always has to blame someone else. Imagine what growing up with this guy was like, he taught me everything on how not to be a Father or Husband..... sorry for the rants, just need to blow steam off...........tender mercies....~~~ my once deep unwavering patience has become a dry water well... "we need to sit on the edge of the well of darkness, and fish for fallen light with patience" - Pablo Neruda) Any advice You all may have, feel free to pitch in, or PM me, either way ya'lls input is valued.......!!!
My significant others mom had those issues and yes they make one a handful to deal with. One day my girl said she did not feel she was contributing as her sibling. Her mon was in a nursing home and they took turns with visitation and the like. One day she asked me if I would bring my guitar, sing and play for her Mom. I said no problem. We arrived there one Saturday Morning, got her mom up to a common area parlor. Fortunately I knew some songs from her era and started out with them. Then her mom asked me if I knew "Show Me The Way To Go Home. I said yeah an old drinking song, So I began to play and she started singing with me, clapping hand feeling good. The music snapped her right back.to reality. My gir & her sister were shocked seeing mom digging the tunes. While there other residents came in and were enjoying it as well. We kept that pace for about three hours and she then slipped back to Sundowners and that terminated the day. I felt really good about that and did it for her a couple time more before she passed. I really never cared for "playing out" that much but I really enjoyed that day, her mom had a good day, my girl & her sister got tosee a side of mom that evidently was seldom demonstrated in her life.
My Grandmother died of it when she was 95. I wasn't allowed to go see her to say goodbye. I was told she would have no Idea who I was anyway. Sucks not being able to say Goodbye to a loved one.
Wow Michael, you've always had a gift, especially with music; and w/ a gee-tar in your hands.You've given me a visceral over years, of a G.I. writing/playing music in an empty Military hangar; ala Johnny Cash... Music, much like innocent loving dogs, soothe people's souls, hearts, bridge gaps between divided people, or disconnected people. Those as you mentioned afflicted by disease or ill health. The common denominator to harmony b/t folks, even those of different beliefs. Music bridges gaps, from afflictions, to resolving stress. The one constant memories my old man has still, are those numerous shows at Shreveport's Luzianna Hayride from 63-64, and 68-69, and all the many great now HOF C&W performers. Something rare he can still articulate and remember. What gets absurd are the hallucinations, due to never knowing what's real, or forgotten, misplaced, or incorrectly recollected blown memories....Memories are all some people have, and even those often are damaged. What a wicked disease. To make matters worse, I've got 6 sisters, (one deceased brother), with 4 of those sisters, (and several nieces living local, who are either R.N.'s or L.V.N.'s), yet all these sisters run from the responsibilities of being held responsible to actually having to committ to doing something for our Dad. Shit for 6 mos, I cooked 5-6 days a week for him, cut his grass, kept his house and bills in order, took him to all his dr's appts, and ensured he takes his proper meds, which he can't recall what to take. Kim did his house cleaning, laundry et al. Not until my wife broke her arm a month ago, did all my/our help have to come to a snail crawl, and its been appalling how none of these sisters or nieces never bothered to step up to the plate to simply make sure their Dad, Grandfather was alive, or in need of help, which he always is. I've always thought most people deserve the honor to pass in their own bed and home, in lieu of a loony bin alzheimers unit. At this point, I'm strongly second guessing my own thoughts, ready to step aside and not defend that stance??? confused I am..... Guess I'm trying to say, its utterly appalling, when one knows in the end all one has is their family; but in this case, family are dysfunctional enough to never know or do as much, let alone bother to care for family, ie sisters.....
I agree with you on the point that someone is best finishing up this life in their own home. My father passed from cancer and went down 4 moths after being diagnosed. He and my mother moved in with my sister a move that she later regretted saying he may have lived longer had they stayed in their own placed. My mother passed from emphysema and that was not pretty either. The constant oxygen bottle required planning before trips plus the God Damn Drugs they were giving her were useless as boobs on a board. Things came to a head when she called the Orlando Mayors Office claiming my sister wouldn't let her go anywhere. Tat end resulted in the police & fire department going out to my sisters house. Pretty obvious to anyone that my sisters house was clean, well managed an no one being mistreat but the "social do gooders" all jumped on the band wagon. I was getting calls at work her house was being checked and stuff just got out of control. We then placed her in a nice Assisted Living Facility but she rebelled on that one as well. Bad though it seems, sometime caring for relatives can go over the line and professional help is needed. My girls mother was in an excellent facility and was well cared for. One thing I do believe in is the hand holding between the medical and pharmaceutical industries. keeping people on prescription drugs and profiteering. One of the major reasons I voted for Medical Marijuana in Florida, if it eases pain it has to be better than the crap being sold by med pharm companies.
