HI EVERYBODY,I HAVE BEEN A LONG TIME CAREGIVER FOR SHIRLEY,{MY WIFE}, 6 YEARS AND HOPEFULLY SIX MORE! WE ARE MARRIED 64 YEARS, 3 KIDS, 7 GRANDCHILDREN, 4 GREAT GRANDCHILDREN & COUNTING. ALL OF THIS MAKES IT WORTHWHILE TO BE SHIRLEY'S 24/7 CAREGIVER. THIS IS WHAT'S CALLED "PAY BACK TIME" FOR ALL OF THE YEARS SHE HAS TAKEN CARE OF OUR FAMILY SINCE OUR MARRIAGE IN 1947. THERE ARE MANY TIMES WHEN I HAVE FELT EXAUSTED AND FRUSTRATED BUT THEN I "THANK GOD" FOR THE TIME HE HAS GIVEN TO US TO BE TOGETHER. OUR WEDDING PROMISES HAVE BEEN AND STILL ARE "ALIVE". IF ANY OF YOU FEEL AS I DO AT TIMES, I ADVISE YOU TO TAKE TIME OUT FOR YOURSELF AND EVEN A FEW HOURS ALONE OR WITH A FRIEND, TALK AND LAUGH, BUT GET AWAY AND THEN YOU WILL BE SURPRISED HOW REFRESHED YOU WILL FEEL. I HAVE GOTTEN "REPITE" HELP FROM OUR (AREA OF AGING) AGENCY HERE IN MILWAUKEE. THEY SENT A LADY WHO COMES 3 TIMES A WEEK FOR THREE HOURS EACH TIME TO RELIEVE ME FOR SHOPPING, SEEING OLD FRIENDS AT THE LOCAL COFFEE SHOP OR GIVING ME A CHANCE TO SIT BACK AND SNOOZE OR READ A GOOD BOOK. BELIEVE ME >> IT HELPS. REMEMBER THIS, YOU ARE LIVING FOR TWO PEOPLE! IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO YOU, WHAT WILL YOUR "CARE TAKER " DO?? MY ADVISE IS "STAY COOL", DON'T LOOSE HOPE, THINGS COULD ALWAYS BE WORST! YOUR FRIEND, SONNY ]   |
