Memorable Automobiles from The Past:
For today:
Unless
my mind or health declines, I WILL start a single backpacking hike of the
Appalachian Trail next year. I THINK I want to start on my birthday, Jan17th,
2022. I am almost sure that is my 83rd birthday. At first I wanted to do
this to be the oldest hiker to thru hike the AT. Now, to be honest, it is to be alone and
ponder, in the wild.
I am learning about things I do, and
learning them embarrasses me. Don’t get me wrong, it is good to know these
things. I want to correct them, if I can.
Now please, my thinking is NOT wrong, it is NOT normal to talk over or
interrupt others.
I talk too much (I know why I do it, sub-consciously
if I am talking I do not have to know what is said by others, I cannot converse
if I don’t understand. I ALSO KNOW that this is just my excuse. It makes me ashamed!)
I found
myself doing that with my good friend Buddy.
Looking back I realized I had done that. That makes you feel like crap.
In the last couple years it has been
necessary for me to be corrected about names, incidents and the years in which
they happened. Truthfully the corrections do not take root or register, my mind
does not remember the corrections because I still do not know and truthfully
will probably never know. It hurts.
Sherry & I remember too well my
sister Shirl and dementia. Shirl was losing her ‘memory’ and she knew that. She
would call us and say, “You guys have got to come home and take care of me.”
We
finally did come home when she acknowledged that she had gone grocery shopping
at Walmart, and forgot her way home. That is only 2 or 3 miles. The
statement used over and over was, “I am losing my memory, and it worries me to death.”
My sister and mother suffered from
dementia. I am confused, is it my hearing combined with my mind or worse? Now I
hear my double cousin Bobby is suffering from dementia. I must go see him.
(I wrote this book and used our experiences working it into a mystery using my 'Jerry Wiley' crew and the 'Modern Vigilante Association.'
Right now I think backpacking alone in
the backwoods for a few months in the wild may help, I might not can make it
all the way. It is 2,190+/- 3 miles and takes about 5-8 months to complete. We have
backpacked over 1800 miles on the trail, but not all at once. The most we walked at
one try was 900 miles.
My
Plans could change tomorrow. But I now have 10 months to really get
ready. I certainly have enough
backpacking supplies. LOL
THANKS for reading, I do appreciate it.
NiteShipslog
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8 comments:
Jack, Sr., YOU are NOT losing your mind! Stop it already!!! You just have a lot going on in your world and even a youngster like me is prone to do that "what am I hereafter"? We have had our lives splinter during the severe COVID days. A long walk will do you a whole lot of good. [Especially if Sherry is by your side]. Eat some Lobstah for me.
So, saddle up, go for a long walk and come back to us when you've completed your mission. We'll be waiting for more of your automobile pictures and quips and stories! Love and hugs from Chobee, Glenda
Oh I wasn't expecting to read this. First, my Tom is the same way about talking too much and interrupting. Except, he doesn't realize. (I think)
Like Glenda's written, no. I don't think for a minute you're losing your mind. But then, I don't KNOW-know you. WHAT does Sherry think?
Like my momma would say, say your prayers and listen to your heart.
A lot of people talk over others and interrupt when others are talking. It does not make them bad, that is just their way. Maybe it's a bad habit, maybe it's impatience but a lot of people are like this. So sorry about your sister Shirl. She must've been so scared. Dementia is a horrible thing. Don't know if backpacking alone is the best idea. Something like that is best done with a companion I think.
I do not think you have dementia either - you are one of the most active and smart person I know.
I can't believe you would hike alone for 10 months or that Sherri would let you!!!
Just take it easy for a while. Relax. Stay calm. Seek medical attention to ease your mind.
Praying for you. God bless.
Sometimes I think folks who jump in and talk over others are just dealing with a mind that is working faster than the other person speaking. Knowing you have an issue that bothers you is the first step to change. Dementia is a scary worry many seniors deal with. Before you take off alone please see your doctor. Get checked out and tell them your worries about dementia. There are new drugs on the market that can help. Having a goal and preparing yourself is awesome but doing that trek alone makes me worried for you. I'm sure by next year you'll have it figured out. You're an amazing person...all of us deal with forgetting no matter the age. Hang in there!
I think you've made a good decision and nice that you have plenty of time to prepare. I'm sure that Sherry will be checking in on you. From previous posts, I know there are check points. As long as you keep checking in with her, she'll know you're safe. Hope you do get to go. I agree you are much to sharp to have demential. We all have those days we feel like we are loosing our minds.
Call them senior moments and not dementia. We all have them no matter our age I think. Sometimes people just like to talk and others like to listen. I think it would be great if you hiked the trail. One thing I know about you is you will have thought it out and be prepared if you decide to undertake this adventure.
I am back from a blog break.
Take care of yourselves.
Betty
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