One of the main reasons I created a caregiver social network in 2004 was because I wanted to connect with other caregivers with a particular disease. In my case it was Dads Hydrocephalus and to learn from others if they had heard of the disease and what medications and/or procedures were working for their loved one with it. It was so comforting to find the people who knew what I was experiencing. It empowered me with knowledge so that when I took Dad to the doctor I was able to ask intellegent questions to the physicians. Then my mother started developing signs of dementia which really made me want to connect with others about how they were handling all of this. Social networking sites are a WONDERFUL place to connect with other caregivers and I am so thankful for the technology to support them! This is just a thank you to all of the caregivers who helped me thru my difficult hours and are still there for me! Caregivers Unite!

I have written several times how I can be doing something and out of the blue I think of Dad. Sunday afternoons were always fun for me growing up and as an adult because I used to play golf on Sunday afternoons with my parents. To play the same course with them since I was a child gives me specific memories on that golf course that I can replay hole by hole. One day when I was in my 20s, my sister (who was not evil at that time)happened to be at my parents visiting. Dad came into my old bedroom where I was working on a proposal which had a tight deadline and he asked if I wanted to join everyone to the golf course for lunch and a surprise......I of course was too busy to go, and if I could re-live that moment and change my answer to Yes. As it turns out, my father had a small lake built at the end of the 3rd golf hole in honor of the "ladies of that course"...he named it after my mother; Lake Jo. I missed the whole experience because "I was too busy to go with them"....if I could do it all over again.....I miss my Dad right now because undoubtly if he were alive we would be hitting our tee shot on the 3rd hole today and walking past Lake Jo with a huge smile....

Welcome to caregivercall.com social network. Landing here as a result of the hyperlink within the Marage personal health record demonstrates how patients and caregivers can be reached by a particular disease such as heart disease. This further demonstrates the strength of connecting the Marage patient personal health record with Sparta Social Networks.

That I havent written in this blog since March? My apologies if you are following my blog; so much has happened since March. My husband lost his job, my mothers dog Josh passed away, an IRS Audit, The Kentucky Derby, 10+ driving trips to Ohio (350 miles away) and oh yes. . .retaining an attorney! For what you ask? I cant go into too much detail about it today..but it because of my evil sister! I have had it with her. What really did it was getting a call two months ago from a good friend who was in Columbus at a stop light and saw my sister and brother in law--(my sister lives in Northern Ohio—not even close to Columbus) she was meeting with my mothers Executor. I sent an email to her Executor saying "I know that my sister is meeting with you, and exactly what are you talking about?" He immediately sends me an email asking "how did you know I was meeting with her?"....I had a gut feeling that something was not right...that is when I decided enough is enough with my sister and retained an attorney. Over the past 2 months I have heard the LIES my sister has been telling people about me; and pardon the expression--this shit is going to come to an end!

minutes to spend with my parents as they were just 10 years ago. Im sitting here watching Wheel of Fortune with my mother; except that, my mother is asleep. I never watch this program unless I am with her, and I have such fond memories of sitting here with my parents, having a cocktail and trying to figure out "the wheels" puzzle. Not that this program was the center of our nightly entertainment, but it was part of our nightly ritual. Looking over to see Mom asleep and watching Wheel of Fortune by myself just makes me realize just how precious the nights were during cocktail hour 10 years ago.

I know that I am not speaking alone with this experience when I say that just out of the blue something happens to trigger a memory of a loved one who has passed away and along with that-- the floodgates let loose. This morning I got an e-mail from a cousin with whom I have not seen since 04--two month prior to my father passing away at her wedding. I have a VERY VERY small family, and since Dad passed away, (and my sister being so distant) I feel so "alone" when it comes to family. When I got this email I started sobbing (not because of what was in the e-mail), but I guess because there was a connection to my family; even though it is a 2nd cousin. It is so sad, because it just reminds me of how my family used to be, and how life was with the patriarch (my father) still on this earth.

Tomorrow is my 51st birthday; now that I have turned 50 I could care less about aging...Bring it on is what I say. After all, I had a good friend who passed away when we were 25—you have to keep this all in perspective. What does make me feel strange is that even though my mother is still alive, she wont remember that it is even my birthday because of her dementia. Being the youngest child of older parents is difficult at times like this. My father is gone and my mother is going to be 91 so what can I expect? I am so very grateful that I had my father as long as I did, and I am so blessed that my mother is still alive…..but each day I am losing a little bit more of her, and on occasions such as my birthday it reminds me more of what used to be… and I am being honest when I say it makes me feel so sad. That sadness is compounded when I think about how no one in my family will wish me a happy birthday (beside my wonderful husband) because my sister has completely alienated me. If you are feeling sorry for me right now DONT! I will make up for it..I have no choice and I refuse to waste one minute of my life on crying over spilled milk! Writing this blog has already helped! Cheers!

For the first time I can relate to how my parents probably felt when I was growing up and thought they were "old". Not in general, but on something as silly as "you have never heard of the Rolling Stones?” After my parents retired, my father would always tell me to make friends which are at least 10 years younger; which they did. The reasoning behind this is as simple as when some people age they become so BOREING! So, my husband and I have great friends which are younger. NOT because I consider myself old yet--obviously my trusted younger friends dont think we act old either or I doubt they would be hanging around. What made me feel old was when one of my friends was laughing at my voicemail on what I call my “cell phone”. She thought that it was just hilarious and reminded that the term cell was used years ago and that I am probably the only one who refers to it as such. The word is now mobile. So now, trust me when you call my “cell” phone I refer to it as “you have reached my mobile”….please leave a message for the old person! hahahahaha