How to Thrive on a Cruel Journey…A Ghost Ride on a Darkened Road…Tears of Thanks…
Recently, I spoke to an audience in Charlton, Massachusetts on “How to Survive and Even Thrive with a Loved One with Alzheimer’s”. First off, Charlton is definitely “out there,” a rural community dotted with farms, wide acreage, rolling hills. My talk was scheduled for 6:00 PM. I was accompanied by a former student, Amanda DiLeone Carsone, who graciously offered to go with me to these events. Amanda helped me with getting the books in (we roll the dolly holding the box of books) and after my talk, she facilitated audience members buying the books, making sure they had my business card, thanking them, etc.
Recently, I spoke to an audience in Charlton, Massachusetts, on “How to Survive and Even Thrive with a Loved One with Alzheimer’s.” First off, Charlton is definitely “out there,” a rural community dotted with farms, wide acreage, rolling hills. My talk was scheduled for 6:00 PM. I was accompanied by a former student, Amanda DiLeone Carsone, who graciously offered to go with me to these events. Amanda helped me with getting the books in (we roll the dolly holding the box of books) and after my talk, she facilitated audience members buying the books, making sure they had my business card, thanking them, etc.
Men and women were coming up to me, afterwards, some with tears in their eyes, telling me how grateful they were to hear my practical tips…and they really enjoyed my method of presenting, for I use a lot of humor in my talk. In the process, I share some of the crazy events that happen when one cares for a loved one with dementia. Mostly, I give my audiences hope, along with practical tips.
They told me they had heard others speak about this topic, but mine especially resonated with them because it’s not clinical or medical…It’s the actual story of a long-term Caregiver’s experience, coupled with practical tips for how they can do more than survive—they can thrive, all based on my book, “Az and Me: A Partner’s Journey with Alzheimer’s” (Amazon). Despite the topic, we laugh a lot and I encourage audience engagement
But, after all was done, Amanda and I left and when we got into the elevator, the door shut but then we realized the buttons weren’t reacting, most likely because the library was officially closed. After a few frantic moments, we got one button to react but it brought us to the wrong floor…not to the doors leading out to the parking lot where our car was. We decided to exit anyway, fearing we’d be stuck in the elevator all night if we pressed our luck.
We came out in the back of the library and then discovered we needed to walk around the building and uphill. Amanda pulled the box up the ascent.
Finally, we got into the car. Then we started out on another interesting excursion, through the hills of western Massachusetts, on curvy, darkened roads (no street lights). Amanda kept her phone GPS on but despite all, we took a wrong turn somewhere and we were off and running into territory we’d not been on, before. We passed mill towns and diners that were all shuttered at 8:15 (we even saw a darkened Dunkin’ Donuts!), and we met no major highway until a full hour into our return drive.
Finally, we found the entrance ramp for 395 South…
We got home by 9:45 PM.
This doing guest talks is complicated, if interesting business. And again, I thank God for my helpmate. I will say, too: If we hadn’t been laughing and chatting so, I probably would’ve seen that sign I missed in the beginning of our drive.
Nevertheless, it all made for an interesting and wonderful night.
P.S. I LOVE meeting my fellow sisters and brothers who are doing the Caregiving role. I come away from these talks spiritually uplifted for the gratitude my audience expresses, when they tell me how much they value the information I am giving them…information I gleaned over my 15+ years as Caregiver. I couldn’t have a finer mission.
The scenery along the way is pretty spectacular, too.
Colleen Kelly Mellor, author of 4 books and articles that appeared in WSJ, Associated Press (AP), World News, is a former feature writer and monthly Op-Ed columnist for the Providence Journal. As a part-time resident of Asheville, NC, her columns appeared in Western North Carolina’s Mountain Xpress. While there, her husband suffered the fatal accident (triage brought him back) which precipitated his Alzheimer’s Her new book, Az and Me: A Partner’s Journey with Alzheimer’s, an Amazon Best Seller, focuses on her many years as sole Caregiver to her cognitively impaired husband.
colleenkellymellor.com
