Sculptures in Stone

I've been volunteering as a docent at the Second Biennial Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium (SISS) located in front of the Rockefeller Building in the Schoodic Section of Acadia National Park. It's been a wonderful opportunity to meet new folks and experience the transformation of local blocks of granite and basalt into monumental works of public art for area towns. Be sure to look at the website. One visitor relayed the words of a cathedral stone cutter who said " The stone is torn from the earth and is born, it dies at the hand of the stone sculptor and is reborn at it's resurrection as a finished work of art".

That's something for you to consider - get out there in your community, find a niche of interest and volunteer your time. Many rewards are to be had.

http://www.schoodicsculpture.org/home.html

Coordination of Mind and Body

Movement accuracy in people depends on feed forward commands based on representation in memory of spatial and bio-mechanical features. Gordon's memory deficits certainly interfere with movement planning and execution. His mind and body are not in sync. This morning he came downstairs trying to put on his pants inside out and backwards. He knows his intent, but is often not able to bring the correct actions about.


Did you know that the Alzheimer's Society's symbol is the Forget-Me-Not flower ? This represents memory loss and serves as a reminder to remember people with Alzheimer's Disease and other related dementias and their caregivers. Check out this Canadian site
http://www.alzheimer.ca/english/society/intro.htm

The Great Outdoors

We took a break yesterday from our usual routine to hike into Schoodic Beach on Donnell Pond on the Maine Public Reserved Lands in Sullivan. The Donnell Pond Unit includes more than 14,000 acres of remote forested land with crystal clear lakes, secluded ponds, and mountains with panoramic views. Located in Hancock County between Franklin and Cherryfield, this is where visitors can enjoy outdoor recreation in a scenic, remote setting.

It's a half mile downhill hike in from the parking area to a wonderful sandy beach with picnic tables and camping sites. The water was warm and inviting. It was our first swim of the summer.
Even though the hike back uphill was difficult for Gordon, we took it slow and made it back just fine. Stopped on the way home to pick up some steamer clams for our dinner.

Just do it seems a good theme to remember. It's so much easier just to stay at home but oh so rewarding to get out there and enjoy the natural world.

http://www.maine.gov/doc/parks/programs/prl.html

Bats

We had a young bat caught between our storm window screen and glass. In Summer Harbor there is a colony of 14 individual bats. We watch them fly out each evening at dusk. One must have missed their usual opening. After much prodding and rearranging the window configuations of glass and screen the young one managed to find his way out. We enjoy watching and interacting with the wild things that also inhabit this portion on coastline. Deer are frequent visitors to our lawn and apple trees.

Kindness and Discretion

Reminder to myself : Gordon spoke up yesterday to ask for greater discretion in handling his needs . I'd just returned from a hike out at Schoodic with a friend and noticed his wet pants.
My off handed comment was "you'll need to go and change". After B. left he reminded me that the comment was embarrassing to him and would I handle it differently next time. Yes, I'd not like it either and hope to remember to do better in the future. Good for him to speak up.

Keep it simple

I'm sending this blog out to all those living with the dread diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease. We're in our 7th year of the diagnosis. Early on I wasn't quite sure the doctor was right in his assessment of Gordon but time has proven him correct. The future unfolds slowly for us here in rural Downeast Maine. Our hope is that these musings will provide some tips, comfort and encouragement to all who partake. Do let me hear from you about your roses and thorns for each day and I shall try to do the same. May grace shine upon all of us.