Becolorful

Life Doesn't Stop When the Kids Move On

Linking up today with HPF, not because I have created something stellar but to give a voice to all the women that are right here with me.

 

When my first born left for college I thought my heart might break.

I was in a funk for two weeks.

Then I learned about Instant Messaging, texting, email, phone calls and the fact that she had a break every three weeks

and usually came home.

I saw more of her that year than I did her senior year of high school.

With my next one I was better prepared.

He and I had butted heads for several months

and things got so much better when we finally had a little space between us.

Now we have long talks and I am amazed at the person he has become.

It is the natural order of things.

The caboose I thought might be tough.

What should I do with my time?

I'd been a mom forever.

What was my role now?

I never did get a real job after the kids started school.

Could I legitimately call myself a functional artist?

What was I supposed to do next?

Flash forward one year...

Crazy busy. Aubrie's wedding, Galena, stripping wallpaper, painting a bedroom, painting furniture, missed lunch with a friend, getting back in friend's good graces, becoming a blonde again,  Alzheimer's meeting, birthday group, other birthday group, planning for Texas, missed workout, workout, meeting with class of '81 reunion planning,Did I miss anything? and that has all been since Saturday night. :)

That was a recent status update on my facebook page

Lately I've received numerous comments questioning my whereabouts. 

Thank you and I love you for your concern.

Really, I'm fine.

Blogging just had to take a back seat.

It just has been ridiculously busy.

I know.

Everybody says that

but it's true.

To make my point

I thought I would bring you up to speed  with what's been happening in my world.

I've been to two weddings and three wedding receptions.

Because of my camera fail last month I am lacking pictures from one of them.

My daughter was in the other one and Laura, the bride, is my pseudo daughter.

They couldn't be any more different or any closer.

Love them both.

Hugs.

I was so happy to have this photo sent to me at the same time from the same wedding.

Just looking at these two blondies , my mom and my baby, together makes me smile.

 

Big hugs.

Then we traveled to Texas for a wedding reception - different couple.

I was still packing at the last minute.

Literally throwing my stuff together.

I know.

It isn't pretty.

Now when you see my organizational posts,

you will know I'm a phony.

The worst part is this doesn't even include my cosmetics!

The trip to Texas was a whirlwind

but we did make it to one of our favorite Tex Mex watering holes

and we were able to see and stay in this incredible home.    

We made a quick run into Chicago with our youngest for another first apartment Ikea run.

 

I want this for my closet.

 
A couple of jaunts to Galena where I've been stripping wallpaper and repainting a bedroom.

  
As you can see, I'm a very conflicted woman.

I will give you a hint on this one though - purple.

Not in your face purple or little girl lavender.

This is called Merlot Grape.

My husband, after the movie Sideways, is very down on merlot so I never told him the name of the color. :)

It isn't an old jewel tone. It's purple and so far I love it.

I was also busy making those decorations for my reunion.

 

Believe or not that took about three days of my life -

making sure there was at least one picture of everybody that had confirmed their reservation.

Then there was the reunion itself.

Way fun.

 
Then the recovery.

Yes this is the morning after.

Yikes. Not quite as much fun.

All the while 

I'm still painting this.

and this.

 

and I need to paint one of these for a fundraiser.

 

Sprinkle the month with a couple of birthday celebrations with friends

 
     ( The consummate party girl)
  
 and family,

 

A girly party in a Space to Inspire future post house,

(taken with my iphone because of earlier camera fail)

Learning a new camera, 

Then having my new iphone 4 totally lay down on me.

Note to self, ALWAYS buy the Apple Protection Plan.

Throw in being the good wife and supporting my big guy's latest business venture and construction project

 
 and the ramping up of the Memory Walk committee.

( Please join a Memory Walk team in your area and if you live in the vicinity of Cedar Rapids, Iowa I would love for you to join Team DJ Aanestad and walk with me to raise awareness for Alzheimer's and in memory of my dad)  
 

I still managed a couple of Therapy Thursday Art Days with my peeps at The Traveling Door

 

and I finally finished this book - one month after it was supposed to be read for book club.

So that has left me very little of this.

 

And to think I was worried about what I was supposed to do with the rest of my life.

I received a facebook message from a friend yesterday who is facing this same dilemma. 

I think I will just tell her to

1. read this post

2. learn to say no to a few of the community volunteer projects

3. make time with family and friends a priority

4. use your iCal or various scheduling calendar religiously

5. Not to worry.  Life moves on, stays busy, and at an ever quickening pace.

6. Enjoy the quiet times. They are fleeting.  

What is the saying? 

These are the good old days that we are going to miss in the years ahead
Unknown

and another favorite of mine,

Sometimes you have to let go,

to keep holding on.

~The Wonder Years

XOXO,

P  
 

                                                                                 

The Ugly Word

Today's post is not about decorating or an art or craft project. I will gladly get back to that tomorrow but sometimes we have to talk about something that isn't fun or exciting or pretty. Sometimes we have to be ugly.

The Ugly Word

Nobody wants to think about it.

It is an ugly word.

Nobody really wants to talk about it unless they are making a joke.

Sadly, Alzheimer's in not a joke.

The statistics are sobering.

 

Even though this is a less than uplifting post please take a minute and read a few of these facts because chances are it will affect you or someone you love.

 I limited myself to only five facts. Please read them.

1. The greatest single cause of Alzheimer's is advancing age.

The risk is 1 in 8 after 65 and 50% after age 85.

Less than 1% are caused by genetic abnormalities.

I would guess you know somebody in those age brackets.

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2. Women are at a greater risk than men. This is true in every age category so it can not be attributed to the fact that women live longer.

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3. Alzheimer's was the seventh leading cause of death in all age groups in 2006.

It was the fifth leading cause of death in those 65 and older.

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4. Currently the federal government spends less than 500 million on Alzheimer's research.

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5. For every $100 spent on research we are spending $25,000 a year on Alzheimer patient care.

You, though can make a difference.

Please join or support a Memory Walk in your area this year.

 

Why am I posting about this?

The good looking guy in this picture is my dad - before he got sick.

 

My dad had Alzheimer's

Dad lost his battle against this hideous disease in 2008.

So now I walk.

Please join me.

I have started Team D.J. Aanestad in memory of my dad. 

I would love you to join our team or to start one of your own. 

It's so easy and it really is a fun way to spend a Saturday morning.

The walk itself is a rather short couple of laps around the track followed by breakfast in the park.

It's fun and it is all for a tremendous cause.

Alzheimer's is ugly.

We dream of a world without it.

Won't you help?

Become a walker.

It's such a simple way to be a part of the solution.

Please click here.

Thank you from our family and all of the families that have and are currently struggling with Alzheimer's.

XOXO,

P

 

*Facts are taken from The Alzheimer's Association website and the Huffington Report.

 

Memory Walk '09

 

 

 

 

This was the second year that Mike and I walked in the Alzheimer's Memory Walk. We are lucky enough to walk with a fantastic group of friends on Team Good. Our team was organized by Kathy Good who's husband, Dave, was a judge here in Cedar Rapids. Dave could always be recognized by the bow ties he wore when he was on the bench. This admirable man began his battle with Alzheimer's while still in his early fifties. As a nod to his courage and sense of style the tee shirts our team members wear all sport various patterns of bow ties. We were especially proud this year that our team was 200 members strong and that there were over 800 walkers in Cedar Rapids.

This year we even got some of our kids involved. Thanks for participating Page, Kate, Liz, and Theo and thanks Liz for these pictures since I camera fouled for this event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last September when we walked my dad was suffering with Alzheimer's.  Our family knows first hand the devastating effects and the emotional and financial tolls of this insidious  disease. I never dreamed when we participated in this event last year that Dad would only be with us a few more short weeks. My dad had been diagnosed about five years earlier and was  classified as being in the middle stages. Because many Alzheimer's patients live a long time with this disease the costs associated with Alzheimer's  can be disastrous for so many families. With our country's aging population it is imperative that we get congressional funding for more research or the impact on our economy for the long-term care of Alzheimer's patients will be crippling.

We lost Dad in October after a fall and these flags bearing his name were very special to me. It makes me feel good to know he has not been forgotten.  We marched this year for Dad but also for the numbers of people and the loved ones that care for them that continue to fight this battle on a daily basis. 

Thank you to all that gave so generously, thank you Kathy Good for your tireless support for this cause, and thank you to the thousands and thousands of walkers that participated nationwide. 

 

Please contact your local Alzheimer's Association for information on a Memory Walk in your area. If you live near Cedar Rapids we would love to have you lace up your walking shoes and join us next year as we walk in the 2010 Memory Walk to raise money and awareness for  Alzheimer's  so that someday none of us will have to suffer or watch someone we love suffer from this heart breaking disease.

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday Dad 10/15/33 - 10/10/08

Today would have been my dad's 75th birthday. We hadn't made any plans to commemorate this milestone, probably because my dad had Alzheimer's disease. I had convinced myself that I had lost my dad by inches these last six years and it is true that he wasn't the same dad I remembered from pictures like these, but his heart and soul were still that of the man that raised me and I did my best to connect with him on that level this past week.  I am surprised that the loss isn't lessened by our long good bye. My dad fell on the 25th of September and broke his hip and then he developed a UTI and quickly became septic. I am still a little shocked by how rapidly things changed. Although I prayed for this peace for him I know I will miss him often. He showed me integrity and fairness and instilled in me a faith that is a great comfort to me. I asked Dad last week what he would like for his birthday and he said a reprieve. This year he got what he was asking for. I can let go with a heavy heart but a clear conscience

I love you Dad. Hugs to Heaven and Happy Birthday

Alzheimer's Memory Walk '08

Some very good friends of ours asked us to participate in our local Alzheimer's Memory Walk. 

They were sponsors for Dave Good, a judge here in Cedar Rapids that is battling this disease. My own dad was also diagnosed with Alzheimer's over five years ago so this is a cause that really  hits home for us. I'm not sure we were all that excited to do it initially but it was a beautiful day, we saw so many people that we knew and we really had a great time doing something beneficial.

I would guess there were over 500 participants including numerous teams of walkers honoring fathers, mothers, grandparents, and friends. Our team, Team Good, had 140 members and as a team raised close to 14,000 dollars. The Good family provided each of us with our shirts that were designed by Sherri Henderson. Judge Good always wore a bow tie in the court room so each tee shirt sported a differently designed tie. It was inspiring to take in the sea of so many neon green shirts. They were everywhere. When we were driving to the event we would spy them in other cars and smile knowing where those drivers were headed.

The family also treated everyone in the team to breakfast following the walk. 

There were yummy breakfast burritos and coffee, juice, and cinnamon rolls. It was great.

 It was a rewarding experience and we look forward to doing it next year.

 I hope you will dust off your running shoes and think about joining in the Memory Walk 2009.