William Carter:  

Took my wife to a memory care home last week. Hardest day of my life. Author, international lecturer and quilt designer; and now she doesn't even no her own name. Feeling very lonely and sad. From daughters blog: Bigfathotmess.com. "Bless Ne Father, For I Have Sinned" I have to admit, I’ve always been a little jealous of Catholics. Not for their lengthy, ritual filled services, or their majestic robes. Not for the school uniforms or the great thigh muscles they build from the constant kneeling and standing, and certainly not for the overt and implied obligatory guilt that all Catholics endure. (I have enough of that on my own, thank you very much.) But I find the whole idea of a cleansing confession very appealing. Walking into a little booth with the weight of your transgressions on your shoulders, and unburdening yourself to a little screen where a mysterious voice instructs you to repeat the number of hail Marys that is commensurate with your degree of evil deeds seems refreshing. You’re given the exact steps that need to be taken in order to be redeemed. In all fairness, my knowledge of the Catholic church has mostly come from the slew of horror movies I’ve watched over the years. (There always seems to be one or two scenes with a nun, priest, or some other representation of Catholocism.) So, my vision of what a confession is like is probably completely inaccurate. The image I have of a beautiful, hand carved, wooden, confessional booth with the sliding panel which reveals the partition screen between priest and sinner probably doesn’t exist anywhere but old Europe. The sky-high ceilings and jewel-toned, stained glass windows that envelop a collection of ornate, gold, religious artifacts are in reality, probably nothing more than the remains of an old gymnasium that was purchased at a good price and decked with red carpet and bad lighting. And I’d be lying if I said the non-Hollywood version didn’t leave me feeling a bit unfulfilled. Nevertheless, an officially sanctioned checklist for obtaining a clean slate with the God of all creation eclipses the condition of the venue. So, with the goal of absolution, I've been practicing for my first, non-denominational, yet Catholic-inspired confession. I imagine it will go something like this:.......... Continued on blog. DEMENTIA PRAYER For Christal If I get dementia, I’d like my family, friends and Carers to hang this wish list up on the wall where I live. I want them to remember these things. 1. If I get dementia, I want my friends and family to embrace my reality. 2. If I think my spouse is still alive, or if I think we’re visiting my parents for dinner, let me believe those things. I’ll be much happier for it. 3. If I get dementia, don’t argue with me about what is true for me versus what is true for you. 4. If I get dementia, and I am not sure who you are, do not take it personally. My timeline is confusing to me. 5. If I get dementia, and can no longer use utensils, do not start feeding me. Instead, switch me to a finger-food diet, and see if I can still feed myself. 6....Expand for more