Of course, the connection between the poem and that purple shirt of mine takes me in many directions. I think of all the victims of Alzheimer's who cannot choose to wear purple or even know whether or not they are. They are too often robbed of the opportunity to purposefully make new choices, to break away from the routines and "have-to's" and transition gracefully into old age. Now I don't mean what may come first to your mind with that scary phrase "old age". I'm thinking of that wonderful, joyful, and possibly wiser time of life where you calm down, slow down, reflect and pass on what you've learned.
I can't help but think about my mother and the conversations we never had because of her illness. I will always treasure the fact that she knew me, was happy to see me, smiled, and held my hand. But what stories might she have told me if she had had the opportunity? What memories might she have shared? What lessons might she have taught me at a time when I was finally ready to listen? We will never know.
We are getting ready for the 2016 Walk to End Alzheimer's - Lakes and Mountains Area on Saturday, September 17th. We are again walking for my mother, Trudy, and for all the other who are suffering with or have been lost to this insidious disease. Our Trudy's Team page can be found at http://act.alz.org/goto/trudy
There's lots to be done yet - a thank you to all who supported us last year and have donated already, a Trudy's Team Facebook page, a call for donations and team members, more blog posts. But for today I'm going to reread a poem and hope that with a cure all of us will have the chance to experience "old age" on our own terms.
Click here to see Jenny Joseph read her poem - Warning
