Skip to main content

Sugar

     Jim has a theory if a little is good then more is better.  He has used this thought in all aspects of his life.  Sometimes it has worked to his advantage and other times it has not. He not only incorporates this thought in his business and personal life, but also with food.  If a little tastes good then just keep going.
     It is not unusual to find a small decorative sugar bowl in most homes.   In the middle of Jim's table was a coffee can filled with sugar.  He did not daintly add a teaspoon or two of sugar to his coffee.  I watched in horror as he would scoop approximately a half of cup of sugar in his cup and add a little coffee or tea.   He used the liquid as a transport for the sugar. This would occur several times a day.  We felt that possibly the high quantities of sugar was contributing to the lack of energy and unresponsiveness he often exhibited.
  This was not an easy habit to break.  When Jim moved into our home, our table centerpiece was not a coffee can filled with sugar.  In fact, the sugar was hidden deep in a cupboard. In this case the adage out of sight out of mind was true.  After a few weeks,  Jim did not even ask for the sugar.  He  still asks for cakes, cookies and pie. I don't blame him for that.
       An amazing thing happened about three weeks into the detox plan.  Jim started waking up.  He still suffered a short term memory loss, but he could carry on a conversation.  His  sense of humor began to emerge, his alertness and energy level began to increase.  It was  good to see our Jim back.  I think we will just keep the sugar hidden.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Senior Center

     We are very blessed to have a lovely Community Senior Center not far from our home.  It has lunches, BINGO , classes, food give aways and several other activities and resources available to the more experienced individuals in our area.  Jim has not shown much interest in the center except on Wednesdays.      Like other days lunch is provided on Wednesday, but this day includes entertainment.  Any Senior who sings or plays an instrument is welcome to join the  Senior Serenaders  Jim whispers, "I think some of them are beyond their prime."  I notice him tapping his foot and and whistling along to familiar songs that are a part of his past. He may or may not chat to someone at his table, he doesn't care and they don't seem to mind either.  He does keep a look out for anyone at the table that does not seem to want their desert.  He will gladly take it off their hands.  One day I reminded him not to grab at ano...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Move

     As we looked over the three acres of " treasures" that had been accumulated over the last 60 plus years of Jim's adult life the move seemed daunting.  The acreage was filled with miscellaneous objects that represented Jim's ever changing occupations and interests.  Tractors, trucks, sailboards, aviation equipment, teepees, sewing machines and tools were some of the objects to be moved.    Jim had said little and seemed to be unresponsive to much of anything at this point.  We didn't know if it was due to the shock of watching his wife die, dementia, leaving his aged dog behind or possibily a sugar comia from the great quanities of sugar he consumed daily. Simple decisions seemed an impossibility  for him.  We decided that we would deal with the  "treasures"  at a later time.      We had over a thousand miles to travel from the South Eastern corner of Arizonia to the North West corner of Oregon . We worried...
2 comments
Read more

The Martyr

       It was 5:00 AM on a Thursday morning.  My husband just realized that he had a five day weekend.  He suggested that we leave that night and travel the twelve hours to meet our son's finacee.  That was a great idea.  The problem was what to do with Jim.  It was too much time in the car for Jim.  We also had no place that he could stay when we got there.   I dramatically told Monte that I would just stay home and take care of Jim.  Monte would not hear of that.  As he walked out the door to work he told me to figure it out, we were leaving that night.  It took three calls and Jim was covered for the weekend.  I spent the day preparing  the schedule for the help. I stewed over the arrangements like a Mother Hen. Jim told me that he could take care of himself.  I made the arrangments despite his confidence.     We left that night. We  met the beautiful girl that would soon become part...
1 comment
Read more