As a writer, words are important to me. Consequently, I will often invest a lot of time searching the dictionary, thesaurus and Google, trying to find the very best, most accurate, articulate, and precise word to describe an emotion, thought, event, or person. Seven years ago when I was diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment, I…
MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment)
On this blog, I share my story of coping with an MCI diagnosis, how it has affected my lifestyle and the tools I've learned to preserve or improve my quality of life. Click here to learn what the condition is, and click here for my introduction to MCI.
A moment of serenity
Last week I wrote in my journal this spontaneous and uncensored entry: “I’m grateful for good days, calm days full of peace and acceptance, and for seeing life as beautiful, just as it is.” What a gift this entry was to me. Re-reading it conjures up the way I felt when I wrote it, and…
An absurd question {written by Beth}
This is a guest post written by a new voice and perspective on the topic of memory decline—my daughter Beth. She will write about what she experiences as a caregiver, a loving daughter, and as a woman who has excellent medical instincts. Since this is a new experiment, I would appreciate getting your feedback. Are…
To be told or not to be told
Our family values and embraces being honest and forthright. Topics of religion, politics and sex are fair game at any family gathering, and differences of opinion have been encouraged, accepted and honored. So it seemed only natural to be open with my children regarding my diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment. From the onset I have…
Family reunion
It has been almost a month since I’ve last posted on my website; the longest I’ve been silent since I started my blog. My excuse is I have been busy preparing for and hosting a family gathering at our home. I’ll briefly relate the affair as it is pertinent to my journey with MCI: How…
Acceptance
I just returned from five wonderful days with my dear, dear college friends of fifty years now. We’ve stayed in touch over all these years; initially through a chain letter, then email, and now we see and talk to each other through messenger. However, our most important communication is when we meet in person. At…
Challenges on the path to sexual satisfaction and aging
This post is an introduction to a series of posts that deals with the delicate interplay of factors affecting one’s ability to experience sexual pleasure as we age. This topic is relevant to both of my websites: IntimacyAndAging.com and VirginiaLaken.com, a blog about living with MCI. The series will be published on my other blog,…
The power of steadfastness and touch
This post deals with the value of having a live-in partner, caregiver or helper. If that is not your current situation feel free to ignore. I’m 73 years old, Keith will soon be 74. Some would say that’s not “old” but to me, it is—in many ways I didn’t anticipate. I expected my limbs would…
How long have I dealt with MCI? (The answer that totally surprised me.)
Disclosure: in this post I write about my fear of dying. If that’s not something you want to read, feel free to skip this one. For the last three weeks I’ve been in a funk, unable to write. It’s a significant loss for me, because writing is how I sort out my feelings, unearth my…
How I stay positive with MCI
Last week a good friend of mine commented on how rarely I write about being discouraged, depressed, sad, or even angry about the fact that I have memory and cognitive loss. She added, “You have many positives going for you: a very supportive family; you’ve lived in the same small town for thirty years and…