In Real Al-zhe-time!

These are our farming neighbors and our very good friends.  They have helped us with several farm problems over the years. Stuck trucks, broken tractor, torn fences, round bales of hay, poachers, predators, fallen trees, hunting and wildlife care. They have raised kids, dogs, cats and cattle for the last 10 years here. But that is now over because of his wife's brain. She is in her sixth year of finding out what is wrong and it is the big A, Alzheimer's. Caused by a thyroid medication she took for 20 years. She got a new doctor and he took her off that medicine but the damage was done.

They are going to sell the farm and build a new house in the next town next to a nursing home and closer to their children. Her husband has worked all his life and just retired to farm full time and travel with his wife. But that has changed. He will have to take care of her and keep her safe from her own mind. She does not sleep, forgets who he is and that she is married. She wanders but has forgotten how to drive, thankfully. She has forgotten how to cook and is afraid of water. 

So they came over and told us the news after they came back from the big city doctor.

We already knew she had it but now it is official. We have gone through this with several people we know. We know the stages and the final act. But his wife is one of the happy ones. She had a happy childhood and is a happy "new child" again in her mind.

We gave them one of our favorite movies"50 First Dates". It is a funny movie about a woman who forgets the present when she wakes up. So her family tries to come up with a solution. It is sad and funny like this disease. And like this movie our neighbor has many friends and family that will care for them both.

Note: My neighbors visit and the death of another friends son all happened on the same day. I do not understand why yet. But at least I am well versed on how to deal with it all. I think living out here in the Ozarks on our farm teaches you how to deal with many life or death things at once.