It is Saturday late afternoon, and I am feeling sad.
Late afternoon and evening sadness is occurring more often. I believe it started a few weeks ago. I am unaware of a trigger. It frustrates me, and I believe that compounds my sadness.
Before my sadness settled in, today had been a good day. After an early breakfast, I finished the essay on empathy, read for a while, and then watched news on the television. I took a catnap, and then a close friend called to check on me. I thanked Chris for his continued support and empathy. We laughed about the timing of his call (he had not read the empathy blog post).
After lunch, I opened two boxes filled with photos and memorabilia from my career. That trip down memory lane was fun. It prompted me to contact a few friends and colleagues whom I hadn’t talked to in twenty years or more.
It is now five o’clock, and my feelings of nostalgia and happiness have been replaced by sadness.
I will continue writing on Sunday.
It is Sunday, and I feel like my brain has shrunk. Oh wait, it has shrunk.
This has been a restful day. I read and wrote most of the day. There were two - maybe three - naps scattered between eight this morning and three this afternoon. I tried to watch a Sunday morning news and politics television program. I felt my blood pressure rising, so I turned the television off. Later, I walked around our community.
While on my walk, I experienced chills and shivering several times. It is 78 degrees and sunny, so the chills are not related to the weather.
I do not feel sad. I have a slight headache, my tinnitus is loud, and I have zero energy. Linda is watching a television show with Lola and Bella, while Big Bit and I are hanging out together.
My diminishing energy, stamina, and vitality are concerning.
I absolutely love the deep research and writing I do every day. It is rewarding for me, and I know it helps many Alzheimer’s patients, family members, and caregivers. Not to mention the physicians and researchers who learn from my musings.
If only I could figure out a less stressful way to earn a few dollars from the blog. It is not just my blog struggling for monetary support, though. It is a Substack issue. If 200 readers donated $5 per month, my stress would be reduced by a copious amount. You don’t want me stressed any more than Alzheimer’s naturally causes, do you?
Linda and I enjoy watching television after we eat dinner. We tend to watch old shows more than new network programs. We are hooked on Criminal Minds: Evolution. It will be nice when some of our other favorite shows return for a new season in the next week or so.
Monday morning. Linda and I are going to the North Carolina DMV today. We have to get a North Carolina driver’s license (state identification for me) so we can register to vote. We expect a long line resulting in a minimum three-hour wait. I can’t imagine a more fun and relaxing way to spend a Monday.
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