The title of this blog comes from something my dad used to say to me. It is one of my last core memories of my dad, and one that I’ve not stopped thinking about in the six years he has been gone.

When my dad was alive, I would work from my parents’ house every Friday, so my mom could have a break – my dad was in the throes of dementia. Every hour or so, he would get up and scrounge through the kitchen – I am not sure he was ever really hungry or maybe he didn’t understand he was full, but he would smile at me and say, “Would you like something to chew on?” – his way of including me in his quest for a snack. I would decline, but always enjoyed the thrill he got when he found something he could ‘chew on’ until we went for lunch.

My dad died in 2017, and I’ve had a lot of things I have been ‘chewing on’ since then, literally and figuratively. My desire to document this journey has been with me since he passed. I could have a journal, but to be honest, my handwriting is horrible. Sure, I could start an e-diary in Word, but what fun is that? If someone were to stumble onto this blog, maybe, just maybe, my experience can help someone else. Now, with that being said, the odds of me actually promoting this site to the world are slim-to-none. It is not in my nature, but I am hopeful someone will come across this page and find comfort in my musings.

So, what exactly is this blog about? Well, I don’t really know. My gut tells me it will be my way to find peace and healing from having dealt with not one, not two, not three, but four beloved family members who have had dementia. My mom was diagnosed 3 years ago with Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia – it’s been a rough road, not going to lie. I recently resigned my job so I could take a caregiving sabbatical – not something I ever thought I could or would do, but I am fortunate to have a few months off to help my mom transition to her next phase and work on healing my mental and physical health. It is not easy, but I am forever grateful for this opportunity.

I plan to share updates weekly as I have a plethora of topics to bring forward – there is so much I didn’t know (even though this is number 4!) and had to learn to navigate. There are periods of anger, sadness, and humor along with the never-ending feeling of grief as you begin the long goodbye. It is a journey and if you are here for the ride, I appreciate you. And please, feel free to comment and share your experience – this can be a lonely journey.

For transparency, I love cats and am a closet baker, so I may veer into these topics every so often, be warned. 🙂

K

Disclaimer: I am not a writer, have never claimed to be a writer; therefore, please do not judge.