Thinking and troubles…

Hi there! Hope you have a lovely day. Mine is spend thinking. Hmmm the moment I say that I’m thinking lately gets me in trouble…

But let me go on thinking. Listening to Joel Osteen etc about this wonderful future awaiting you… does it still apply to me? I do believe God has the most wonderful plans for my life, but at this second I know how my end is going to be. I’m unable to work anymore, although I still go in to work every day. It’s my business, but my two wonderful daughters is taking the brunt of the work, leaving just a bit for me that I can still manage. I messed up trying to organize things twice this week and I was in serious trouble from the Love bird, Bunnies, kids and husband. I can not organize or plan things anymore at all. Cannot remember the details anymore, but whatever… I can not do that anymore.

I have been so upset yesterday, I took out some stew to defrost and cook in the pressure cooker with some nice veggies and rise. No!… said my husband, he does not want to eat three hours later, just take out a chop. Leave the eggs, it does not smell nice, don’t want potatoes, he will just eat bread later. So we each had a rasher and there I was… just couldn’t think what to do next. I cannot handle his aggression or frustration or anybody else’s. I don’t know what to do, he is entitled to venting or frustration or whatever same as everybody else and that includes me. I went hungry for the rest of the day, because I simply and still cannot think of what to do. My sweet Nita came home baked her father his favorite chocolate desert…. old man appeased and mother fed. She did not say a thing, just carried on as if nothing is wrong.

I wanted to talk about virtual friends on the internet and things like that, but I suppose I had to get this out of my system. It is terrible having dementia in whatever form. It breaks your heart and worst is when you still are aware sometimes of what went wrong. Blissful when I don’t know what I missed.

But… here is the BUT! It is also an opportunity to do new things. Mostly things you like. You can have a life with dementia, whatever form, until that time… you know … that time? We can still have many meaningful years. With loving caregivers or family, it can be okay. Just get up and do something.

Well I have not yet tied myself to a rocket and flew to the moon, but I started writing, something I always wanted to do. I found friends with the same disease than me and believe me… we are not crying or moaning all the time, we can be really funny and goof off. I already have two speaking engagements for Mental Health days. I made a video for Dementia Mentors… hiiiyaaa!!! I just don’t know how to get it on here. https://vimeo.com/362831539?fbclid=IwAR2N4X57SwyYrvQgirf-EuK3uEqpnTrNjVoho7ceFTaPTP2AzWxs2PJwwto

I hope that thing or link or whatever takes it to my video… Anyways, let me go and convince my youngest that it is very important for my general health to have some pancakes with sugar and cinnamon before bedtime.

Much love and kindness

Saro

His name is John.

Okay…. his name is not John, but I don’t think I should put his real name here. For those that know, will have no problem recognizing him, specially if you live in the Southern Hemisphere of the planet called earth.

Now our friend John was one of the first people visiting us when we moved here. He came and introduced the deacon from the church. We talked a lot about God and I mentioned we really have God in common and should make nice friends and visit some…… His answer, looking over his glasses:” I don’t think so!” Well so much for making our first friend.

O dear, it is difficult not to get off topic or take a very wide turn to what I want to tell about John. Let me make it short. He irritates the sh*t out me. I will do anything to avoid him. whether he is invited to something or not, he turns up. Whether he was asked to do something or not, like public speaking…. he will create his opportunity and do it anyway. He actually once invited me formally for a project that I arranged for the NPO I was chairperson of. The town are just used to him. Sometimes he gets a spanking or two… but don’t think that bothers him… no sir! It is not my intention to slander the poor soul. It was sad when his wife passed away… she did everything for him. I don’t think his intentions are ever bad… but, as I said… he irritates the living daylights out of me.

Now here comes what I actually wants to tell about. I haven’t been in church for a while, sometimes my husband goes without me. I think I have been telling that I lost my friends, no one came looking for me when I disappeared off the face of the earth. Some friends texted me, and then everything in town just went on it’s merry way. We all happen to have our own place where we sit in church.

My husband came home this morning after church and told me the following. John usually sit right across the church in line with us. My husband said he saw John sat down and the next moment he got up and left again. Not long after that, John came and sat next to my husband, asking how everything is. To which my husband replied that I’m sick and things is not well after the last stroke and with the dementia. For the rest of the service he just quietly sat next to my husband. Just silent comfort………….

Much love and kindness

Saro (Elmarie)

Tumeric and 8 months.

Now for the fun stories I remember! This one is about my youngest Nita and a container full of turmeric or actually my homemade curry mix.

Now I was on the telephone chatting away with a friend of mine, when it happened. SILENCE!!!! Now every mother should know that when your kids are quiet, they are busy with that being naughty thing. Nod your head if you know what I’m talking about.

Saying bye, I put down the phone and went searching. O, dear! I found Nita sitting in front of the bookshelf tearing out pages of my favorite books, but that was nothing, believe me. Apart from tearing out pages the little face looking up smiling was covered in curry. Yellow from top to toe.

Now in those days being naughty received a whack or two on the bum. I just couldn’t. I ran to the bedroom, covered my face with a pillow and laughed and laughed and laughed. It took some time to recover.

I went back, dusted the little nugget’s bum with a slight wack or two and pulled her through the bath.

End of story????? When dressed again she put her arms around my neck and slobbered me with kisses all over my face. What a wonderful gift kids can be. Today she is 26 years old and the sweetest loving munchkin I know, still hugging and kissing.

This is my loving memory for my family for today.

Much love and kindness

Saro (Elmarie)

Taking time to stand still.

Today I would like to tell you about a very big kindness paid to me recently. Having dementia, sometimes makes you very lonely. There is always the anxiety meeting new people. Sometimes you get confused when people talk too fast…. believe me it sounds like blah blah blah. Sometimes you lose the conversation not even halfway in.

I went with a friend on a trip, not too far, only about an hour and a half drive to Jeffreys. I love my friend, she is the best ever. Before we went on the trip, we had to spend three hours in the bank, to take my signing rights off of the NPO’S financial stuff. I served 4 years as the Chairperson. That three hours, was an ordeal for me. This and that and twelve other things and me feeling like a fart in a bag of nails…. excuse the expression, but it was what it was.

When we got there, we had a lovely lunch and when we started walking…. her walking fast like Castor Semenya and me walking with my crutch far behind. Then I told her, I decided against buying panties and time is running out, so I sat myself down on a bench in the mall.

It was a bit lonely but there I was. Next moment this stranger stood in front of me. A lovely young man, nicely dressed and soft voiced. “Good day auntie, may I ask why you walk with a crutch?” I told him the left knee is not so nice anymore and he there and then sat down next to me, asking if he can pray for my knee. I said yes. So he subsequently prayed for my knee. We started talking about when we met Jesus Christ and just have a nice chat about my favorite topic…. Jesus. Then he left with me giving him a hug.

Now unfortunately I’m not jumping around with a knee all fixed and all, it is not that I did not believe or something or that God did not fix my knee. But that day, that young man left his house with a purpose and just came to stand still by a scared old lady, whose head is more on crutches than her knee. It touched my heart. I could feel the love and company of God that day as a special treat. Don’t misunderstand me, God is always with me, but just that gesture, that intent to be kind, made my whole day.

So if you are looking for something nice to do, get up, get dressed and go see if there is some old lady that you can just go and stop by and talk too. Anything will do, even just introducing yourself and sitting there and if there is conversation, do it. It will make you feel good as well.

Much love and kindness

Saro (Elmarie)

My friend Omar aka Hades108

Hi there, long time since I wrote a blog, but life has been hectic. Today I want to tell about my friend Omar or Hades108. It is a story of kindness and friendship. Someone showing kindness and understanding for someone with Dementia.

I have been playing an online game for the last four years, that really provides me with a lot of fun and a lot of good friends. The game is Dawn of Titans. Now Dawn of Titans is played mostly by older people that really are children at heart. I am not going to explain the game now, but might later on write about some adventures. It is not a aim and shoot game, but strategy between alliance members

One day I found Omar in league chat asking for an active alliance. I send him a message that he is welcome to join a fun active family. To my delight he joined, as I was trying to recruit for my alliance. He was level 14 and I thought he needed training and pointers to play the game. So I started with training. Then this rascal informed me that he is a beta player. Now a beta player is someone that started playing when the game first came out. He forgot his password and could not find his account. Dang, I felt like a fool, but then I realized he hasn’t been playing for three years and as the game keeps on evolving… so he was sort of a newbie lol. Not anymore thought.

Apart for communicating in game, the players communicate or hangout in Line App. My in game name is guess what…… Yup, you’re right, Saro.

Omar lives in Jordan and I in South Africa. In March this year I had another stroke. I got a message from him, saying I better get well or he walks across Africa and I don’t want to find him at my door. Sweet munchkin, it warmed my heart so much even though I was sort of really out of it. I could not communicate or think and my left side were paralyzed at the time. I found the message when I started to recover.

He always said the nicest and kindest things to me in game and in line. The next communication we had, was when that lunatic in Australia/New Zealand (can’t remember of cause) killed all that Islamic people in the Mosque. Now I am a christian and he is of the Islamic faith, but a mosque, church or temple is a place where people feel safe. So I send him a private message saying I’m sorry for his brothers and sisters in the faith got killed.

He replied that it is okay, because they believe they go to heaven if they die in a mosque, but his heart is broken for their families. So we started talking and really became friends. Now Omar is 22 I think and I’m an old lady of 56. Omar has the most wonderful manners… his mamma raised him well. When I told him I have dementia, he said that he is talking to Saro, not Saro with dementia, but a person called Saro that is kind and good. That is the most awesome thing anyone with dementia can hear or experience. Some people think when we start forgetting or get into the later stages, it is just a shell remaining. Not true, a person is a person. Somewhere in there is still a person with a story. We had a video chat the other day and he showed me the sun going down from his house’s rooftop. It was breathtaking. Doing that was so special and he just is this nice young man.,.,. He is not perfect, I’m not perfect, but small things in life is so important. During Ramadan he texted me everyday at the same time to say hello. He told me they believe to do good things during Ramadan for other people, and I guess I was one of his gifts. Thing is, it was not just a Ramadan thing, he always am my friend and I am always his friend. I am honored to know such a kind young man.

I was thinking about what to write other than dementia. Then I decided to start writing short stories from my past and family. I think it will work?

Anyway, much love and kindness

Saro

Adapting to change.

Hi everyone.😊 Me and my eldest had a fight today. I suppose it’s my fault.

I feel guilty because of the stuff I can’t do anymore. But thing is, I did not ask for this dementia thing and it’s not my fault.

My house was running very smoothly up to some time ago. Everyone had his task and responsibility. Each were allotted that which they liked. So smooth running.

Now we have to adapt and I notice, that it is not that easy. Well adapting in itself is a difficult thing

I tried to make food today and halfway I suddenly felt heavy, sleepy…. As if I couldn’t move or think. It happens often now. I’ve been advised by my Dementia mentors friends, that I should go sleep, but I couldn’t. Lora actually came home to pay the bills, which I can’t do anymore. She eventually finished the cooking, for which I’m grateful.

We will have to adapt somehow. I mentioned many times how my heart is broken for me and my family. I suppose I will need to let each one come to terms with it on their own. It still is a painful thing for my family to discuss.

We have always stood together, face the problem and fought it together or found a solution. We always came through the toughest times and situations. This is no different. We have before and we always will, because we don’t have to do it on our own or own power. God is with us, have been and always will be…. and that is enough.

Much love and kindness.

Saro

Chicken outing facilitator

My head is so foggy and down right screwed today, but it was all worth it.Actually my head feels like that chicken’s hairdo. Yesterday Fairyland pre-school had an outing to a friend of ours chicken farm. The picture is of my eldest daughter with her favorite Sylky chicken, Lora (She writes as She Wolf). This is a link to her blog, she gives her side and experience of living with my dementia. http://adairyandsomefeathers.home.blog/2019/07/25/are-two-heads-better-than-one/

Well I volunteered to do the chickens and rabbits. They came in 5 groups. First group, the teacher had to give me a few pointers as to what to tell the kiddies. Like where the chickens comes from… o dear. Second group went a bit better, but by the third group I had to keep on asking the teacher if I said this and that already. Lol one kiddie picked up a rabbit poop and put it in his mouth. I just put my hand in front of his mouth and said… spit… spit.. spit.. The next groups went a bit more difficult for me, but I managed. I am so proud of myself that I could do that. After that I still had to do my kids at the Aftercare Center… that pushed me over the edge. But I still managed.

Having dementia does not mean you are useless. You can still do things other people do and I’m not afraid to venture out. It is difficult to keep my thoughts straight writing this. I made friends on Dementia Mentors Virtual Cafe that can’t read or recognize people anymore, but they still give lectures on dementia… our side of it, to big audiences. And there I fricken cry again. I realize there will come a time when I really will not be able to do anything, but while I still can, I will live life to the fullest.

Something that is sad, is that people that loves you becomes so protective that they just don’t want you to do anything. I took my night meds the other day instead of the morning ones the other day. Nothing happened, I just slept all day, that I think just did me some good. I recently stayed 3 weeks on my own, with my friend across the road checking in on me without any trouble. I just cooked our meals for 3 weeks on my own… with instructions, but I did it without setting the house on fire or harming myself.

Can’t remember what I really wanted to say anymore. Let me go see what I can do without using my brain…. Wonder how long it is going to take me to recover.

Just a note to whoever knows me and reads this… don’t worry because my head feels shit after everything I did yesterday, I recover and will kick your fricken arse if you refuse to let me do things again. Please I want to.

Love and kindness and sorry for the bad words at the end.

Saro

Topsy Turvey

Hello, hello, hello!!!!! Me here 🙂 O dear, everything is so busy in my house. The kids are doing teaching practice, I cook, try to play my game…. which sadly takes the back burner. My Titans and fellow Dawn of Titan addicts will just have to understand.

What is good, is that I cook, get everything ready to go to work etc. etc. etc. Even though it is done with reminders and instructions. Thing is, I’m still able to do that and hopefully will be able to do it for a long time still to come. Dementia creeping up on a person can be quite intimidating.

Something I enjoy doing, is to Zoom with my fellow dementia friends. It is simply awesome. Sometimes it is sad and we discuss what needs to be done before you get to that stage where you are not able to function anymore. Other times we wonder if there are other planets with interesting people on is and lots of flowers.

My eldest brought a nice snotty nose home with compliments from a class and 40 preschoolers… and passed it on to me. So I feel like a troll. Well a snotty nose is better than the german measels the youngest brought home last year. Sorry if this is a bit tmi lol.

I want to watch my Netflix series… When calls the heart. Such a warming story…. no time now. So there’s a suggestion for a good series.

My two brothers buried my mom’s ashes this weekend in my dad’s grave and I found out that my second youngest brother eloped in May. He got married in the magistrates office and never told us. That hurts. I would not have been able to go, as I cannot travel far anymore, but would have loved to phone him and say congrats. I really am happy that he found somebody after been lonely for 50 years. Never been married or had a girlfriend in his 50 years and now he found a mate. I am so happy for him.

Another thought I’m working on is to get some sort of dementia awareness and groups or connecting people with dementia in South Africa. All I find on Google is for Bipolar and depression and anxiety. I have all that, but it is nicely controlled by medication and I’m as happy as you can get. I think I must change my blogs name and take the bipolar part away, since I’m obviously so not going to write about that.

I mentioned it to some of my dementia mentors friends and were told it was very difficult to do and it took 6 years to get where they are now…. Well a person can try is my opinion.

Okay thanks for listening or reading or both. My alarm went off… time for meds and I don’t want to go sleep now. Already had my first warning to get up and get to bed.

Talk to you guys again… by the way… Topsy Turvey, got no idea what that means, but it sounds nice.

Toodles

Saro

Hi there 🙂 Here I am again… Wish I could write more, but today I would like to tell you about the name Saro.

In 1994 I started a relationship with the dear Lord Jesus Christ. One day not long after the happening someone told me the following story.:

A woman went to a small town without anyone she knew knowing. Every day she would go sit quietly in a small chapel after first putting a yellow rose on the altar and said:”Lord, to You I pledge my loyalty”. She did that for a whole week and then went home. About three weeks later a friend of hers came to visit her. Her friend gave her a bouquet of seven yellow roses. Her friend said that for three weeks as she went past the flower shop, she heard a voice telling her to buy her friend seven yellow roses and tell her Jesus pledged His loyalty to her. She said she argued and said, why not red roses for the blood of Jesus or for love. But the voice was persistent. So here are your roses and Jesus says He pledge His loyalty to you. The woman started crying and told her friend about her visits to the chapel and the yellow roses.

This story really touched my heart and I would think of it all the time. One night I woke up and I saw a hand writing on my wall: SARO. I asked what it means, because I knew it was God, and he said:”For ever faithful” I fell asleep again after that. The next morning as we left the house, next to my front door was a rose bush with yellow roses on. We did not plant it, there was no indication that anyone planted it there. It had roses all year around, never needed special care. It was special. Since then, my name was Saro in my heart. No, nobody calls me Saro, they call me Elmarie. When I write something I write it as Saro, I name my pets Saro, my name in my online game is Saro.

Saro I am…. for ever faithful to my dear Lord Jesus and He to me.

Love and kindness

Saro

One busy day!

What a busy day. Eldest daughter making and experimenting with hot sauce to sell for an extra income. She keeps on insisting that I taste it, but listen, let me tell you. It will be the day if my mouth burns so that steam is coming out my ears like a steam train and me hooting searching for water.

The youngest want to make soap for an extra income. She already bought two ingredients. Coconut oil and peroxide something. When I asked her to show me what it is that it is she bought it was drain and cement cleaner. O dear Lord. The skin will come off. So we convinced her that pealing skin off a person is not going to work. Now 7:35 pm she found a lotion recipe. Off she go like a happy little hamster. There goes my essential oil, but that is okay.

I am so proud of these two munchkins of mine. Real entrepreneurs. In between they are preparing for their teaching practice that starts tomorrow.

My friend Marian had to run after 4 little piggies that got out all day, she is bushed. I had a zoom chat with Dementia Mentors and misunderstood something about one of my friends leaving and I thought it was the zoom chat, which I live for. It is where people with dementia socialize. So I started crying and trying to give him advice. When I stopped with my advice, they kindly told me he is going nowhere. It is about some other thing that he is doing. O dear….

OH me and my husband are married 30 years today. What a wonderful thing. To love and to be loved for so long. Poor man just looked at us and shook his head.

Now I have to go take my meds and go sleep.

Oh sh@t…!!! youngest is using my almost new kitchen utensil for her lotion experiment. Eldest… don’t break it, I need it for my hot sauce. My house is a disaster area. Tomorrow my Aftercare Center starts again tomorrow after a three week holiday.

Think I must go sleep now. Nooooo don’t use my bottles, it was expensive, going to charge you with theft. I’m hungry. In between they are watching netflix. Dear Lord, how I love my family

Toodles

Saro