Friday, January 7, 2011

Cards to Give Me Hope...by francy

I got so many sweet cards this holiday...and each one meant something to me. I adore cards and I have a special guest bath that gets all my favorites highlighted and placed on the wall.
The fun one this year was from @PrincessGwenie. It was a pop-up of dancers and is so cleaver. Then there are the photo cards of dogs and cats that are so cute you want to lick them off the page. I love Santa's but the old fashioned snow scenes are wonder full too. Every time a card arrived during the holidays I put it up on the calendar on our wall in the kitchen for all of us to enjoy. George looked over them and kept forgeting who was who and where they were from. He must of touched and read each one dozens of times during December.
My little guest bath has cards from years and years. Old fashioned cards that came from my mother and sister that have now passed. Oh there is also a card from a gal pal that I adored and she is now gone, too. But to me, each time I look at the card I remember the person and time of receiving it.
I guess my heart is way over done with this memory stuff...but some times when things are so busy, so stressed and so so sad with my Georgie's care...I like to retreat back to times of pure love. Times when the cards came from special gifts picked out just for me and signed with big script and hugs.
Did you know they are going to stop teaching script cursive in school? Can you imagine? Well not that mine was every anything special. But my parents had wonderful hand writing and a dear friend of my mothers...we called her Aunt Harriet had a script that was worthy of a Queen.
I save things like that...so I can see the handwriting over and over again. My sister that passed used to write me notes and I have them tucked here and there to read when I need a hug of love. Its hard to believe that a card can bring so much love to someone, but it can.
For my birthday on the 1st of January...George wanted to buy a card for me. He had had a hard holiday and I knew he was not up for a trip to a busy store so I set up my computer on a print program. I have one that will do cards and simple things. I crossed my fingers and left him in front of my big screen and hoped for the best. So, on my birthday I opened up his card. He did such a wonderful job. He picked a light pink rose and sweet saying for the inside. Then he took a piece of my Hello Kitty stationary and wrote a little note and tucked that on the inside. Since George is sliding down with his Alzheimer's I do not think this project will ever be repeated...so to me, his card was like a ray of love. I put it on my little table and I just glance at it and feel his caring surround me.
When my days are filled with sad things...I can escape into that little bathroom and be surrounded by cards filled with loving thoughts and signed by people who care about me. It just reminds me; that I am loved and it gives me a boost to go back out to my life of care giving and start again with a fuller heart.

6 comments:

  1. That is really a beautiful post. So sweet and touching.

    I'm Tucker's mom, since I'm sure you'd not have any clue who m7gale might be! lol Tucker is a Corgi anipal of Missy.

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  2. Bless you for what you do. I help look after my mother now with severe Alzheimers, and also save cards. What a wonderful little room of love you have made.

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  3. Mario's mom here - you are an angel. George is so very fortunate that you are willing to care for him. My heart just goes out to you because my mother had alzheimers, and an uncle and aunt. I know some about the care that goes into caring for an alzheimers patient. Life is anything but easy. The card he made for you will be something you will treasure forever. Bless you dear friend.

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  4. "For better or for worse..."

    Francy, you're admirable in that you continue to lovingly find all the betters hiding within the worse.

    God bless you,

    Dana

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  5. You can also escape to Twitter where you and Missy have so many friends who love you and make your days a little easier. You both bring so much sunshine to our everyday lives!

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  6. Nice post with usefull information! I hope you write more on this subject! I must say, I thought this was a pretty interesting read when it comes to this topic. Liked the material. Boo

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