Aloha I would like to tell you something about my book as written by my publishers.
Introduction

This book is about the thoughts and emotions that go on in the mind of a person written by caregivers or medical professionals, who think they know what it is like for someone with Alzheimer’s. Admittedly, a few non-sufferers do have a pretty good understanding, but most don’t, and because of that I felt that there was a need for another book from the viewpoint of someone who actually has Alzheimer’s. There are only a few books, that I am aware of, written by Alzheimer’s patients and, as no two Alzheimer’s experiences are exactly alike, there is definite need for more.

This book is intended not only for those who have, or think they have, Alzheimer’s, it is equally for those who may be interacting with such a person. They say that just making a conscious effort to really understand a fellow human being, to truly empathize with them, no matter what their challenge, is probably the most loving thing you can do for another. I agree. Alzheimer’s requires a lot of understanding, from both sides of the disease.

I admit that at my current stage of Alzheimer’s I could not have written this book without considerable help. On a good day I am still capable of writing a reasonably coherent letter, and yet other days I have a hard time constructing a single sentence. Even when being interviewed I frequently have a difficult time coming out with the words I’m looking for. My brain just can’t get it out. But just because I’m having trouble expressing myself does not mean I don’t still have exactly the same feelings and emotions that I’ve always had, some maybe stronger now than ever.

Although I am now incapable of typing the words that appear in this book, I have personally reviewed every word that appears on these pages, to ensure that this book accurately portrays my own personal thoughts and feelings. It was a painstaking effort for someone in the throes of Alzheimer’s, but I believe that effort was necessary to ensure that this book represents a credible journey through the emotional world of someone actually afflicted with the disease.

It is apparent to me that I am now exhibiting r come of the signs associated with the moderate stage of Alzheimer’s. However, I plan to do as much as I can, for as long as I can, to help improve the understanding between people with Alzheimer’s and those who interact with them. This includes almost everyone: bus drivers, telephone operators, family and friends. Let’s face it, an increased level of understanding can only serve to make life a little more enjoyable for everyone involved. What a tremendous gift of love it is to anyone—particularly someone with Alzheimer’s—when you make the effort to understand them.

The Golden Rule states, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"....yet, this doesn’t always work the way it was intended. The person who uses this rule without first taking the time to really understand the other person might unintentionally be hurting rather than helping. The other person’s feelings and needs may be quite different from your own. More appropriate is a variation on the Golden Rule that some refer to as the Platinum Rule, which goes something like this—"If possible, do onto others only after you have first taken the time to understand what it is that they would like done onto them." Isn’t that how we would all like to be treated? Isn’t that really what love is?

This book deals with some serious and possibly depressing issues and experiences, but it’s also about learning to enjoy life to the fullest extent possible. For me that has always included laughter. I do hope that, during the course of reading my story, you will not only, at times, understand and perhaps even feel my intense despair and frustration, but at other times be able to laugh along with me. And then have a better understanding of Alzheimer's’ and those that have it.

My hope is that this book will serve to bring a little more light a little more love, to the life of each and every person who reads it.

Borders,Barnes and Noble and Amazon

Soon I will list other books by persons with dementia and some of my favorite readings

INTRODUCTION

This book is about the thoughts and emotions that go on in the mind of a person written by caregivers or medical professionals, who think they know what it is like for someone with Alzheimer’s. Admittedly, a few non-sufferers do have a pretty good understanding, but most don’t, and because of that I felt that there was a need for another book from the viewpoint of someone who actually has Alzheimer’s. There are only a few books, that I am aware of, written by Alzheimer’s patients and, as no two Alzheimer’s experiences are exactly alike, there is definite need for more.

This book is intended not only for those who have, or think they have, Alzheimer’s, it is equally for those who may be interacting with such a person. They say that just making a conscious effort to really understand a fellow human being, to truly empathize with them, no matter what their challenge, is probably the most loving thing you can do for another. I agree. Alzheimer’s requires a lot of understanding, from both sides of the disease.

I admit that at my current stage of Alzheimer’s I could not have written this book without considerable help. On a good day I am still capable of writing a reasonably coherent letter, and yet other days I have a hard time constructing a single sentence. Even when being interviewed I frequently have a difficult time coming out with the words I’m looking for. My brain just can’t get it out. But just because I’m having trouble expressing myself does not mean I don’t still have exactly the same feelings and emotions that I’ve always had, some maybe stronger now than ever.

Although I am now incapable of typing the words that appear in this book, I have personally reviewed every word that appears on these pages, to ensure that this book accurately portrays my own personal thoughts and feelings. It was a painstaking effort for someone in the throes of Alzheimer’s, but I believe that effort was necessary to ensure that this book represents a credible journey through the emotional world of someone actually afflicted with the disease.

It is apparent to me that I am now exhibiting r come of the signs associated with the moderate stage of Alzheimer’s. However, I plan to do as much as I can, for as long as I can, to help improve the understanding between people with Alzheimer’s and those who interact with them. This includes almost everyone: bus drivers, telephone operators, family and friends. Let’s face it, an increased level of understanding can only serve to make life a little more enjoyable for everyone involved. What a tremendous gift of love it is to anyone—particularly someone with Alzheimer’s—when you make the effort to understand them.

The Golden Rule states, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"....yet, this doesn’t always work the way it was intended. The person who uses this rule without first taking the time to really understand the other person might unintentionally be hurting rather than helping. The other person’s feelings and needs may be quite different from your own. More appropriate is a variation on the Golden Rule that some refer to as the Platinum Rule, which goes something like this—"If possible, do onto others only after you have first taken the time to understand what it is that they would like done onto them." Isn’t that how we would all like to be treated? Isn’t that really what love is?

This book deals with some serious and possibly depressing issues and experiences, but it’s also about learning to enjoy life to the fullest extent possible. For me that has always included laughter. I do hope that, during the course of reading my story, you will not only, at times, understand and perhaps even feel my intense despair and frustration, but at other times be able to laugh along with me. And then have a better understanding of Alzheimer's’ and those that have it.

My hope is that this book will serve to bring a little more light a little more love, to the life of each and every person who reads it.