Though our labour soon devours all that lies within our powers
Soon it’s late and all our hours into past’s abyss have tore;
See, the light of Heaven’s fire pales both fame and funeral pyre;
Earthly glory, gain & hire lose the glimmer that they wore
Light of heaven pales the shallow grace and glimmer that they wore;
Now they sway us — soon, no more.For we find in all the ages, men whose passing life presages
Life beyond our dusty cages, light behind that darkest door;
May we, as we end this chapter, freed from earth, our sometime captor,
Hail the advent of an apter sphere for all our souls to soar;
Hail, in death, the ageless God whose sight will make our souls to soar,
Dying as we lived before.“Soar” by Joel Dueck
On September 24th 2006 I began caring for my grandfather. He is dying from Alzheimer’s. As a writer, I began chronicling the journey, both publicly and privately. On July 30th 2008 some of my writing was brought to the attention of Jane Gross, a NYT blogger. When she asked permission to use some of my writing I realized I needed to collect all my relevant material into one place. Thus this website was born.
This website chronicles the journey of an Alzheimer’s patient and his caregiver. But it is more than that. It is about living, and dying. How we live is a reflection of how we will die, and how we die is a reflection of how we have lived. On the most fundamental level, how we die is not defined by what means it comes–whether it be Alzheimer’s, cancer, or congestive heart failure–but in what manner we face and undertake it. It is not the externals that ultimately matter, but what is inside us.
Truly, we will each die as we lived before. We need not ponder how we will die, but ask how we will live.
About The Author
Born in November 1981 and homeschooled until graduation from high school, Rundy has told stories since before he could write, and has been writing since he learned how. In 2006 he began caring for his elderly grandparents. When not involved in elder care, he continues to write. At the beginning of 2007 he self-published The Stuttering Bard of York
When not writing, he enjoys reading, designing websites, painting and drawing, bicycling, spending time outside, taking photographs, buildings things and putzing around—not necessarily in that order. He revels in his eccentricities, and presently lives in upstate New York.
His professional website is Creative-Vapors.com. His personal website is SilverwareThief.com.
About The Patient
Known here as Grandpa.
Born the last day of December 1927, Grandpa was raised during the Great Depression, a middle child of ten. A country man, and a quiet man, he never thought he amounted to much.
He has seen his number of trials in life, but now he faces the greatest.
Father, grandfather, great-grandfather. Husband, son, brother. We love him.
And he is losing his mind, his life, to Alzheimer’s Disease.
Other People
An explanation of a few people:
Arlan: One of my younger brothers. For several years he lived with my Grandparents while attending college. In the summer of 2007 he moved out to be closer to his place of employment. He still comes down one day every weekend to give me the afternoon off.
Doug: An older brother of my Grandfather. He lives very nearby and tries to come visit once a week.
Gene: An older brother of my Grandfather, with whom he was closest. As my Grandfather’s condition has worsened, he has begun calling me Gene.
Melinda: A cousin. Sometimes referred to as M or Mel on this website. She lived with my grandparents from early summer of 2006 to early summer of 2007.
Titi: One of my sisters. Her proper name is Talitha, but we call her Titi (pronounced Te-Te). She now comes down once a week to clean and watch over the house while I am out doing the weekly shopping.