Are there many, some, a few of us over 50??

[mimitabby]

Sally, I am doing fine. I thought you found a website where you put in a city name and "median age" popped out. But i guess you could do that with google.

Seattle median age 36.9!

[missymaya]

[QUOTE]bcipamNot only is it sad to see once sharp and intelligent parents bcome confused and addled, I also now have the fear the same thing will happen to me. Growing old really sucks!
My grandfather is going through the very begining stages of alzheimers along with dementia and it's very hard to deal with. He helped my mom take care of us when we were little, during the hard times, and now seeing this sweet kind soul slowly fade is disheartening. But, he's lived a great life and at almost 90, he's doing fairly well. That's all I can be greatful for, that he's still here and that he's surrounded with people who love him. Im starting to make recordings of his old stories so I can tell my nieces and nephews about what their great grandpa!

[SandyLS]

Early in my Dad's illness we would work together on one of those memory books ment for grandparends to give to grandkids. A few days I thought to record our conversations. I just listened to the tape yesterday for the first time. Sure wish I would have recorded a lot more. Priceless!
Sally, every time I start to feel down and complain about my parent's situation my husband always says, "at least you still have parents". Loosing a partent at a young age would even be worse I think.

[mimitabby]

in 1990 my father sent me a cassette of him singing some old italian songs. He already had Alz. but he sang right up to his very last years. I listened to the tape and it was kind of corny and embarrassing, so i just stuck it somewhere.
I found it last fall while rearranging book cases and played it. It sounded great! and he's dead! I just had it put onto a CD and have shared it with a grandchild of his that he never met. Do any recording, and yes, get all the memories you can because although they say that they never forget the past, only the present, that's not true... and once they're dead they never tell you another story.

[bcipam]

Thankfully my father has been documenting his past and everything for his grandkids. It's justs hard to see what I used to consider to be such an intelligent and sharp man act confused. He just can't seem to remember where he is and he goes through that obessive routine constantly - "where are my keys?" "At home Dad, you flew here remember" "Oh, ok.... where are my keys.." This can go on for hours. I almost wish my Mom had left him home instead of dragging him to the funeral. He had no idea where he was and why he was there. Even at the funeral home during the viewing he kept asking where he was and what he was suppose to do. He had no concept that someone had died (maybe a good thing). He is lucky (or unlucky since my mom is a b*tch) to have my mom drag him around. I live alone - my cat won'y be all that patient if I ask him where my keys are for the 100th time! I plan to do whatever I need to do to keep myself sharp (although I already see myself getting dimwitted).

[mimitabby]

in the early stages of my father's dementia, he was part of a study (while his wife was alive) and they did an IQ test every year, and every year his IQ went down.

On a more humorous note, my DH's mother, also afflicted, went to Covina for her 50th class reunion a couple of years. Everyone in the family will laugh if you say "did she show you her pictures from Covina?" because she literally wore them out, she showed them or threatened to so many times; always like it was the VERY FIRST time.

[Kitsune06]

http://www.city-data.com/city/Portland-Oregon.html

[Bad JuJu]

My dad, at 81, lives in the Alaska Pioneers' Home now--he'd started leaving the house in the middle of the night--think an elderly man out on an Alaska night in nothing but underwear and socks. We're not sure any longer whether he even knows who we are. But he can still play a few tunes on the harmonica, and in fact, until about a year ago, could still play along when my brother at the guitar and my nephew at the piano were jamming, just improvising.

I'm like many of you--not only am I sad about my dad, but I also think dark thoughts whenever I can't think of a word or forget whether I took my vitamins yesterday. It's important to keep learning--that's just what I'm doing.

[ClockworkOrange]

Early in my Dad's illness we would work together on one of those memory books ment for grandparends to give to grandkids. A few days I thought to record our conversations. I just listened to the tape yesterday for the first time. Sure wish I would have recorded a lot more. Priceless!

Sally, every time I start to feel down and complain about my parent's situation my husband always says, "at least you still have parents". Loosing a partent at a young age would even be worse I think.

Sandy
It was probably worse at the time losing my parents when I was much younger but in a way it is far worse to see them suffer at a very old age. I can imagine it must also be frustrating and annoying, for the relative and then the conscience of having these feelings, when it is somebody you love................but hell, we are only human.

Anyway, on a happier note, you see I am always getting something out of this site.

Now, I am going to start a kind of memory book on my computer. I have a gorgeous grandson of almost five years of age and we are very close. I think it would be great to leave him something of my memories, likes/dislikes, what I thought about him when he was growing up etc once I have gone to the Great Bicycle World in the Sky.

I am one of those sad individuals who likes to be organised, even before I pop my clogs!

Sally

[mimitabby]

I am one of those sad individuals who likes to be organised, even before I pop my clogs!

Sally

You have such a way with words!!!!!

[emily_in_nc]

I miss my dad something awful and still find my eyes welling up with tears every few days when I think of him, but I would rather have lost him in a car accident as I did than to Alzheimer's.

My grandfather had AD and died at 96. The last 3 years of his life, when my grandmother was very sick and then died, were just awful for both him and my mother (an only child). At least my memories of my father are much more positive. I would give just about anything for a recording of his voice, like some of you have of your dad's....guess I'll just have to play back the recordings in my mind. I can still hear his voice so clearly.

Emily

[bcipam]

I take comfort in knowing that my Dad has lived a good life. He has travelled the world, as a youth did what he enjoyed (he had his own travelling orchestra and band), made a good living for his wife and kids and lives contently now in a beautiful little community where he is well loved. Most of which he is going through now he is unaware, although at times knows he is confused, the sad moments pass very quickly. I know it's harder on us than him. Eventually we all die. I'm not certain one way is better than another all I know it's important that we leave our marks on this world and that others can speak as fondly of us as Emily now does of her Dad.

Em... you don't need recordings or photos, just your memories. Thanks for sharing.

After going through my brother-in-laws funeral, I know I still have along way to go to be thought as highly by everyone as he was thought of by everyone who ever met him. It's memories that are important, not pieces of paper or tape recordings. I'm hoping somehow, someday, I too am a happy thought in someone's memories.

[missymaya]

bcipam, I think you are held on good memory. Even though most of us here have never met you in person, you have provided us with a certain thoughts, ideas, stories, or tidbits and yes, those can count as some sort of memory. And then, there are those who have met you in person in which you have made a positive impact on. The key is, is to keep giving and being positive and just being yourself towards the world and when our time is done on this earth, we will be held in good memory, whether it is just on our family or to the entire world. Keep giving love and love will be given to you as well

[kjay]

64 here . . . got into bicycling about 13 or so years ago when I couldn't walk very well because of a bad hip. Cycling was the only exercise I could do without much pain. My hip replacement in 2001 fixed me up, and I'm riding more than ever. I try to ride at least a couple of week-long tours every year, plus numerous one-day supported rides in the area, and I LOVE to spin.

[Lesliek]

I recently turned 50 and plan to celebrate by biking cross country this year. Hope to celebrate many more.