9.26.09 - Memory Walk for Alzheimer's Disease

My Gramma was diagnosed with early onset advanced Alzheimer's, and she passed away because of this in June 2006, the day before my 21st birthday. I was very close to her growing up, and it was hard for me to visit her and watch her slowly fade, until she didn't even know who I was.


This year I decided to sign up to raise money for more research and hopefully to find a cure for this heartbreaking disease. I was also going to walk on September 26th!

Well, if you don't know, it rained for about 11 days straight here in middle Tennessee, including this day. I thought for sure (due to the email sent out the night before) that we would be walking in the rain, and I was quite prepared for it. Unfortunately, my walk was canceled due to the weather!


I spent some time on this day praying and thinking about the people I know and that my family and friends know that have suffered or are suffering from Alzheimer's. I miss my Gramma so much and I have so many memories of her. It was hard on me to see her suffering, she and I had a very close relationship when I was a child. When I moved to TN in 1996, away from her, I fell into a bad place, not understanding why God had seperated us, and even resented my dad for a long time because he was the one who moved us. I was 11 then, and to question God was somewhat easy. Ironically, throughtout my childhood, my Gramma was the one who took me to church every Sunday, the one who taught me about God and about praying. I knew that she wouldn't be happy if she knew how mad at God I was, so I never told her. I knew she was sad to hear that my parents were not continuing my church going, even though she wasn't surprised. She just wanted me to follow Him. I know that she is with Him now, she was a devout follower and I admire how full of faith she was.

To sit here and list memories I have of her will hurt me, and there are too many, but I remember how sweet and kind she was. She was gentle and honest. She was so caring, and to giving. I never wanted for anything, and she gave me so much attention and support in my growing years. I love her so much.

That Honeymoon...

So I had a minor crisis today. All is fine now, nothing to worry, but it got me thinking.

About my honeymoon :-)

I miss Florida. I wish I was there quite often. My husband and I have gone to Clearwater Beach for the past 4 years, and we LOVE it there. It's so familiar to me that I feel like I am at my second home. I love walking up and down Gulfview (there wasn't always a Beachwalk, though it awesome to have it now!) and taking in all of the "beachyness". Kids in the bathing suits and flip flops, couples holding hands, people in their "beach" clothes... the ones that they bought especially for their vacation. I love the sand showers. You know, those things you put your feet (or body) under that washes the sand off. Those are so cool. When we went to the beach as kids in Maine, they didn't have those, so we (my cousins, sister and I) would have to wear our sandals with sand on our feet and would try our best to rub it off on the trolley ride home. Love those showers.

Another thing I love is the hotelscape. The hotels in Clearwater are beautiful, they are all unique. Even the ones on the other side of the road (where we stay, hehe) are so cute. They're quaint, and some look like houses. It's awesome.

I also love the amount of bird life in Clearwater. Every year we go, we are surrounded by birds. This year, we got to experience pelicans up close and personal. I finally got my husband to pay the 50 cents it takes to go to the end of the pier. Well, it was totally worth it 1) for the sunset, duh, and 2) for the friendly pelican that walks around with the people on the pier! How fun! Seriously, go down there, take you picture with him :-) But it's pigeons, seagulls, egrets, crows, and all kinds of other birds. I love it.

And of course...the beach. That's the best part. It's soft, it's white, it's long. The landscape is a wonder. Everything just pieces together, the hotels, the pier, the rocks, the sand, the ocean. I could live there, right on the sand. We always beach it on the far left side of the beach, right next to the new parking they're building. Next to 440. I love that part. I miss it! I love going to Smuggler's Mini Golf because it's always covered in lizards! Seriously, home of the lizards, they're everywhere! (Plus the holes are really easy). I can't start my morning off without driving over to the Sand Key Dunkin' Donuts. I can't finish my day without a few drinks at Frenchy's South Beach. And at least one day's breakfast at The Shanty. A one stop to Hungry Howie's pizza. This is a lifestyle.

Here are some pics from my last trip, my honeymoon, in March 2009.