I had another happy start to my Saturday; Geri, our ambassador for our online support group for spousal caregivers, joined me this morning on Table Talk. You can listen to our show via the player at the bottom of the post. (As an ambassador, Geri welcomes new members to our group and helps keep the conversation going. We’re always looking for volunteers to help on the site; if you’re interested, send me an email.)
On Saturdays, we look for ways to enjoy a moment (or, even better, moments) of happiness. How will you be happy? Please share in our comments section, below.
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You are a disruptor. The delivery of health care starts with you, continues because of you, and ends with you. Let's disrupt together to make the world better for family caregivers. 
Bette
Monday, Greg told me that we had been invited to attend a benefits concert in Williamsport (about 45 min. away). He thought it would be fun to go…Immediately, the wheels began to turn on how we would be able to go…while Greg was exicited to just go! Needless to say I was irritated with his enthusiasm.
Should I get someone from Home Instead to come in for my mother, and then Abrah could watch Marah and Rees, but I didn’t want to have someone they didn’t know in the house when we were not home.–We would be 45 min. away in a loud concert where I could not hear my cell phone.
Friday afternoon, I finally said, “I need to do this”. I haven’t been to a concert of any kind in many years. So….I asked a neighbor if I could leave Abrah her number, got everyone fed, turned down my mother’s bed and was sure her room was ready for bedtime…and we went.
It was in a beautiful old theatre–very ornate with gold trimmings, and we had been invited to a backstage gathering with the group before the concert began. Finger food, with all the fancy trimmings to go along. The concert was wonderful and the benefit was for “Expectations” pregnancy center here in Lewisburg. I’m so glad we went.
The kids did great and when we got home my mother was “waiting up”, smiling about some movie she had found on TV and the kids were very proud that the house was cleaned up, they were ready for bed, and Abrah had folded 2 loads of laundry. (:
So…today we’ll enjoy, by talking about last night and reminding the kids of how proud we are of them!
donna ryan
ok…next time reba is in pennsylvania we are all going!!..Now that we know you can go to a concert and I got to leave for a weekend…we can do it again…
See, its hard to leave but it all works out..and I really try to be the role model…even when raising Sean…
I tell parents as well as caregivers….do whatever you can to keep your relationship going…once in a while you must try to take an hour or two and be alone
If we dont go on dates now…once we have the empty nest we wont know each other…that is my opinion….
so good for you…its hard!!..I know it is….but you did it!!…Im happy for you!!
AGAIN, I cant say this enough…its hard…but it doesnt have to be expensive…it doesnt have to be far away…and it doesnt have to be a huge trip….a cup of coffee…anything!!
G-J
How wonderful, Bette, you went to the concert and that everyone did so well at home! We’ve recently had to leave our son home a couple of times alone in the evening, and even though he’s going into high school, I still feel badly about it. However, it hasn’t bothered him at all and he’s done great! The first time he even had to take the initiative to call one of my friends who was supposed to be picking him up. I was very proud of him.
Today we are going to a 60th anniversary gathering for my in-laws. How can you not be happy, and impressed by, a couple still in love after being married for 60 years!
donna ryan
congratulations to your inlaws….when is their actual anniversary…we will be married 30 years on Monday….have a great time
Donna W
my son Aaron walked in unexpectedly, I broke down when I saw him and he just hugged me, he said he knew I needed a hug and that’s what he came for. It is a very lonely and depressing day, but my boy came so he could hug me and make me feel a little bit better.
Sharon
Thsi morning was pretty hectic. This afternoon, however, my son has taken my husband to see his Mom who is terminal for a little while, and then out to lunch at Pizza Hut.
So I just listened to this morning’s blog radio broadcast that I was not able to listen to live, and now I can going to enjoy the quiet and solitude of being alone and do some reading.
donna ryan
As I have written Monday is our 30th wedding anniversary…Marriage takes work as we all know but I think it takes even MORE work when caregiving is involved. My dad died six weeks after our wedding so Mom has been alone a long time and we never left the neighborhood we were raised in to always be near her and then as you know three years ago she moved in….a year after my aunt passed away…so keeping a relationship is challenging….finding time for me, her, them and of course us…
Im happy to say we have always tried hard to do little things even when things were hard….it doesnt have to be expensive and a week long to enjoy it…quiet time together is the main thing we try to look for….we are in Connecticut right now. We saw Reba McEntire in concert last night…she was excellent..If she ever comes to your town GO SEE HER!!! she is in the Mohegan Sun but we are not gamblers….we shared a slot machine after the concert and lost $10.00 that was it…off for coffee and dessert we went.
this norning we drove to mystic…it is so beautiful there…we went to a colonial village there with nice quaint shops, we bought home made chocolate and we ate at a small oven baked pizza place…it was so nice…we got back to our room and it still wasnt clean so we went back to the casino and lost another $45.00 for which Im not happy!!..I think throwing money into slots is such a waste of time however we were here and took the chance..
My point, life gets hard.We both work hard…Kevin has a very stressful job as do I…but these little escapes are a nice memory to refuel us….
unfortunately I will be back to being myself tomorrow….but Im happy to have this little time away….and Im happy I will be married 30 years while mom told me 32 years ago when this cute guy came to take me to the movies not to get my hopes up…and kevins birthday is the 27th..
Lots to be happy about…..
We dont have the ability to do this very often or for very long…but quality time in whatever way we get it makes me happy. we say all the time…it would be terrible if mom were to close her eyes and then we got sick and did not have any time together at all….we work very hard at this..Im happy to say!!
I thank my mother in law for staying with mom last night and my son tonight…….Im very blessed and Im glancing at Kevin who is sound asleep while Im typing away…and that makes me HAPPY too…he is resting!!!!!