Feb 18

Jim’s Blog

I’ve started a new blog as a page on Vicki’s Voice to share some of my thoughts and experiences of knowing Vicki and supporting her on her journey with dementia. I wanted to post a short note letting you know about this new blog, and I’ll be telling you more in the weeks to come. If you haven’t already noticed, there’s a new Tab at the top of the page to get to “Jim’s Blog” anytime.

Take care. Jim Coyle

Permanent link to this article: https://vickisvoice.tv/2010/02/jims-blog-2/

Feb 18

Here’s Jim’s Blog

I’ve started this blog as a page on Vicki’s Voice to share some of my thoughts and experiences of knowing Vicki and supporting her on her journey with dementia. I wanted to post a short note letting you know about this new blog, and I’ll be telling you more in the weeks to come. If you haven’t already noticed, there’s a new Tab at the top of the page to get to “Jim’s Blog” anytime.

Take care. Jim Coyle

Permanent link to this article: https://vickisvoice.tv/2010/02/heres-jims-blog/

Feb 12

Message from a Facebook Friend

Posted 2/12/2010 on Facebook messages:

Jace Clark February 12 at 3:32pm
Vicki, thanks for accepting my request. I found you through a pick’s message board and subscribed to your blog. My mother has Picks dementia and is about your age. Your story just touched me. I think it’s wonderful that you want and are able to share your journey. If I can get my mother on facebook I would love for you two to be able to talk.

God bless you.
Jace Clark

–Thank you, whoever posted my link to the blog. We just have to keep working together.

<3 Vicki

Permanent link to this article: https://vickisvoice.tv/2010/02/message-from-a-facebook-friend/

Feb 11

If you are what you eat, honey I am a mess…

Yes, it, too was cleaned out once not long ago (thanks, Andrea). I can see remnants of Christmas, New Years and maybe last Easter? No, I was with Beth at Easter. Hopefully, Andi won't see this...

If pictures say a 1000 words, then my kitchen is writing a tome! Dad was a procrastinator supreme, getting Mom’s things done just before the whistle blew. Mom was a reactor, a projectile missile launching repeatedly within an hour, let alone a day. And I am the worst of both, and more than a little crazy.

I’ve already told you of how hard it is for me to start something, and once started, to finish it. Cooking, teeth brushing, laundry, sleeping … doesn’t matter the subject, I suffer from ‘yellow light’ symptom. I just sit there, the one you honk at, pondering.

I believe I boasted on this blog that after a week of recovering from a great few days, I finally – in small bursts – got to the grocery store! 2 days later all groceries were in the house on the floor. Most of the refrigerated items made it to fridge. And then I rested.

Wednesday was garbage day, so I swooped up the garbage bags, delivered said trash to gracious neighbour (not that he wanted them for himself, mind you, but a kind gesture to walk it thru the building snowdrifts).

And then… I fully intended to put bags back in the trashcans. I did. Want to put liners in them. But then I needed something to eat, and made a fine ‘Deli-Creation’ dish, but couldn’t dispose of the wrappings. No bags. So I started a small space on the (then) clean counter, and quickly forgot what I was going to do, cuz the smoked turkey with cheddar and Dijon mustard lead me elsewhere.

Today, I walked into the kitchen and thought ‘what the hell has happened in here??!!’ And the startling answer was “Vicki”. HOW on God’s green earth was I able to mass produce chaos in 2 days, when it had sparkled??!!

So I took one trashcan into the living room and checked Facebook. And I thought, ‘I should write about this’…

But wait! I should take some photos to really give impact. But I couldn’t find the camera, so I retraced all my steps, nada. So, treating myself to more ice for the Coke I had indulged in after taking photos, I opened my freezer and guess what? ahhhh, you are just toooo smart ;o)

Love, Vicki

Ok, my kitchen would be great fun, like 'Where in World is the Cutting Board?' Clean pans from Super Bowl (front), items for dishwasher (2nd sink), and the tidy pile of trash awaiting a liner in the wastecan but ... (see next photo)

...I see I have overlooked some Christmas decorations (thanks, Mary), oh and putting the crockpot base away. Oh look! There's my birthday cake, awk! evidence of that Coke which led me to the ice and voila! I found my camera. Uh oh, pill bottle. Nope, I took them, I found that empty in my pocket. Kim is getting married and not pregnant. I really like the Today show ;o)

On the door is where I store batteries. Why? Because my Army dad said so. I'm thinking of putting one of those yellow and black 'caution' signs on the outside. Bread fell out and 4 D batteries right after I took this... and here is where the camera was stored as well.

It's not as bad as it might seem. Nothing is stinking and all the paper bags are empty. ;o) Oh, empty ... I could... oh, look Kim Kardeshian is on the Today show!

Permanent link to this article: https://vickisvoice.tv/2010/02/if-you-are-what-you-eat-honey-i-am-a-mess/

Feb 11

October 22, 2009 – Making Memories (Revisited)

At night when the drapes were drawn, and as the leaves slowly fell it awaken ghostly moving shadows on the wall. So of course I'd open them! My view on the world for over 2 months ... nice


The floodlight lays down shadows of the elm tree across my bed. The breeze through my window animates them. It’s dark in Ionia. Stark against the dimmed white walls and bed curtains, shines a luminous glow from my picture frame. Every few seconds, an image of a moment of our lives comes up, pauses, and gently moves away as a fresh replacement makes its way to the forefront of the screen.

For a year now, at home, in the hospital, I lie mesmerized by watching the scenes play out of my young children, their school years, their graduation from college, marriage. Then the procession of 5 beautiful grandchildren are introduced, from birth to young adults, moving away from home, creating lives of their own.

I keep trying to sear the images in my brain, so as I sleep or age, they will replay in my memory, in my heart. And the laughter.

I am so blessed that I shiver as i write this. And when I go home I will take more time to take in memories with my hands, and all my senses. And I will take these with me wherever i go. There will be no strange place that will rob me of who I am and those I love, because they will live forever.

Papa, Sofia and Jesse, are you listening? Good. Love, Vicki

My magic memory machine ~ now I take it with me, like I take my pillow. I know everything there is recorded already in my heart, but my mind keeps have 'joy leaps' seeing those beautiful faces, like they were seen when they were first taken. Thank you, children, for this amazing living album.

Permanent link to this article: https://vickisvoice.tv/2010/02/october-22-2009-memory-making/