With Charissa as tour guide we are doing some hikes off the PCT, starting with Joshua Tree National Park. Named after the distinctive plant that grows like an orchard tree out here, the park is also noted for being a climber’s haven of rock formations. We stayed two nights at the Jumbo Rocks campground and went on a hiking tour of the park on the day in between.
We will come back to the PCT but the current strategy turns this into more of a vacation, at least for Charissa. Charissa has responded with a returning smile and bounce to her step that had been fading. I’ve been buoyed as well by her renewed enthusiasm. I also am relieved from succeeding at turning over much of the decisions to her.
The new strategy helps Cindy to the extent that good moods are contagious, but for awhile now she has become more distracted. As she navigates her fog she continues to sadly realize that something is wrong with her. I tried one friend’s suggestion of gauging the effect from telling her once she has Alzheimer’s and that we are all out here as a treatment to help her.. She took the news in stride, as if that made sense to her. Informing her didn’t hurt, but it hasn’t helped either.
If we were not out here, in 80 degree weather with a purpose of hiking, I sense exercising for Cindy may now become problematic. That scares me. The results of meds are mixed. The results of coconut oil and other supplements are mixed. The results of many treatments for this most problematic of diseases are mixed. From the various reports I’ve received or read about stopping exercise, the results are not mixed. Once a person withdraws from exercise a sharp decline occurs.
I will try to find a way to maintain exercise for Cindy when we return. Next on the bucket list is the Bahamas, a welcome antidote to a cold, snowy New England in January. I foresee lots of strolls on the beach.
