The Pacific Crest Trail Journey

Thrilled you are hitting the trail (one of Cindy’s dreams )!
With Cindy’s story, your journey together and a book that will bring light to Alzheimer’s.
Gifts are shared in miraculous ways don’t you think? : )
Kimberly

I am so inspired by your blog, my mom has Alzheimer’s and I find what you are doing so inspiring. I own a business and we are going to sponsor a team at the Alzheimer’s walk in September. It is hard to know what to do sometimes and this is one way I feel like I can try to help my mom and my dad who is trying to care for her by himself. Anyway, good luck you are an inspiration to a lot of people affected by this disease.
Mary

Thank you for filling our souls with your blog. Your perseverance and patience is truly abundant. Our hourly prayers are with your whole family.
Kermit and JeannieBug

I believe you have initiated an epic chapter of love for both of your lives. Moment upon moment of joy… with no regrets.
Clare

I am in awe of your honest, open, heart and your eloquence in writing about this most personal and very poignant journey. … Reading your words makes me think in a new dimension.
Jill

Be Here NOW…. It seems Cindy doesn’t live for the past, or the future, it seems as if she is ever present in the moment. And yet, you as protector and ever present supplier of comfort and possibilites must watch all, learning from the past and looking to the future. Kirk, I just re-read all the postings, it truely is a an amazing story you are telling.
Liz

So touching, poignant, beautiful! Glad you are spending this precious time as you are, with your loved ones in the heart of God’s country.
Laura

And Kirk, thank you for inspiring in us all what it means to truly “LOVE” someone. You are amazing. I know this has really been the culmination of a life-long journey for you and Cindy, with all of it’s ups and downs, figuratively and literally.
Mike

How absolutely beautiful! Hope. You continue to give hope to others by sharing your experiences and also to yourself that life with Cindy will continue a bit longer on a more natural, less than downward, slide … You’ve given us a lesson in “just living” be it in your situation or our own unique lives. What a gift! Thank you.
Christy

Thank you, once again, for the reminder that people are still people even when they have an illness of sorts. Sensitivity to what is being put into their brains at any given time is a must. It’s just amazing how you figure out these seemingly impossible things. You are so very aware for the lack of a better word.
Christy

You are providing me, and I hope many others, with real insight, in a loving and positive way. I have a cousin and a good friend – besides you and Cindy – going through a similar situation, and your insights are profoundly helpful!! I MEANT profoundly!!! Thanks!
Nancy

Again, you comments on expressing “love” are things to keep, to remember, to cherish as skills/habits we might find helpful as our own lives evolve. Continued blessings on you both as you hold tight your role as caregiver, one beyond a traditional definition of caregiver.
Christy

Thank you so much for being completely transparent. I can’t pretend to know what you are going through. But it does inspire me to live with purpose.
Smitty

Thank you, thank you, once again, for sharing valuable information with the rest of us. What a blessing to those families of us who may someday need the resources you share. Love to you both.
Christy

Thank you so much for sharing this very personal part of your life! It is so refreshing to read. Hugs and prayers to you both from two North Carolinian s that you both have made an impact on their lives!
Sharon

You are watching your darling Cindy leave you over the course of every day, and you have recorded these times with such tenderness and humor. You remind us with each posting what kindness is about. And you have taught us all what we really already knew…live now enthusiastically and love it passionately.
Brenda

You teach me much. Beautiful. Thanks.
Lisa

How blessed you are to have such a love.
I admire both of you.
Kim

Each one of your entries is a little gem. You should compile them in a book…caregivers would gain a lot from reading these in a collection. You somehow manage to balance despair with hope in the vignettes. Above all, what stand out are your thoughtful yet practical adaptions to Cindy’s evolving needs. I think that’s where most people’s best intentions fail. The style and dedication of your care are most commendable.
Bruce

You absolutely made the right choice – it shows in your writing and in Cindy’s smile. I know when I took care of Sally and our two boys during her illness, I did not do enough to help myself at the beginning. It was only after realizing that taking care of myself was the best thing for all of us and not “selfish ” that we got through it.
Kevin

I am touched by your comments. The thoughts and feelings you expressed were very much my own when I took care of my mother and father.
Barbara

Wow. What a day, what a workout, what a struggle, what love…
Dave

Thank you for sharing this beautiful relationship between you & Cindy. The last paragraph is very powerful and heartfelt and relatable by someone (me), who’s in a similiar relationship. This inspires me tremendously.
Chandra

As this disease hits more of us your travails and wins as you write affect us all. I see your writing hitting all of us. We keep praying for ALL of our families.
Clarence

“Action is the best antidote for lamenting.”. I like this quote. I know a few people who could stand to hear this.
Kevin

Thank you. It’s so generous of you to share the tick tock of caretaking, something many of us will need to prepare ourselves for.
Hannah

Heart breaking and uplifting at the same time.
Kevin

This is such a thoughtful and insightful piece. You have carefully delineated the different things to take into account when deciding on what you need to do for self-care as a care-giver. There are many aspects that I would never have thought about, and certainly didn’t when I was helping take care of my ex-boyfriend’s mother.
Iris

Beautiful job Kirk. Making something beautiful of something so heartbreaking.
Kevin

Your writing is beautiful and inspiring.
Hannah

Love, Patience, Caring, Kindness, all such a gift.
You are both so blessed to experience and share them.
Kimberly

Kirk, you are an amazing person…living and writing a truly profound love story.
Dinah

Your physical connection with Cindy is so sweet. The love is so obvious. I am glad you are still being intimate and close with her. I am not in her body or mind, but I can imagine that your kisses and hugs feel loving and like home.
Iris

What sadness and challenges we go through as a part of being human. Life was not meant to be this way, and yet, it somehow is. You seem to have done a remarkable job. A love story, true through good and bad.
Sharon

You are quite a poignant writer Kirk, yes this did bring tears to my eyes.
Kim

I remain in awe of your love and dedication.
John