FAMILY

FAMILY
I fight for a cure for me & our amazing children❤️

Thursday, February 14, 2019

So much going on!

It’s Thursday. I’m flat on my back with my Rusty kitty on my lap. Thinking and reflecting on all the trips we’ve taken and the events we’ve been involved with in the past few weeks. I’m tired and my head hurts but I am thankful and fulfilled.

This week I had my annual visit with the neurologist who’s office is nearby. I was telling her about the State Advocacy Day in Sacramento we attended and the National board meeting we were going to in West Palm Beach. I told her about the cancellation of Roche Trial I was part of. And the Leadship Summit in San Antonio where I shared my story with 1200 attendees. And probably a few other things I don’t remember. She stopped me during this and cautioned me. Her concern was that my whole life now was focusing on Alzheimer’s, and that I wasn’t taking good care of me.

At first I was kind of offended, but then I realized she was trying to protect me. Yes she wants me to ‘do what makes me happy’ but she also wants me to do fun things that don’t have anything to do with Advocacy, raising money, attending board meetings or telling my story to hundreds of people.

I’ve been thinking a lot about that and I don’t have a solution yet. But I do know we are going to Maui on Sunday and I won’t be speaking or raising money for a cure over there. I do know that I spend many days with friends and / or family having great meals and chatting about meaningless topics. I do know that watching Grey’s Anatomy is extremely satisfying and even though there is talk of Alzheimer’s and clinical trials, I enjoy it. I think my life is balanced, but I do know that some events take a toll on me. Travel to the East coast is hard, especially with early morning wake up calls. But in the moment I don’t care, it’s a few days later that I realize I am exhausted and need to rest.

And so I do. I’m resting today. I’m resting tomorrow after I get my spray tan 😀 I’m going to rest on our flight. When we arrive on Maui we will be with one of my best friends and her husband, and I know I will be resting and relaxing with them, hopefully by the ocean. But I will also be thinking about Maria Shriver and her new role leading the Alzheimer’s Prevention Task Force in California! Thank you Governor Newsom! I will be thinking about our AIM Advocacy Summit in March and the fun dinner cruise on the Potomac River. And I will be spending a lot of time talking about and sharing all the details of my daughters wedding this June!

Yes, I am busy raising money and sharing my story. But I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t enjoy it. I’m surrounded by love and support and that’s all that really matters. When I’m tired I rest. When I don’t want to do something I say no.

I think that’s a pretty good way to live, not only for me, but for all of us 💜