Sunday, February 27, 2011

Of foot rubs, graduate school and dreams

I thought I was finished with the topic of Alzheimer’s but obviously it’s not finished with me. So much for thinking I have a will to write what I want. Not that I ever have. In every phase of my academic life, WRITING – in reality or in my head – held me back. In both college and in graduate school, all the while I was supposed to be writing “papers” I was scrawling in my journal. I got my Masters degree because Abe stayed up all night with me so I would finish a sole paragraph on what my thesis was about. He sent it to my graduate advisor by special delivery at 4 am.
Read more

Friday, February 25, 2011

The 36-hour day revisited

by Esther Altshul Helfgott

Why it took me eight months to realize I was re-experiencing the 36-hour day* is beyond me. For some reason I thought that after a few months of rest I would be able to hop back into the world as if nothing had happened. My body knew better. I may not be Witnessing Alzheimer’s anymore but my psyche sure is, which tells me I need to cultivate a better understanding of what the I is, what the Self is. At least my I and my Self.

As those of you who have followed me here know, I have gone back and forth with this medium. Read more