Anita Burns--

Most everyone reading this knows that my mother died last month, and that my beautiful kitty Pumpkin also went to that giant catnip mouse in the sky. I have another kitty, Elmer. He has been a constant in my life for a very long time. He is close to twenty now and has outlived a whole lotta cats that have come and gone from our care.

We adopted Elmer from a cardboard box full of kittens that was being watched over by a little boy and his mother. When I picked up a tiny black and white kitten, the boy said, "Please take him. He's the runt and no one else wanted him." Well that tugged at my heart too much and I had to bring him home. He was barely old enough to be away from his mother, his claws didn't even contract yet. But here he was a handful of cuteness, sitting in my lap all the way home.

I had another cat then, Elsie. She was old, crotchety, and set in her ways. Her companion, Isis, had a tragic end when she escaped the house and ran right into a pack of Coyotes. Elsie had been alone for several years.

To Elsie, Elmer was the interloper. It was so amazing to see his tiny little back arch up as he stood on tippy toes and bravely hissed at this gigantic old queen who was showing her disapproval at his arrival. So I scooped him up and we went into the bedroom, door shut. In the bathroom, I placed a litter box next my big, old ball and claw bathtub but he was too small to climb into it, so I folded a towel to act as a step. He only needed a little prompting to know exactly what to do.

Patron Angel of all those in the field of medicine --

by Desiree Szaabo --

A story of healing.  Have you ever dealt with aging parents?  This particularly situation is close to my heart.  I received a call on August 31st at the assisted living facility where my mom had been residing.  She had fallen twice in her room in the past two weeks, in the middle of the night. The graveyard-nursing shift had been making their usual rounds and had found her on the floor.

It is a shocking sight to see your loved one, bruised up with cuts. I asked the caregivers on duty how could we as children of our parents prevent this from happening again. My mom just did not seem her usual cheerful joyful self. She could not remember simple questions that I addressed to her such as what day is it? Or what year it was. She seemed confused. Her eyes did not have the usual spark or twinkle in it. There was a glaze that had not been there before. She started to nod off in her chair and fall asleep.

I asked Archangel Raphael and myself what on earth was happening to my mom.  She had lost her will to live. She seemed to be deteriorating. She seemed so child like. The assisted living facility caregivers and I decided to take action and set up an appointment with her family doctor. Her doctor told me that it was old age as well as the body’s organs starting to shut down. I asked myself how was I supposed to again help my mom. I asked Source and Archangel Raphael for help regarding my fears, worries and concerns for my mom’s well being. I examined in my mind over and over again, my relationship as a daughter to my mom, as well as my duty to her for the best health care possible.

The hardest part for me was when the office manager informed me that she was being admitted to the hospital. She was not eating and just wanted to sleep. In the hospital she kept on saying over “no more mama, no more. “I just want to lie down and go to sleep”.

My brother, my daughter and I visited her a couple nights ago. It just so happened that we arrived all with in a few minutes. I felt that Archangel Raphael and Source was trying to convey a message to us. My mom kept on pointing up to the heavens.  She kept on telling us to take care of ourselves.  We left wondering if that were the last time we would ever see her.

Publisher's Description:

Virtually everyone fears mental deterioration as they age. But in the past thirty years neuroscientists have discovered that the brain is actually designed to improve throughout life. How can you encourage this improvement? Brain Power shares practical, state-of-the-evidence answers in this inspiring, fun-to-read plan for action. The authors have interviewed physicians, gerontologists, and neuroscientists; studied the habits of men and women who epitomize healthy aging; and applied what they describe in their own lives. The resulting guidance — along with the accompanying downloadable Brain Sync audio program — can help you activate unused brain areas, tone mental muscles, and enliven every faculty.

Editor's Thoughts:

As a caregiver for my mother, who was brilliant and now has Alzheimer's, this book interested me. Every time I have a "senior moment," I think, "Oh No! I'm going down the track my mother did." Not going to happen.

Publisher's Description: As baby boomers, we’re a generation that has transformed society. How will we redefine aging? This book provides a blueprint for restoring a vital friendship with our bodies and, in turn, renewing our bond with the earth. It shows us how we can live fuller, healthier, more meaningful lives.

A fascinating blend of cutting-edge medical information, practical health advice, and spiritual wisdom, The Baby Boomer Diet is relevant for people of any age.

Written by Donna Gates—theoriginator of Body Ecology,a world-renowned system of healing—this long-awaited book suggests that we don’t simply have to age gracefully, we can age with panache.

author of Leaning Into Sharp Points:

 Practical Guidance and Nurturing Support for Caregivers

Stan Goldberg’s Lessons for the Living won the London Book Festival’s Grand Prize in 2009 and was featured in Best Buddhist Writing of 2010. A private therapist, clinical researcher, and former San Francisco State University professor, he lives in San Francisco. He was named Hospice Volunteer Association’s Volunteer of the Year 2009 and his website is www.StanGoldbergWriter.com.

What’s involved in caregiving? 

Practical Guiidance and Guidance Support for Caregivers

Publishers Description: Statistics show that at least once in almost everyone's life, they will become a caregiver. Though an estimated 35 million currently provide care for someone terminally or chronically ill, those who accept this responsibility often feel alone in a frightening foreign land. Whether visiting occasionally or caregiving 24/7, they are brushing up against life's sharpest point. 

As only one who has been there can, author Stan Goldberg offers an honest, caring, and comprehensive guide to those on this journey. Everyone wants to "do the right thing" and this is the often-illusive how-to — from bedside etiquette and practical decisions to initiating difficult conversations, navigating rapid changes, caring for oneself in the midst of caring for another, and even offering "permission" to die. Because death is a process, not an event, Goldberg also addresses the caregiver’s recovery, including their recovery of joy.