Comments on: Wispiness http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/07/12/wispiness/ Listen to stories on anything from honeymoons to WWII, from award-winning journalists to first-time writers alike, from anywhere in the world. Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:45:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: mayra http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/07/12/wispiness/#comment-61588 Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:05:26 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/07/12/wispiness/#comment-61588 my grandmother had alzheimers. i remember trying to make her eat, having to change her diapers, help her shower...watching her become nothing but a skelton, when she forgot who all of us were, when she'd sit on her couch staring into the cieling all "wispy"..very touching story. your very lucky to have such a loving wife by your side. my grandmother had alzheimers. i remember trying to make her eat, having to change her diapers, help her shower…watching her become nothing but a skelton, when she forgot who all of us were, when she’d sit on her couch staring into the cieling all “wispy”..very touching story. your very lucky to have such a loving wife by your side.

]]> by: Jerry Ward http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/07/12/wispiness/#comment-57998 Mon, 05 Jan 2009 02:51:15 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/07/12/wispiness/#comment-57998 Jef, Beautiful writing. Obviously strikes a chord with a lot of folks. Nice to see some fellow Hammond alums responding. Jerry Jef, Beautiful writing. Obviously strikes a chord with a lot of folks.
Nice to see some fellow Hammond alums responding.
Jerry

]]> by: karen sosnoski http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/07/12/wispiness/#comment-56256 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:45:13 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/07/12/wispiness/#comment-56256 Looking for something else, I just came across this. I thought it was written beautifully. My mother has Alzheimer's so I can well relate to the quiet grief for the still alive but increasingly "wispy" loved one with Alzheimers that swims along at the bottom of every other relationship and activity. Unlike recovering from a death, living with a loved one's Alzheimers has no catharsis, or like you say there's no epiphany, except for the sense that you've found that meaning, communication, relationships can't be taken for granted while we have them. Anyway, thanks for writing this! Looking for something else, I just came across this. I thought it was written beautifully. My mother has Alzheimer’s so I can well relate to the quiet grief for the still alive but increasingly “wispy” loved one with Alzheimers that swims along at the bottom of every other relationship and activity. Unlike recovering from a death, living with a loved one’s Alzheimers has no catharsis, or like you say there’s no epiphany, except for the sense that you’ve found that meaning, communication, relationships can’t be taken for granted while we have them. Anyway, thanks for writing this!

]]> by: Michal http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/07/12/wispiness/#comment-45613 Mon, 17 Mar 2008 22:44:37 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/07/12/wispiness/#comment-45613 Somehow, while surfing the web today, your story landed on my computer. It\\\'s a bright light in my day. My dad is going through the early stages of Alzheimers and your story filled my eyes with tears and put a smile on my face. My mom and dad are still alive and I\\\'m grateful that they got to live to see four great-grandchildren but these last few years have been hard on them. I\\\'m dreading the day that that phone call comes in. You can be sure I\\\'ll be thinking of you and your story. Many thanks. Somehow, while surfing the web today, your story landed on my computer. It\\\’s a bright light in my day. My dad is going through the early stages of Alzheimers and your story filled my eyes with tears and put a smile on my face. My mom and dad are still alive and I\\\’m grateful that they got to live to see four great-grandchildren but these last few years have been hard on them. I\\\’m dreading the day that that phone call comes in. You can be sure I\\\’ll be thinking of you and your story. Many thanks.

]]> by: Jackie Lynne http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/07/12/wispiness/#comment-45422 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 06:13:56 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/07/12/wispiness/#comment-45422 I envy you and your sweetness for life. You savor and appreciate it. Talented piece. I wish it weren't true. I could enter some comment here about how I identified with it, but you know that we all do in some way. Good writers can do that. Peace and love to you and your own. I envy you and your sweetness for life. You savor and appreciate it.
Talented piece. I wish it weren’t true.
I could enter some comment here about how I identified with it, but you know that we all do in some way.
Good writers can do that.

Peace and love to you and your own.

]]> by: Jimmy Overholt http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/07/12/wispiness/#comment-26790 Mon, 30 Jul 2007 19:55:50 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/07/12/wispiness/#comment-26790 Jef: THANKS for sharing another piece of your life with me (and others as well). I know it must have been pretty hard to lose your Dad to alzheimers, even before you lost him for good. Kim's grandmother was also an Army Nurse, and met Kim's grandfather, who was a Marine, during the WWII era too. Hhmmmm. It does not surprise me to hear of your commitment to your father and your love for him. It sounds right on point that your wife, Marsha, is such a wonderful giver too (re-making the cookies is priceless). I know that when the day comes that I lose my father.....I will never be the same again. They have a way of carrying a piece of us with them always. It can never be returned to us when they are gone. But, they are still within us in our memories and will always be looking down on us -- with a smile. What a PROUD man he must have been to raise such a wonderful son. It was a heartfelt story. My Best Wishes to you (and Marsha too). -Jimmy (also from "AMC") Jef:

THANKS for sharing another piece of your life with me (and others as well). I know it must have been pretty hard to lose your Dad to alzheimers, even before you lost him for good. Kim’s grandmother was also an Army Nurse, and met Kim’s grandfather, who was a Marine, during the WWII era too. Hhmmmm.

It does not surprise me to hear of your commitment to your father and your love for him. It sounds right on point that your wife, Marsha, is such a wonderful giver too (re-making the cookies is priceless).

I know that when the day comes that I lose my father…..I will never be the same again. They have a way of carrying a piece of us with them always. It can never be returned to us when they are gone. But, they are still within us in our memories and will always be looking down on us — with a smile. What a PROUD man he must have been to raise such a wonderful son.

It was a heartfelt story. My Best Wishes to you (and Marsha too).

-Jimmy (also from “AMC”)

]]> by: George from AMC http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/07/12/wispiness/#comment-26281 Fri, 27 Jul 2007 03:59:06 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/07/12/wispiness/#comment-26281 Hello Jeff, I was really impressed with your writing and how wonderfully descriptive you were when you described your father. Your father sounded like a true life hero. Through your writings, I was able to see the close knit bond you and your father had. My best regards to you and your lovely wife Marsha. George Hello Jeff, I was really impressed with your writing and how wonderfully descriptive you were when you described your father. Your father sounded like a true life hero. Through your writings, I was able to see the close knit bond you and your father had. My best regards to you and your lovely wife Marsha.

George

]]> by: Alan Rubin http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/07/12/wispiness/#comment-25597 Wed, 18 Jul 2007 19:28:41 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/07/12/wispiness/#comment-25597 Jef, You always could tell a story well. Back in the Biograph days you told many wonderful one about your dad; none so poignant as "Wispiness". Thanks for the memory. Alan Jef,

You always could tell a story well. Back in the Biograph days you told many wonderful one about your dad; none so poignant as “Wispiness”. Thanks for the memory.

Alan

]]> by: Ginny Lou http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/07/12/wispiness/#comment-25441 Tue, 17 Jul 2007 00:45:11 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/07/12/wispiness/#comment-25441 Jef, What an incredible story, you seemed to capture the essence of that terrible disease Alzheimers. The writing was both poignant and eloquent with the perfect blend of humor. I especially appreciated the excerpts about Marsha and the cookies, my dear sister who like you said is a \'born Giver\' in heart and soul. I also agree with Pat W. you should send this in to some magazines to be appreciated by a wider audience. Thanks for sharing it with me. Ginny Jef,

What an incredible story, you seemed to capture the essence of that terrible disease Alzheimers. The writing was both poignant and eloquent with the perfect blend of humor. I especially appreciated the excerpts about Marsha and the cookies, my dear sister who like you said is a \’born Giver\’ in heart and soul. I also agree with Pat W. you should send this in to some magazines to be appreciated by a wider audience. Thanks for sharing it with me.

Ginny

]]> by: Paula http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/07/12/wispiness/#comment-25385 Mon, 16 Jul 2007 08:06:47 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/07/12/wispiness/#comment-25385 Loved that story Jef. Made me cry (again!) Hugs to you and Marsha Loved that story Jef. Made me cry (again!)
Hugs to you and Marsha

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