Back Off, Dementia!!

They say that one way to prevent "old-timers" is to keep firing up the ole brain cells.
Learn a new language. Take music lessons.
Do crossword puzzles.
Basically the theory is "If you don't use it, you lose it!"

If you are always doing everything the same way and have set daily routines, switching things up should help as well.

Like try moving and living in a trailer for awhile.
Re-learning all your daily tasks should help keep dementia at bay!
Fixing up an old house while on a tight budget might also help.
Geoff and I shouldn't have to worry about brain-cells-being-stuck-in-a-rut for some time.

Like last night......Geoff and the kids head out of the trailer after supper to work for a bit and when the dishes are done and the kettle is boiled we'll all make tea and then wrap up in blankets to watch a movie in the house.

The kettle is almost to a boil when it starts to POUR rain.
No little sprinkle. Buckets coming down.
I radio the house and let them all know that the kettle is almost ready but because of the rain I will now be having my tea in the trailer whilst reading a book. My rubber boots were in the house or else I might have wrestled with an umbrella and tea, but between the house and the trailer is a bit of a ditch, and since it quickly fills up I wasn't going to try to deal with a full mug, umbrella and slippery crocks in the mud. No, siree. Didn't need to see a movie that bad!!

Well, Geoff my-knight-in-shining-armor shows up with an umbrella he bought a few years ago, bless his heart. This umbrella is one notch down from qualifying as a beach umbrella. It's colourful enough for the beach and to be truthful my pride wouldn't let me use it for years. Honestly, it made you feel like a one-person parade to use it in town.  Anyways, it's plenty big enough to keep two people dry. But he isn't just coming for me or a cuppa, he wants to switch over the propane tank so that we are insured heat all night. I'd help hold the flashlight and umbrella if I had my rubber boots, so he made the trip back to the house to retrieve them.

Well, if it had of been daylight and we had neighbours close enough to watch we would have provided a little entertainment. POURing rain. Rainbow umbrella big enough to be spotted by Google Earth, flashlight needing to be in three places at once and threatening to die, two sizes of propane tanks one small, one massive, needing to be connected together requiring one to be raised up.
(Just cause we weren't facing enough challenges).

And you know, I could just feel the wind blowing those brain cob-webs away. :)

I am not sure if it's cause it's still all new, or if our determination to have a positive attitude and faith in God is helping, but we are having fun.
We really are.

Yes, we get tired. Yes, some days have headaches and goose-eggs.
Sometimes the tool you just put down gets up and walks away.
Sometimes you cut a little too close to the electrical socket with the wall-paper razor and you get zapped and have the blade blasted out of your hand in a shower of sparks, and those around you don't know whether to laugh or check for your pulse.
(Note: I'm not saying this happened, but it could, if you weren't careful ;) Safety first!!)
Days are cold. Nights are long.
Wood stoves don't come when you expect them.

Life happens 
even when you 
are pursuing a dream.

So not only are we thankful that we are finding the journey enjoyable but we are happy to report that (most likely) we won't be suffering from old-timers any time soon. :) 

** Please know that I am not attempting to make light of Alzheimers. It is a dreadful disease and far too many lives are ruined by it. There are many factors involved, including diet, use of aluminium and vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Hopefully more can be learned about this disease so that we can all avoid it's horrid effects.