Why I've Been Away For So Long

It's been such a long time since I've been here, I'm sure there's no one left to read this blog. However, I feel that I owe you an explanation. It's not an easy one.

My mother has Alzheimers.

It runs in our family, my grandfather had it. My mother's sister was diagnosed in the 90's with it. (Although, there's more to her diagnosis than was previously thought.) I began to notice the early signs in my mother about eight years ago when we were on vacation in Rhode Island. I tried to talk to my brothers about it, but they were both in denial. As well as my father.

Cut to three years ago when things really started to go south. I begged her to get diagnosed--perhaps we could get some medication to help. Nope. She denied the signs. So did my father.

Finally, after much urging, (a car accident, almost a fire in the house on Thanksgiving, and a flood in the basement) did my father say "Yes, we need a diagnosis." My mother hated me for it.

After another year, after much pleading, begging, and arguing, did my father realize we needed more help than I alone could give her. Up until then I was her primary caregiver.

The help didn't work out the way I intended it -- to give me more free time to continue my writing--and in the end, my father finally relented and hired a full time caregiver. She's not working out the way I intended either, however, she's there with my mother for most of the day, which has FINALLY left me time to get back to work.

There's so much more to this story than I'm willing to share on the blog -- perhaps someday -- but for those of you who are living with or working with or know someone with this dreaded disease, you will understand. Not only does it destroy them, it destroys everyone who loves them.

However, for the purposes of this blog, I just wanted to let you know why I've been away for so long. But I'm back now and hopefully, will continue on this blog until the remainder of the The Ladies of Dunbury series is finished. (Five more books.)

I will try and post every other week on Monday. I hope to see you around. Or at least measure a click on my analytics. I'll also be around on Twitter. You can watch the word count as I post it. @gallagher_anne

Anne Gallagher (c) 2018