Year in Review, Part the 1st. Because it will take more than one.

[catherineldf]

I might as well start with the personal part, seeing as that's where most of my energy has gone. For those just tuning in, my wife, bookbinder and book conservator, Jana Pullman, has early onset Alzheimer's. And it moves fast. We started working on the same ridiculously complicated jigsaw puzzle around this time last year and back then, she could help with it. Now, a year later, she doesn't know what a jigsaw puzzle is. You get the idea. There's been been drama and her getting lost and PCAs coming in to take care of her and lots and lots of daily issues that have left me completely drained and exhausted.

And we're going to wrap the year with one more thing: I can no longer take care of her in a manner that ensures her relative health and safety and am experiencing health issues of my own, so between last week and this. I have done a gigantic amount of paperwork and turned it in to a memory care facility in the suburbs.  I'm planning on moving her in the next couple of weeks once we track down one last round of medical records. I have to completely furnish her room too, so that will also be fun. Most things at home are either in use, too big or not a great option for other reasons, so online shopping with delivery will be one of this weekend's tasks. It's going to be wretched no matter how I do it and a big source of financial stress (I'm told the county funding process for her care will accelerate once she's moved, but it's dragged on so long, I had to file an extension on the application and we're running out of runway).

At any rate, needs must. And it has to be this month or I can’t go to Capricon 44, where I am a GoH this year and people are coming to see me. Dammit, I'm going to Capricon. So I will be making this happen because it has to very soon no matter what. Then I get to come back and figure out living on my own for a bit for the first time in decades (I might be getting a house mate, but that's still under discussion) while excavating our stuff. It's going to be...a lot.

What else is going on? Well, for most of this year, I've put about 60-70 hours a week between my day job (IT contracting), Queen of Swords Press, teaching, events and caregiving. Amazingly, I still have friends and something of a life and have gotten to do some cool things this year. They have not included much writing, however.  I had one story published this year, "The Pirate in the Mirror," on Heather Rose Jones's LHMPodcast, I have written 7500 words of my next menopausal werewolf, Blue Moon, and I have written sundry things for my Patreon and Shepherd.com. Oh, and some work on a fantasy novel project that I've been poking at for a while and gradually reviving. I miss writing. We're going to fix that as soon as Jana is resettled. Next post, I'll tackle Queen of Swords press-related stuff; by and large, I had a fine year as a publisher so that'll be something to look forward to.

Also of note: replaced the water heater and the built-in microwave and the roof and gutter system, upgraded the ancient living room chair to a recliner and had the kitchen ceiling patched up and replastered.

Comments

[sartorias]

You deserve that con! I hope you can conquer the mountain of red tape. Also: good for you for being proactive before you and your beloved are endangered. (We waited too long with mom, with not good results.)

[catherineldf]

Thank you! I’ve been working with a local healthcare navigation company and the social worker there has given me a lot of good advice. Her PCA has also been pretty clear that it is time, so I don’t have to feel like Mr. Rochester about it.

[hrj]

I'm so glad that things are finally working out for Jana's care.

[catherineldf]

Still waiting on funding, etc., but I’m really hoping we’ve turned the corner. Thank you!

[marthawells]

*hugs* and hoping everything goes smoothly with moving Jana.

[catherineldf]

Thank you!!!

[pameladean]

I'm sorry they make it so hard when in a situation like Jana's the way should be smoothed from start to finish. I hope at least this last bit goes smoothly and Jana can get the care she needs and you can do the work and have the fun you need.

P.

[naomikritzer]

That's exactly it -- when you're already dealing with something as nightmarish as early-onset dementia, the last thing you need is to have to fight your way through paperwork hell.

Catherine, I'm glad you've found her a place, and good luck with the move. Dementia is the fucking worst, and it is so goddamn unfair you had to deal with it first with your mother, then with your wife.

[catherineldf]

Thank you! Got a few more potential failure points ahead, but it's looking promising and I think it's a decent place as these things go.