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My mother was quite the adventurer during her life. As a Navy spouse, she traveled all over the planet and enjoyed socializing and meeting new people. She volunteered, took art classes, swam laps daily, collected art, and did some scuba diving. After my father died, she still lived a full life and used to email … Continue reading Living with my mother’s dementia

9/14/1924 - 6/17/2020 Marjorie (Marge) passed away peacefully June 17, 2020 at her care facility in Lynnwood, WA. She was born in Mount Vernon, NY to Oscar and Dorothea (Hermann) Abel. Marge was married to Warren "Erik" Erikson, who preceded her in death in 2004. Marge and Erik met in grade school and were reunited … Continue reading Marjorie D. Erikson

“My mom is in the hospital. I feel so lost.” Those were my thoughts over the last few days. My amazing mother, 95 years old, was hospitalized with an infection. She has dementia so the hospital allowed me to be her support person while she was there. She has been living in a wonderful memory … Continue reading My hospital experience – an ode to Mom and her caregivers

I have not been able to find the right words for this, but I decided to stop putting off writing about it any longer. I have been avoiding writing because I didn't want to revisit those emotions yet. But that's not fair. My niece and nephew, their parents, and all of the other families affected … Continue reading December 14

I recently had a meal at an assisted living facility not far from where I live. My 91-year-old mother is considering moving there and we were invited since she's on the waiting list. Mom currently lives in a facility that has been purchased twice in the last two years by mega-corporations. When she first moved … Continue reading A meal at the old folks home

Today I woke up with a heavy heart as I do every September 11 for the last 18 years. I remembered the moment when I realized the first plane crash was not an accident as I watched the second plane hit the tower. I remembered being so stunned I couldn't think. I went to the … Continue reading 9/11

In late 2015, I found myself in the hunt for a new job. The reasons I was in this position are not important, but the search experience itself was noteworthy. My first course of action on my first day was to make sure my resume was up to date and appropriate for the type of position … Continue reading The Hunt (looking for work 2015-style)

I read something about Thomas Edison and had to verify it because, as Abraham Lincoln said, "don't believe everything you see on Facebook." The post described how, as a young lad, Thomas came home from school one day with a note from his teacher. According to the story, Mrs. Edison, with tears in her eyes, … Continue reading The Power of Encouragement