Crushed, one of the spouse care partners, is now in Kruger National Park in South Africa with his wife who has EOAD.  I believe she is 60.  She was a physician who was involved in many international projects.  Crushed travels internationally on business.  Since his wife has had to stop working, they still travel throughout the US and abroad.  They just fininshed a cruise to Alaska.   

Now they are in South Africa.  I wanted you to know so that you can still be aware by their travels, along with Myriam's, that international travel is still possible. 

Look at this thread for wildlife photos taken by Crushed and his wife, the EOAD patient, in South Africa.  It's not too late to travel.

http://www.alzconnected.org/discussion.aspx?tid=2147508922&g=posts&t=2147508920&page=-1  

Iris L. 

What?! People having a good time after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's?

Thank you Iris. We need a lot more iconoclasts here to shake up the belief that this is just one big creepy experience of circling a toxic drain.

Thank you!

You might recall I bought an old RV for my birthday which was then damaged by a hit and run driver so it sits in a body shop 150 miles away. Life happens, don't know what to make of that one.

I sure thought we were going to travel this winter.  My experiences traveling alone on airlines had changed from adventures to very upsetting because I was lost in every terminal and uncertain what was happening when I got to my destination. Once I got diagnosis I can see this has been going on for over 5 years!

I am open to traveling again to the desert this winter...if not in RV then some other way where I can bring my dog. My husband is not so sure - he has mentioned a train but have no idea how that would go, and really I am so much better with my dog at my side.

Your post is pure inspiration and really cool that husband likes having his wife with him on his trips. I met a woman at exercise class, 89, who could not travel alone but going with a group is fun. This summer we had lousy weather so she went snorkeling in Cozumel! Off season rates, swam with a whale.

Really appreciate these posts that are not about how bad it is.

Yes, this board and receiving encouragement from fellow patients is VITAL for us!  It's not all doom and gloom.  Yes, we have challenges and disappointments.  But we need to learn to meet them and move on.  There is still a lot of life to be lived, and we need to find it! 

Yes, we can enjoy the simple pleasures of life. But we can also enjoy the bigger pleasures of life.  We just have to make adjustments.  So be it.  Let's LIVE!

Iris L.

I'm going to try to attach some photos from my safari trip to Kenya and Tanzania last October.  

It didn't work. Keep getting the message that the file is too big. Anyone know of another option? 

On the Spouse/Partner board there was a thread about how to post photos when the file is too large.  You might post a question of those members because they post photos all the time. 

I'd love to see your photos!

Iris L. 

Although it wasn't international travel, my wife and I just returned from a trip to Maine. We did some hiking in Acadia National Park, toured some lighthouses, drove along the coast, did some antiquing, and stopped by Niagara Falls on the way home.

There is still life at EOAD. Even if you don't or won't travel, there are still lots of things to enjoy and do. I garden, write, walk, and raise a few chickens. These things are still doable and very enjoyable. I do tire more easily which means I must pace myself and rest.

Thanks to everyone for all their posts of encouragement and hope!

God Bless, Paul

What a wonderful trip, Paul!  I've never been to Maine, but I have visited the Massachusetts coast, at Marblehead, and I have been to Niagara Falls.  What a great sight that is! 

There are more photos today.

What you do for enrichment is great.  We all need enrichment. I think I'll begin another thread so members can post their enrichment activities.

Iris L.