A neighbor I hardly know called up today. (all my neighbors are nice, but I don't see them all much. They are all healthy, empty nesters who travel, and have hobbies, and tend their beautiful gardens, and take walks together..... the way life should be, right?)

This lady's property adjoins part of the lower acre of mine. They'll be away for the 4th, but she was concerned about fireworks. We are having a scorcher these next several days, and that means lots of dry grass. Fireworks are a pretty big deal around here. She said they hoped to have time to get their field mowed down before leaving. but just in case......

Likewise, I am concerned about fire. I told her I am having trouble keeping up with the property this year. Paul hasn't been well, and isn't able to use his equipment like he used to. We don't own a tractor as too much of our property isn't level. We use a DR Field Brush mower that you walk behind. It is self propelled, but its a BEAR to maneuver/turn. It's the very mower that my right forearm tangled with several days ago. I still have the bruises.

Once upon a time I only had to worry about the inside of the house. I'd get outside to tend a garden and help with mowing, etc., for enjoyment. This neighbor was unaware that Paul has AD (she's only visited the two of us twice). She said to let them know if they can help in any way, and said they'd be especially watchful knowing many AD patients wander. She then suggested if her husband can get out on his Kuboda to cut their field before they leave on Monday he could probably come across and do the lower acre of my property too--------if I don't mind.
MIND? ME? I'd LOVE IT!!!!!! WOW!!!!!
I would never imagine myself asking someone to do that. But since she brought it up I responded that I'd be really grateful if her husband did that for us. WOW!!!

Diana,

I'm so happy for you. Yes, there are angels out there... just a pity there are so few, but I think you've found one. Bless her for helping.

My wish is that the public knew more about AD and could understand how much help caregivers need. There were a few people that helped us out with my Mom, but not many. Those that helped were mostly the ones that had had LO's with AD.

I'm so happy for you!

Jane W.

Thats great!! I love when neighbors ACT
neighborly!! That is alot to take care of, all
the land you own. God provided, huh?
Take care!!

Diana,
That is truly a heartwarming story. It would be nice, if this thread could continue, with other stories of "help received" like yours.
Thanks for sharing.

I too wish a thread like this could keep going as proof that there are angels out there ........... and help comes from the least expected people and places.

I do have other neighbors who know Paul has AD, and they do say "Let us know if we can do anything." The neighbors right next to us have helped over the years with little things, like helping to get a piece of equipment running. They are so nice, but also older folks. So I'd never dream of asking them (or anyone) to cut the lower acre for me.

Others talk about helping, and say "let us know," many times knowing full well (hoping anyway) that people like me don't like to come right out and ask.

That is a great story! I, too, have a similar story. My godmother was diagnosed with Vascular Dementia in March of this year. While we are not blood relatives, she was a good friend of my mother and I have power of atty. and am her health care proxy. She lives about an hour from me and I work full time. She was told in March not to drive anymore, and, thankfully, she quit driving right away and even gave the car away so she wouldn't be tempted. I got the local elder affairs office to start providing her with rides to go grocery shopping and to take her to church each week. That has been such a blessing and a relief to me.
The one thing we couldn't figure out was how to get her over to see her sister (who has AD and is in a nursing home). Recently the administrator of the nursing home told her that b/c they were aware that she couldn't drive anymore, they would come to pick her up any day she wanted to see her sister and would drive her back home, too! Neither she nor I could believe that they would be that nice--but they are. She calls them once a week or so and a secretary picks her up and delivers her back home when her work day is done--so she's now able to visit her sister for a couple of hours each week thanks to their support. We never would have asked for it, but we'll take any help they will give!
So glad you're finding you have nice neighbors, too!
--Kathy

This is what I'm talking about. Those real human beings who offer specific help without being asked. These people are gold. Just be sure to say, yes, I would appreciate that. Don't be like me and say oh, thank you, that's so nice of you, I'll be okay. No, no, no, take these people up on their wonderful offer, it's genuine. I'm learning to take help that is offered and jump on it.

Yesterday, a total stranger bought my cup of Starbuck's coffee, just because I held the door open for him. Random acts of kindness is what they are and should be accepted and held in awe and savored. Whoo hoo!!!!

I tried a similar thread, a while back,
http://alzheimers.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/214102241/m/5001097952?r=5001097952#5001097952
but it didn't quite take off.

I like this one, as it may show us additional resources for help, as well as such uplifting stories!

I found too that caring for my Mom with AD, her needs, her house and her huge yard completed did me in. It was all consuming. Living in a small apartment would be a bluming luxury!!!

TTT

Wow, the 3rd of July came along and I thought my neighbors were already gone out of town. I had assumed they just ran out of time to mow the fields. Oh well!

I stood from my couch, looked out the window and could see "tracks" in my field. Got closer to the window so I could look down hill, closer to the house............... and there was that bright orange Kuboda tractor. Yeah! The neighbors hadn't left yet and made sure to get my field done for me. What a blessing.

Of course, there is the actual hillside/banks by the house where I have to use a regular mower and weed whacker, so I did get to concentrate on doing that before fireworks. The belt on our DR brush mower broke before I was done so that'll have to go into the shop anyway (I was determined to use it til the belt broke before paying to have it picked up and repaired....Sheesh! It's a couple hundred bucks whenever it goes in for sharpening, belts, oil and filter changes, etc.).