caregiving: today's forecast - politicians

Here in Pennsylvania we no longer have weather we have politicians. Tuesday was 60 degrees, sunny and Chelsea Clinton along with actor Sean Astin (“Rudy”, “Lord of the Rings”) was forecasted for a Mechanicsburg playground about 2 miles from here. 

Seemed like an ideal, ‘different’ and free idea for an outing with Patti.

Democratic Party organizers apparently use the Alfred E Newman Event Planning Guide.

Rule # 1 - Arrive an hour late

With Patti’s Multiple Sclerosis memory loss and cognitive challenges it is always ‘now’ so the wait was not a problem for her. However, temperatures fall rapidly this time of year and “duh, like it gets dark.”

Rule # 2 – “What me worry?”

With only a battery powered megaphone with a hand-grip talk switch for a public address system at least all were equally hearing challenged. Even Ms. Clinton commented that, believe it or not, she had never used a bull horn before. … I for one believe her. :)

Anyway while the message may have been lost in the medium, Patti found a way to have a grand old time. … “free speech”

In order to wiggle closer to get a picture I had to temporarily park Patti on the fringe of the crowd.  Some Clinton supporters and protestors quickly accelerated from ‘shut up’ to expletives. Why did it surprise me when I heard Patti shouting her two bits of expletives and dissolving into her self amused laugh?

Quickly returning I had no idea which side she had chosen to take nor did she, but NOW she was enjoying herself. :)

With the challenges of cognitive impairment outings can become quite different than intended, yet "all's well that ends well."

Caregivingly Yours,  Patrick Leer 

videos: http://www.youtube.com/daddyleer

Tags: caregiver, Multiple Sclerosis, Chelsea Clinton, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania Primary, Democratic Party