Category Archives: Alzheimers

More Than Ever

Posted on May 18, 2016 by jyourist

Today I attended a fund-raising luncheon for La Casa Norte, an organization dedicated to supporting youth and families who are homeless in Chicago. According to the program booklet produced for the luncheon, “Today La Casa Norte’s programs include emergency, transitional … Continue reading →

Posted in Alzheimers, videos | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Michael and Greg

Posted on May 15, 2016 by jyourist

The following article appeared in the Windy City Times, the premier Chicago LGBTQ weekly newspaper. Gretchen Rachel Hammond spent three hours interviewing my dearest friend Michael and put together this story of Michael and Greg’s remarkable love story, over 41 … Continue reading →

Posted in Alzheimers, LGBTQ, relationship | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sacred space

Posted on October 4, 2015 by jyourist

Gregory, a very dear old friend, died today, just a few minutes after noon. Diagnosed 12 years ago with early onset Alzheimers, this centered, gifted, and creative man has slowly lost the smooth and easy functioning of his graceful body, … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, Alzheimers, death, transformation, transition | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The joy of this game

Posted on March 23, 2015 by jyourist

My dear friend Michael is turning 70. It’s hard to believe that all this time has passed. I think we were both in our early thirties when we first met. Over 10 years ago his partner Gregory was first diagnosed with … Continue reading →

Posted in Alzheimers, relationship | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Michael is Santa

Posted on December 24, 2014 by jyourist

Over the years, Michael has become more portly and now sports a long gray beard, nearly all white. He has shared on more than one occasion how strangers have stopped him and called him Santa. Once a small child was … Continue reading →

Posted in Alzheimers, Holidays, winter | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Or not

Posted on June 24, 2014 by jyourist

Yesterday I went to see Gregory at his Alzheimer care facility. Michael, his partner of over 35 years, was visiting as well and I brought each of them a no-foam skim latte. Gregory’s meds have been changed. His previous meds had caused … Continue reading →

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Sit With Me A While Longer

Posted on June 4, 2014 by jyourist

Last night my good friend Michael shared his words and his heart with about 40 people at a poetry reading introducing his second book of poetry, Sit With Me A While Longer. Though he has written for quite some time, when … Continue reading →

Posted in Alzheimers, compassion, poetry | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

White Crane

Posted on March 23, 2014 by jyourist

Today in Qigong class, our teacher explained the eighth treasure of the form, the white crane series. This series of exercises, she said, stimulated the kidneys which is the center for health and longevity and for which the white crane … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, Alzheimers, death, exercise | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Gregory and the gift of Chopin

Posted on March 1, 2014 by jyourist

Today is Chopin’s birthday and all I am remembering is my friend Gregory playing this composer’s works on his piano in his and Michael’s home in Evanston –the home they moved into on the very day that our son was … Continue reading →

Posted in Alzheimers, music | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Gregory leaning left

Posted on February 16, 2014 by jyourist

Gregory leaning left leaning over soft spoken in wheel chair not walking eyes droopy eyes closed eyes open eating chocolate eating more chocolate blood pressure high blood pressure high again hard time leaning back hard time straightening up we lean … Continue reading →

Posted in Alzheimers, poetry | Tagged , , | 2 Comments