Thanks from me too.  My dad is progressing very slowly and I'm grateful for
that.  Sometimes I think I am in denial about the future.   So, again,
thanks for the reference.  I found a local support group but have not been
able to go the past two months.

We've really been busy with Dad, doing fun things that he enjoys and
establishing a routine for each day that keeps him aware of his schedule.
Making up errands to run that make him feel like he's accomplished something
every day.  He grew up on a farm and it's now part of a state park and a
recreational lake area so either myself or my brother drive him out there
every single day and he reminisces and relates stories of his youth and his
13 brothers and sisters.  He counts the deer each day and delights in seeing
them.  Otherwise, he pretty much sits, feeds the birds, cares for his dog
and watches a little TV.  It's starting to even be a little complicated for
him to change channels.  I now type up a schedule for the one channel he
prefers.  If he doesn't like that show, he switches over to the history
channel.  It's switching back that confuses him sometimes.  On rare
occasions he's able to put a tape on and watch his VCR.  Not often though.
He has hundereds of old tapes --- John Wayne westerns and such.  I just hate
that he's losing his ability to live a simple life.  When our mother died he
made the best he could of his life and carried on.   Worked, retired,
pursued his hobbies and then these past 7 years or so he's steadily lost his
cognitive skills and the simplest things are becoming challenges he can't
always conquer.  It's so unfair.  But, who ever said life would always be
fair.

I'm rambling so I'll stop.  My brother just called and he and Dad just got
back from breakfast and a run out to the lake.  Says they saw over 50 deer
today.  Dad told him he thought they had better start bringing a calculator
with them.  Wonder if he knows there's not that many calculators floating
around now a days ???  :-)

Thanks again August
Barbara H