Tag Archives: Advocacy

YOU’RE NOT THE ONE – PART 2

Posted on August 25, 2013 by Judy

I realize that I had no idea what it meant to find “the one.” I married when I was twenty and until this year I never lived on my own. I am certain I was far too young to have gotten married. I stayed married when the odds were against it. I stuck with my decision for 31 years and celebrate the beautiful children that my husband and I created together. Continue reading →

Tagged "sandwich generation", acoustic guitar, adjusting to divorce, Advocacy, Aging Parents, Caregiving, composing, coping with divorce, facing divorce, facing divorce after a long marriage, Friendship, gray divorce, guitar, high school memories, inspiration, loss, lovesong, lyric development, lyric writing, lyrics, mother, mother daughter relationship, mother's illness, Music, original songs, reconnecting, respirator weaning, separation and divorce, singing, songwriting, writing | Leave a comment

EVERYTHING LED ME TO THIS PLACE – PART 1

Posted on July 2, 2013 by Judy

I accept that the many things that were difficult in my life have allowed me to grow and develop into who I am today. The place where I now reside is a beautiful one. I love my life because I am following my dream. Continue reading →

Tagged "sandwich generation", acoustic guitar, Advocacy, Aging Parents, Caregiving, childhood friendship, composing, creativity, dementia, following a dream, Friendship, grief, GRIEF RELATED, guitar, healing music, Humor, humor daily life, inspiration, loss, lovesong, lyric development, lyric writing, lyrics, mother, mother daughter relationship, mother's illness, Music, original songs, singing, songwriting | 2 Comments

I AM THE SANDWICH – PART 2

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Judy

I love my mother and celebrate her quality of life. There are those who believe in spending countless dollars to extend the suffering of terminally ill patients. I am proud of my willingness to go against medical professionals who believe they know what is best for my mother. I am so sorry for elderly people who do not have an advocate! Continue reading →

Posted in Hip fracture-no surgery | Tagged "sandwich generation", Advocacy, Aging Parents, broken hip without surgery, Caregiving, dementia, elderly directives, end of life decision, father's illness, inspiration, mother, mother daughter relationship, mother's illness, no hospitalization order, nursing homes, refusing to go to a hospital | 5 Comments

SADNESS WENT AWAY

Posted on August 22, 2011 by Judy

I described to Connie how I visualized myself dealing with my current life. I used the metaphor of running a marathon. I had abundant energy and as I encountered horrific roadblocks in my path, I continued running. I was also running through long, dark tunnels. But my focus was on the beautiful sunlight streaming through and awaiting me at the end of those tunnels. As I ran, music played for me. I had an angel on my shoulder. Despite the challenges I continued to face, I loved my journey. It was easy for me to stay positive with all the encouragement I continued to receive surrounding my writing and music, I told Connie. As I left her guesthouse, I beamed and marveled at my blessed existence. Continue reading →

Tagged "sandwich generation", acoustic guitar, Advocacy, Aging Parents, Caregiving, creativity, Daily Life, Music, original songs, performing, singing, songwriting, writing | Leave a comment

EVERY TIME I SEE A SMILE

Posted on August 2, 2011 by Judy

On Sunday, I picked up a brand new Mac computer! My childhood friend, Steve, helped me decided which one to order. I had the computer shipped to him first so he could prepare it for me. I sent him a backup drive to work with. Steve set it up and added significant and fantastic music software for me. There was no way I could ever repay him for all the extras he added for me. Continue reading →

Tagged "sandwich generation", acoustic guitar, Advocacy, Aging Parents, Caregiving, creativity, Daily Life, father's illness, Friendship, guitar, lovesong, Music, Ordinary Life, original songs, performing, singing, songwriting | Leave a comment

HEALING CAME AT LAST

Posted on April 3, 2011 by Judy

I’m aware that I have a complicated life. However, because I’ve given myself permission to indulge my passions – well, I feel like I’m the luckiest person on earth. It’s not that I don’t have financial worries, responsibilities, or pressure. It’s just that I am so happy. The pain of grief is indescribable. It is suffocating, torturous, and excruciating. Even those words do not truly capture the feeling of wanting to escape from the world of the living. I have lived with that level of pain. Continue reading →

Posted in Hip fracture-no surgery | Tagged "sandwich generation", acoustic guitar, Advocacy, aging mother, Aging Parents, boiling water burn, burn, burn on arm, Caregiving, composing, creativity, Daily Life, dementia, grief bereavement "Loss of a Child", guitar, humor daily life, inspiration, loss, lyric development, lyric writing, lyrics, mother daughter relationship, mother's illness, Music, Ordinary Life, original songs, scalding, singing, songwriting, voice lessons, writing | Leave a comment

HOW SHE WAS BLESSED

Posted on March 30, 2011 by Judy

I was having a lot of difficult deciding on what to name my post. What could pull everything together? Suddenly, I found my insight. I decided to name my post “How She Was Blessed,” which was a line from my new song. To have a caregiver like Miriam for my mother reminded me of that. But then, the revelation came to me after I corresponded last night with my dear friend, Magda, who suffers terribly from the progression of MS. Continue reading →

Tagged "sandwich generation", acoustic guitar, Advocacy, Aging Parents, Caregiving, composing, creativity, Daily Life, Friendship, guitar, Humor, humor children, humor daily life, loss, lyric development, lyric writing, lyrics, Music, Ordinary Life, original songs, parenting, performing, singing, songwriting, voice lessons, writing | Leave a comment

LONELINESS FILLED MY DREAMS

Posted on March 17, 2011 by Judy

I was definitely wearing a “Super daughter cape” as I left my mother following her appointment. I wrestled with the “demon of dementia” and had won. My mother went from tears to joy as I steadily convinced her of the reality. As I drove home, however, I still had the familiar gnawing pain inside me. I wondered why I wasn’t more joyful that she had beaten the odds and survived her hip fracture without having surgery!
Continue reading →

Posted in Hip fracture-no surgery | Tagged "sandwich generation", Advocacy, Aging Parents, broken hip, composing, dementia, fractured hip, Friendship, grief, GRIEF RELATED, hip fracture, hip fracture without surgery, inspiration, loss, lyric development, lyrics, manicure, manicurist, not having hip surgery | Leave a comment

EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT AWARE

Posted on March 10, 2011 by Judy

My friend, Sam, wrote: Do the best that you can for your Mom, but primarily spend time with her and try to enjoy the awareness that she still does have. Keep her comfortable and happy…but please don’t tear yourselves up over this. Professional advocacy, or adversarial relations probably won’t change much for your mom in the long run, but will significantly increase your own stress and discomfort. Continue reading →

Posted in Hip fracture-no surgery | Tagged "sandwich generation", Advocacy, Aging Parents, broken hip, Caregiving, Daily Life, dementia, hip fracture without surgery | Leave a comment

SOMEHOW I’M STILL PLAYING

Posted on March 5, 2011 by Judy

There was certain, young man who I noticed was definitely connecting with my songs. He said, “You might have reached millions of people with your beautiful songs when you were younger, but it wouldn’t have been the same. Your life experience is what makes your songs so touching. Instead of reaching a million people, you could have a great impact on a few and change lives.” I stepped into the night air, and a vision came over me. I was playing my music for a lot of people on a large stage.
Continue reading →