Posted 1-29-20
Another dainty snow in the Ozarks. A few schools, apparently with a large snow cloud directly over their towns, opted to close, but mostly it is just a pretty and minor inconvenience.
I am pretty booked the next two days, so the articles will be sparse…more than normal…in content and duration. I just had one little thought today that is not intended to raise anyone’s hackles but may nevertheless because this is the internet and that’s what people do here. 🙁
Ronald Reagan came to mind this morning as I drove. (Oh, the random mind of Mark Applegate…) Regardless of politics about which I have marginal interest, I consider him one of the most important political figures in U.S. History (certainly in my lifetime) and give him a lot of credit for winning the Cold War. He was a flawed individual that made some brilliant decisions/stands and others that were not good at all. (There…have I made lovers and haters both mad yet?)
My thoughts on our 40th president center today not on politics but our topic. I consider him heroic for his fight to #EndALZ . I may have alluded to it before at some point, but I wanted to revisit the topic and I am never too proud to beat a topic to death…
In this letter to the American people, he shared his Alzheimer’s journey quite beautifully, penning:
Nov. 5, 1994
My Fellow Americans,
I have recently been told that I am one of the millions of Americans who will be afflicted with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Upon learning this news, Nancy and I had to decide whether as private citizens we would keep this a private matter or whether we would make this news known in a public way.
In the past Nancy suffered from breast cancer and I had my cancer surgeries. We found through our open disclosures we were able to raise public awareness. We were happy that as a result many more people underwent testing.
They were treated in early stages and able to return to normal, healthy lives.
So now, we feel it is important to share it with you. In opening our hearts, we hope this might promote greater awareness of this condition. Perhaps it will encourage a clearer understanding of the individuals and families who are affected by it.
At the moment I feel just fine. I intend to live the remainder of the years God gives me on this earth doing the things I have always done. I will continue to share life’s journey with my beloved Nancy and my family. I plan to enjoy the great outdoors and stay in touch with my friends and supporters.
Unfortunately, as Alzheimer’s Disease progresses, the family often bears a heavy burden. I only wish there was some way I could spare Nancy from this painful experience. When the time comes I am confident that with your help she will face it with faith and courage.
In closing let me thank you, the American people for giving me the great honor of allowing me to serve as your President. When the Lord calls me home, whenever that may be, I will leave with the greatest love for this country of ours and eternal optimism for its future.
I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead.
Thank you, my friends. May God always bless you.
Sincerely,
Ronald Reagan
President Reagan’s eyes were wide open at the battle he faced and ultimately lost. The foe: much bigger in his world than the commies or the opposition party! I appreciate how he rightly added himself as just another of the masses with the disease, he recognized that money isn’t a fix for the disease or the hardships endured by family, and then he pointed us to his eternal destination as well. Beautiful and sad all at once.
Please remember the plain truth that everyone has flaws and must come to terms with this disease in the context of their own life. Mom had people who didn’t like her. She had flaws and weaknesses like the rest of us. Relationship/marriage failings? Yup. She, like Reagan, succeeded and failed often in life. In other words, she was truly human. I say this because I know I seem to glorify her here much like people glorify every celebrity passing away or, worse, every person on the Grammy’s. (There…I had missed a few that I had failed to irritate. 😉 ). That is not necessarily my intent although I hold her in infinitely higher regard than presidents or celebrities. My point in mentioning her flaws is to point you at something bigger: her future. She is clinging on to her Savior as her Lord and her Sustainer. Does that make the problem go away? Nope. It does, however, point to her future and it brings me great comfort to know that. I believe it has also brought her peace even when times have been bad…much of the last 18 months included.
I am not here to preach, nor judge anyone. My point is we all, whether a patient, a caregiver or a person who just stumbled on my blog, have to come to terms with our ultimate end. None of us are getting out of here alive! And, this topic certainly needs to be part of your planning toolkit. I would be happy to discuss with you offline the object of my and mom’s faith at your request. My personal email is appleofmyit@gmail.com or my phone, by call or text or messager is 417-955-2513.
As I sign off today I leave you with this funny little quote from the imperfect but apparently clinging Reagan, whom I would love to meet in heaven:
Update: Mom had a good day yesterday. We had a nice visit as always. She was even a little goofy, even for her and her still sharp sense of humor. Her video expresses perfectly my opinion of winter (and politics) at this point:
#EndALZ
#SuperBowl
Your posts humble my heart and make it so proud at the same time . . . to know you and to have some small bit of view into your pilgrimage. You continue to challenge and encourage me to stand up braver in the faith, Mark.
Thank you so much! 🙂