Mary's Place

A web page about the life of a lady who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

Name:
Location: Piedmont, Oklahoma, United States

I live in Piedmont, OK, with my Husband of 50 years who has been very supportive. We have 2 sons,David and Kenny, 6 grandkids, and 6 great grandkids. I enjoy feeding and watching the birds and squirrels. Before I was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, I ran a Licensed Day Care Home for Infants for 15 years. I noticed I wasn't able to remember important things and having problems with my speech. I was experiencing severe headaches. I would get lost. I didn't know how to use the computer. At the age of 55, I told my doctor. I was sent for an MRI. which showed a large amount of shrinkage. I went to a neurologist who sent me for two days of testing. I was diagnosed with dementia of the Alzheimer's type. My husband and I were both in shock. I had to give up my job. I went to see a social worker. I've taken Aricept for 11 years. I can now use the computer and even do this web page. I also host a chat room for dementia patients. This is a very lonely disease. I don't want anyone to feel as lonely as I did when I was diagnosed (I thought I was the only one over 50 that had Alzheimer's). In 2006 I started taking Namenda. Also I was told I have a mixed dementia, Alzheimer's/Vascular.

Sunday, September 30, 2007

Happy 13th Anniversary David and Lori!!!
This morning I watched the church services on Television then I helped fixed lunch. I watered all the plants and went to chat with DASNI friends at http://alzheimers.ning.com/chatroom.php … Now to finish up my vacation story. September 19th we left Ohio and went to Louisville, Kentucky to visit George and Carol. At my request George had fixed beans and cornbread and it was ready to eat when we arrived. I loved George and Carol’s new patio home. I am so happy they don’t have to do yard work or climb stairs anymore. September 20th George invited all my cousins over for a big barbeque and it was so good catching up with all of them. September 21st George drove us to Cecilia, Kentucky so I could see our birthplace once again. We also toured the Jim Beam distillery. We met up with cousin Ernie and his wife Margie in Brandenburg for lunch. I ordered Country Ham and it was really good and the Blueberry pie wasn’t bad either. Then George took us to Indiana to the casinos. Dave and I left with less cash than we went with and I even gambled away a ten-dollar bill that George had put in the machine for me. I am a poor loser… September 22nd we said our goodbyes to George and Carol and we were on our way to Arkansas to visit Randy and Joyce in Blytheville. They were standing outside waiting for us when we pulled up. We hadn’t seen Joyce and Randy since 94. We were stationed with them in the Air Force at Clovis, New Mexico and later we were both transferred to Oklahoma City to Tinker Air Force Base. Joyce had prepared a delicious meal for us, which included a chocolate pie to die for. We visited that evening and caught up with each other’s children… September 23rd we left Blytheville and headed home. There was no stopping Dave on our way home. He gets like that every time we go on a trip, he can’t wait to get home. It stresses me when he tries to drive too many miles. I just have to bite my tongue and let him go… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma Email me at marylockhart@atlinkwifi.com

This is the house I was born in.


Saturday, September 29, 2007

Peru High School Class of 57


Thanks to Judy in Indianapolis, Indiana for visiting Mary’s Place and signing my guest book at http://www.angelfire.com/ok4/mari5113/index.html … We returned home last Sunday but it has taken me this long to get rested and caught up at home. Yesterday we made a trip to Tinker to get our medicines and groceries… I will tell you about our trip. We arrived in Peru, Indiana on September 13th.. We left the RV park as soon as we got all set up and went to visit my Mother and Daddy’s gravesites. Also visited my sister Lula, brother Billy, and brother Everett’s gravesites. Then we went into town to have a Breaded Tenderloin sandwich. That is what I grew up having and couldn’t go to Peru without having one. We went to the local meat market and picked up some frozen ones to bring home… On September 14th We were invited to Bert and Evelyn’s for a Fish Fry and was it ever good. Bert and Evelyn are really good friends that we have known for years. They were so good to look after the boys and I when Dave spent a year in Thailand. We left their home and went to the 50th class reunion. It was mostly a get acquainted session. I was really nervous about going. But once I got there I was okay and had a good time. September 15th we went downtown Peru and met one of my classmates, Lynn and her daughters, from South Dakota. Dave pushed me in my wheelchair up and down Broadway and Lynn walked along beside us. We reminisced about what Broadway used to be like and it was so much fun. Then went to the museum where they had a lot of stuff on Cole Porter. From there went to tour Cole Porter’s home. That was really neat. They have done so much to that home. It had really gotten rundown. Then we went to the Reunion Banquet. I wasn’t nervous this time. They had nametags for us with our maiden names and a picture of us as seniors. That helped a lot to recognize people. We shared a great meal that was catered by one of our classmates Ronnie Short who has a nice restaurant there called The Siding. It seemed to be all over so fast… September 16th we went to John and Carolyn’s home. Carolyn is an old friend that worked with me at Dukes Hospital for several years. Carolyn had prepared a delicious meal for us and we visited and laughed about old times. We left there and went to an Apple Orchard to pick up a half bushel of apples and some apple cider. That evening we went to see Connie, caught her just before church started but it was good to see her. I couldn’t imagine leaving Peru and not seeing her. Connie and I used to run around together and she was a neighbor when I was in grade school. We left Connie and went to visit another classmate, Barbara and Daniel. We had a nice visit with them and then we went back to the RV Park. September 17th we left Peru and went to near Columbus to visit Howard, and Bill, Dave’s brother and nephew. While we were there Howard’s daughter and grandchildren came to visit. It was nice seeing them. September 18th we went to visit a DASNI friend and her husband. I had never met Duchess and Vince before but it was like we had known each other for years. We chat often at the DASNI chat room. They took us out for a nice dinner and Duchess presented me with a gift of Buckeyes. We sure enjoyed eating them on the trip… I am going to quit now and continue this tomorrow… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma
Email me at
marylockhart@atlinkwifi.com

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Friend Joyce in Arkansas


My Brother George in Kentucky.


Dave's Brother, Howard and Dave in Ohio.


My best friend Lynn and me. 50th class reunion in Peru, Indiana.


Vince, Duchess, Dave and Me in Ohio


Saturday, September 08, 2007

Dave, Mary, Alfred, and Martha



Happy Anniversary Honey!!! Today is our 47th anniversary. 47 years and we have never had an argument. LOL. We are going to Eddy’s Steak and Seafood place to eat tonight. Alfred and Martha will be joining us… Yeah OU!!! Oklahoma beat Miami 51/13… Tomorrow our Grandson Josh will be getting baptized… Please keep Dewey, our brother-in-law in Clemmons, North Carolina in your prayers, he apparently has lung cancer… Please keep our friend Martha in your prayers. She is having knee replacement surgery on Monday... This will be my last entry for a while but I will be back… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Friday, September 07, 2007

David called this morning, he and Lori were walking across the Brooklyn Bridge. Tonight they are going to watch another baseball game between the Astros/Mets. Tomorrow they will fly back home… I did two loads of laundry and fixed lunch before I went to exercise… I helped fixed supper then went up to visit with Kathy… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Thursday, September 06, 2007

Happy Birthday Kerry!!! Kerry is our grandson in Norman, Oklahoma… I didn’t wake up till noon today. Yesterday was very tiring for me and I have been dragging all day. I had to push myself to go to exercise this afternoon. I came home and fixed our supper and started putting things in the motor home… I have given up riding the four-wheeler because I got a lecture in the chat room that I was not to ride it until I got back from my trip. They were afraid I would break something and not be able to go… David called. Wanting to know if we saw them last night on the Letterman show or heard Lori laughing. I told him that I thought I heard Lori laughing… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

David called this morning and they are having a great vacation in New York City. Yesterday they went to see a Yankees baseball game. Today they were going to visit Times Square. They had tickets to the Letterman show and they were going to see a Broadway play… We left around noon to go to Tinker Air Force Base to pick up drugs and get groceries. On the way back home Dave dropped me off to exercise and he came home to let the dogs out and unload the car. Kenny came down and helped him… I am really tired tonight… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Didn’t do much of anything today except play. I did get groomed this afternoon… The Schwan man came and I gave him a large order… Tan and Tone is still closed. It has been four days since I have been able to exercise. I am afraid it will be like starting all over again when I go back tomorrow… Tonight I went four wheeling with Kenny. The neighbor kids thought it was neat to see an old lady on a four-wheeler. LOL… Lynn in South Dakota called, we are getting excited about our 50 th class reunion next week. I hope to get a lot of pictures. I am taking my senior skirt to put on display. I had a 22-inch waist back then… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Monday, September 03, 2007

Happy Labor Day!!!
Thanks to Victor in Newfoundland, Canada for visiting Mary’s Place and signing my guest book at
http://www.angelfire.com/ok4/mari5113/index.html … I didn’t have much of a holiday. I cleaned the bathroom, dusted our bedroom, washed our sheets, and helped fix supper… Dave and Kenny picked the pumpkins, now I hope they will keep till October. I picked our first eggplant and cooked it for supper… I watched the Jerry Lewis telethon. He sure looks good… 90 degrees in Piedmont today… David called to let us know he and Lori were in NYC… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Sunday, September 02, 2007

I attended church services on television then I watched a movie “Sling Blade” I have seen it several times but it was like watching it for the first time today… I hosted chat, deadheaded roses, and watered the flowers outside. It is hard to believe that next week we will be leaving on vacation… I sat outside and watched Dave fly his planes and watched the birds at the feeder… I love this time of year. Beautiful sunset tonight but I didn’t see any deer… David called; tomorrow he and Lori leave for New York City… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Saturday, September 01, 2007

I was able to stay awake last night for the DASNI board meeting. I thought if Frank in England could stay awake I should be able to. Shirl in Australia, our DASNI president resigned last night. She has done a terrific job for several years and will be missed… I had just fallen asleep last night when the phone rang. It was Dave’s brother Richard in Tennessee. He had fallen and broken his hip. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Richard. One of my greatest fears is falling and breaking a hip… Kenny and Kathy just bought two four wheelers. I had to go up today and take one for a ride. It was my first time riding a 4 wheeler. It was fun and more fun watching Kenny and Kathy smile while I rode it… I will be watching the OU/North Texas football game in a little while. Go OU!!! I have three days off from exercising; there was a death in the managers family… Dave planted the Japanese maple tree and I supervised… George and Carol called and Jeanne from Hawaii. She was watching the OU/North Texas game to… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma