LiVE MAGAZINE VOL 8, Issue #203 February 20th THRU March 6th, 2015
Live Magazine from Palm Springs
Live Magazine from Palm Springs
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Blind Perspective<br />
CHASM<br />
By Michael Tapia<br />
By Michael Tapia<br />
<strong>February</strong> 2014, Palm Springs, California. I’m speaking on the phone with my mother. She is<br />
now in her early 80’s and experiencing the onset of dementia and the side effects from the<br />
medications to treat her diagnosis.<br />
“Hi Mom, how’s my Mammy doing today?” I ask (Mammy is a nickname adopted years ago for<br />
my mom).<br />
“Your Mammy from Alabamy?” she jibes, “I’m fine mijo (pronounced meeho, Spanish for my<br />
son) “How are you today?”<br />
“I just ate dinner and thought I’d catch you before you go to bed tonight” I say.<br />
“Oh, what did you cook for dinner tonight, mijo?”<br />
“I cooked a medly of mixed vegetables, with red bell peppers and zucchini squash. Then I<br />
added baked chicken and brown rice.<br />
“It sounds like your momma’s cooking.”<br />
“Yes Mom, remember when you used to cook that for me when I first went blind?<br />
My Mom goes quiet for what seems like an eternity. I can tell she’s processing this information<br />
and painstakingly forming a response.<br />
EVER<br />
SATU<br />
NOV<br />
TO A<br />
EVERY<br />
SATURDAY<br />
NOVEMBER<br />
TO APRIL<br />
9am to<br />
9am to 2:30pm<br />
“Yes mijo, I forget that you’re blind sometimes. I don’t know why. I guess I’m getting old” she<br />
says apologetically.<br />
“No worries Mom. We all forget. I’ll be 59 this year and I have become forgetful myself.”<br />
“59! How old am I now?” my mom asks.<br />
“You’re past 80 Mom.”<br />
My mom begins to laugh hysterically.<br />
“What’s so funny mom?<br />
“I thought I was 60 years old.”<br />
“Well I’ve been told you still look really good<br />
for your age mom but you were already 60<br />
when I went blind almost 20 years ago” I<br />
tactfully remind her.<br />
Again a chasm of silence consumes the phone<br />
line. “Thank you for calling me tonight, mijo. I<br />
think I’ll go to bed now. I love you mijo”<br />
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“I love you mom, sleep with the angels tonight”. I<br />
hang up. I weep. The chasm of silence consumes<br />
me.<br />
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CARE FOR THE FAMILY<br />
CAREGIVER RADIO PROGRAM<br />
AIRS EVERY SUNDAY<br />
The Kae Hammond Radio Show, 6:30 a.m. KJJZ 102.3 FM<br />
PALM DESERT, CA – Ever wonder who cares for the family caregiver? We do! If you are caring for a<br />
loved one with dementia, don’t go it alone. Whatever chronic condition your family member may be<br />
facing, Kae Hammond brings you Care for the Family Caregiver -- vital conversations with the best in the<br />
valley and the nation each Sunday morning at 6:30 a.m. on KJJZ, 102.3 FM.<br />
Tune in to learn important insights from how to live longer, understanding both disease and diagnosis, to<br />
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The half-hour-long radio program is sponsored by Desert Oasis Healthcare, Riverside County Office on<br />
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For information, call 877-699-3456 or visit<br />
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