Comments for The Last of His Mind http://www.thelastofhismind.com/wordpress Website and blog relating to the book, "The Last of His Mind" by John Throndike Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:39:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 Comment on Smacked by A Pair of Stories by admin http://www.thelastofhismind.com/wordpress/?p=825&cpage=1#comment-542 admin Tue, 29 Jun 2010 14:53:57 +0000 http://www.thelastofhismind.com/wordpress/?p=825#comment-542 You will! You will!

]]> Comment on Smacked by A Pair of Stories by Ann Carolan http://www.thelastofhismind.com/wordpress/?p=825&cpage=1#comment-541 Ann Carolan Thu, 24 Jun 2010 04:45:19 +0000 http://www.thelastofhismind.com/wordpress/?p=825#comment-541 I just finished your book, Another Way Home, and felt compelled to write you. My daughter who is 33 suffers from mental illness and I am raising her 8 year old daughter. Though worlds of difference separate our stories, yet the feeling, emotions, and frustrations of loving and living with this disease run parallel paths. I am "crushed" and broken by your story; yet it has left me more whole because the bits and pieces that I attempt to place together each day to try to understand it all, somehow fit together better today, after reading your memoir. As a writer and artist, myself, I have tried to capture my own story, but so far failed. Perhaps now with your model I will be able to. Perhaps it doesn't really matter. There is love, pathos, and enduring peace in knowing that we have loved these fragile people and carry and cherish throughout our lives the exquisite gifts of children that they have left behind. Enjoy your river trip. Perhaps I'll hear back from you. I just finished your book, Another Way Home, and felt compelled to write you. My daughter who is 33 suffers from mental illness and I am raising her 8 year old daughter. Though worlds of difference separate our stories, yet the feeling, emotions, and frustrations of loving and living with this disease run parallel paths. I am “crushed” and broken by your story; yet it has left me more whole because the bits and pieces that I attempt to place together each day to try to understand it all, somehow fit together better today, after reading your memoir. As a writer and artist, myself, I have tried to capture my own story, but so far failed. Perhaps now with your model I will be able to. Perhaps it doesn’t really matter. There is love, pathos, and enduring peace in knowing that we have loved these fragile people and carry and cherish throughout our lives the exquisite gifts of children that they have left behind. Enjoy your river trip. Perhaps I’ll hear back from you.

]]> Comment on A Cup of Black Coffee by David Sanders http://www.thelastofhismind.com/wordpress/?p=819&cpage=1#comment-535 David Sanders Mon, 31 May 2010 14:18:43 +0000 http://www.thelastofhismind.com/wordpress/?p=819#comment-535 John, That passage struck me when I read it in the book. I had a similar situation with my own dad. I took him out to dinner for his 91st birthday and insisted on paying, much to his real consternation and objections. He objected so much that it erupted into a quarrel. He died a month later. I really wish I could take that back and could have been more gracious in letting him have his dignity which was tied to his ability to pay his own way. I guess we never stop making mistakes, even when they're born in good intentions. Nice post. John, That passage struck me when I read it in the book. I had a similar situation with my own dad. I took him out to dinner for his 91st birthday and insisted on paying, much to his real consternation and objections. He objected so much that it erupted into a quarrel. He died a month later. I really wish I could take that back and could have been more gracious in letting him have his dignity which was tied to his ability to pay his own way. I guess we never stop making mistakes, even when they’re born in good intentions. Nice post.

]]> Comment on Idle for Hours at A Time by Velma http://www.thelastofhismind.com/wordpress/?p=772&cpage=1#comment-508 Velma Mon, 19 Apr 2010 19:17:54 +0000 http://www.thelastofhismind.com/wordpress/?p=772#comment-508 Read the book this weekend. Loved the book, and your father, and your caregiving insights. You'll be coming to Dayton this November to speak at the Family Forum. Hurray for us! I look forward to meeting you and hearing more in person. On coercion, I struggle with that regarding everybody, but in particular with people over whom I hold some measure of power, those closest to me, most notably my daughter. There are no easy answers. We must keep thinking and what seems correct today may not seem correct tomorrow, so we either embrace the ambivalence or suffer from a sense of inadequacy. I say embrace the ambivalence. And keep thinking. Read the book this weekend. Loved the book, and your father, and your caregiving insights. You’ll be coming to Dayton this November to speak at the Family Forum. Hurray for us! I look forward to meeting you and hearing more in person. On coercion, I struggle with that regarding everybody, but in particular with people over whom I hold some measure of power, those closest to me, most notably my daughter. There are no easy answers. We must keep thinking and what seems correct today may not seem correct tomorrow, so we either embrace the ambivalence or suffer from a sense of inadequacy. I say embrace the ambivalence. And keep thinking.

]]> Comment on Stories from Those Who Knew My Father by admin http://www.thelastofhismind.com/wordpress/?p=742&cpage=1#comment-506 admin Wed, 14 Apr 2010 12:27:39 +0000 http://www.thelastofhismind.com/wordpress/?p=742#comment-506 Thank you, Sandy Kraimer. And imagine how much more I have thought about my father because I wrote this book! The book, and keeping this blog about it, ties me to my father every day. It's a kind of prayer, a bond, a way to keep him close. Thank you, Sandy Kraimer. And imagine how much more I have thought about my father because I wrote this book! The book, and keeping this blog about it, ties me to my father every day. It’s a kind of prayer, a bond, a way to keep him close.

]]> Comment on Stories from Those Who Knew My Father by Sandy Kraimer http://www.thelastofhismind.com/wordpress/?p=742&cpage=1#comment-505 Sandy Kraimer Thu, 08 Apr 2010 21:03:09 +0000 http://www.thelastofhismind.com/wordpress/?p=742#comment-505 I absolutely loved your book. When I finished it, I missed and thought about both of you for a long time. Your stories hold many great life lessons and I wish you the best. I absolutely loved your book. When I finished it, I missed and thought about both of you for a long time. Your stories hold many great life lessons and I wish you the best.

]]> Comment on Quotes from Mignon McLaughlin by michelle ajamian http://www.thelastofhismind.com/wordpress/?p=747&cpage=1#comment-493 michelle ajamian Fri, 12 Mar 2010 07:44:00 +0000 http://www.thelastofhismind.com/wordpress/?p=747#comment-493 on sex and money, as i recall, you responded to that critique with the invitation to me that we tell each other everything about our money. (we had already told all about the other, as i recall.) on sex and money, as i recall, you responded to that critique with the invitation to me that we tell each other everything about our money. (we had already told all about the other, as i recall.)

]]> Comment on Plans in Case of Alzheimer’s by Kathleen http://www.thelastofhismind.com/wordpress/?p=675&cpage=1#comment-336 Kathleen Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:36:23 +0000 http://www.thelastofhismind.com/wordpress/?p=675#comment-336 After spending a great deal of time in numerous nursing homes the last several years and witnessing how many people with Alzheimers are sitting in wheelchairs in thousands of nursing homes across the nation. One wonders if given the chance to do what Micheal is working on how many would choose to make a plan before they have lost their minds? As one of Micheal's friends a Psychologist said to him. "you are talking about cutting into the Pharma and nursing home industries profit margins" hallways in wheelchairs After spending a great deal of time in numerous nursing homes the last several years and witnessing how many people with Alzheimers are sitting in wheelchairs in thousands of nursing homes across the nation. One wonders if given the chance to do what Micheal is working on how many would choose to make a plan before they have lost their minds?

As one of Micheal’s friends a Psychologist said to him. “you are talking about cutting into the Pharma and nursing home industries profit margins”

hallways in wheelchairs

]]> Comment on After A Reading at Mac’s Backs by Kathleen http://www.thelastofhismind.com/wordpress/?p=691&cpage=1#comment-335 Kathleen Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:31:14 +0000 http://www.thelastofhismind.com/wordpress/?p=691#comment-335 John the stories that you are hearing must just be amazing. One wonders how people dealt with Alzheimers one hundred years ago. John the stories that you are hearing must just be amazing. One wonders how people dealt with Alzheimers one hundred years ago.

]]> Comment on Cheap Baby! by Kathleen http://www.thelastofhismind.com/wordpress/?p=637&cpage=1#comment-334 Kathleen Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:27:59 +0000 http://www.thelastofhismind.com/wordpress/?p=637#comment-334 "But I’m glad he did." How things change “But I’m glad he did.”

How things change

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