It's a Sign I tell ya! Memory Walk for Alzheimers

In every family there is a blend of personalities.  Sometimes it makes an eloquent cocktail other times it is a fruit smoothie.  Yeah, my family is the latter, and the exotic ingredient that gives this fruit smoothie its kick is my sister.

Karen is the one with the thick mane of hair, dazzling smile and bubbling personality.  She is also about the size of a Tic Tac. Flamboyant, she makes a statement simply by walking into a room.

She is the one who can't change the bag in a vacuum cleaner, totally ( and I mean totally) freaks out at the sight of a spider ( with the exception of the one on the back steps that she named Harry or something ... ), thinks the new stove is great, but fails to realize it can do more than cook Frozen pizza.  She is one of those gals that is rarely seen without her 'face on' , even asked me when I was in premature labor if she had time to put on some makeup before taking me to hospital. ( She does admit quickly that was a dumb question). She was also the one who backed the car up on top of a fence the first time she drove to school.("who put that fence there?" )

Think the TV show "The Nanny" and you got my sister.  Karen's catch phrase is " Have You Met Me?"

Karen is also the one who shoulders the most in the family.  She is now living with Dad,  and was the one who was there with Mom through the Alzheimer's.  (Yes, so was my Brother, but men handle things different).  

Mom lost her battle to Alzheimer on Sept 24, 2005.  Karen was there with her, and for the past five years has been struggling to come to terms with the lost, with the disease, and with the fear of one day one of us may develop it.  She is not alone.

Karen called me the other day, all excited.  She was looking for a way to commemorate the Anniversary of Moms passing, but really was at a lost for something unique.  Then she was asked about walking in a walkathon by her co-workers at the assisted living center where she works.

" they asked if I would be interested in a walkathon , I said sure... when?  They said Sept 25.  I asked what for? and they said it was the ALZHEIMER'S MEMORY WALK!!!  The day after the anniversary of Moms death!  It is a sign I tell ya!!" ( that the Irish Mom coming out ... everything is a sign)

But truly this IS a sign.  To be able to walk and raise money and awareness for the very disease that claimed our Mother the day after the 5 year anniversary of her death IS a sign.

To help raise money for this, now til September 15th I will set aside $1 or 10% which ever is higher from EVERY sale at Renagade's for this Memory Walk.

Won't you stop by and check out the variety of items and help by buying one or two things?  This just maybe the thing to help not only my sister come to terms with the lost, but you can help find a cure.  Millions of children of Alzhiemers patients live in fear that one day, we shall develop this disease that robs the mind, leaving behind the shell of a person.  A fear of everytime you forget something you wonder, "is it starting?"  Trust me, even for those of us whom may never develop the disease, the fear of it is crippling.

I am proud of my Baby Sister, and wish I could walk with her.  But she knows I will be there in spirit, as will our Mom.

We miss you Mom .... 111

www.bonanzle.com/renagade 




More on my raising and losing mom : http://renagadelife.blogspot.com/2010/02/half-irish-half-italian-all-love.html