Am I Dreaming
I lie awake on my bed at night,
Head on pillow, eyes shut tight,
Thinking about what it all means,
Trying to figure out, some of my dreams,
I had one last night, where i was running fast,
Was I trying to, escape my past?
Or was I running towards what my future holds?
I wonder how it will all unfold,
Until I know, I`ll try to sleep,
And into the future, I may peep,
If you see me there, give me a wave,
To be in MY dreams, you are very brave!!
Ups and Down`s
One day I`m happy, one day I`m sad,
Am I just going completely mad?
One day I am singing on the top of my voice,
The next just dithering over the simplest of choice,
They say its depression, something called Manic,
Is it something to laugh at, or rush into Panic?
You`re so happy go lucky, my friends always say,
They don’t see my crying, at the end of the day,
So if your best mate`s on a high every time,
Joking and laughing, giving off his best shine,
Sometime`s remember, alls not what it seems,
Behind that great smile, could be broken dreams,
And when next day dawns, on your favourite lad,
He could be in pieces, and ever so sad
Written just before I was diagnosed, now I know why I am the way I am, best wishes, Norrms and family
Never
A
Typical Day
Some days i wake without a cloud in my head,
Other days i wished i had stayed in bed,
Did i ever do something so wrong?
That made my days ever so long
I can remember quite clearly when i was Ten
And how simple everything seemed back then,
Nowadays I’m lucky to remember,
What happened yesterday or last September!
I know my memory will eventually go,
But before it does, i just want you to know
I’ve got some fantastic kids, and a beautiful wife,
And i have them to thank for my wonderful life.
God Bless you all
Norrms
That’s
Asda
Price
Just been shopping in Asda,
There wasn’t half a crowd,
The Tannoys and the people,
Sounded very very loud,
Rushing here, rushing there,
People pushing by,
Mothers ranting, husbands shouting,
Children starting to cry,
I feel like shouting “Please Be Quiet!
My head is ready to burst,
Every time i shop in here,
I always fear the worst,
This frightened look upon my face,
Is clear for all to see,
But they have no real idea
What is worrying me?
I look the same, i smile the same,
I shop the same as them
But the difference is, they do it once,
Not time and time again,
So if you see me, in your local Asda,
With a trolley load of Tatties”
It’s not that I’m obsessive,
Or just a great big Fatty,
It’s because I`m ill, not raving mad,
My mind is playing a game`s
And i pray with all my heart,
You`ll never do the same.
Best wishes, Norrms and family
Going
Too
Fast?
Another week over, another week gone,
Not quite sure what happened, not sure what I’ve done,
I ask my wife and she answers with a smile.
We had a great time and walked mile upon mile,
We saw all the children, took them for a walk,
Listening to them laughing, hearing them talk,
We were one as a family, so close and content,
And all of our children, were heaven sent,
I listened to my wife, and all that we did,
With me on the swings, I’m such a big kid,
So come on you Alzheimer’s, you do your worst,
But always remember, my family come first!!
God Bless
Norrm`s and family
Explaining
To
Mum.
My mum`s just turned eighty and I’m fifty one,
And I’ve always tried to be a good son,
But this was hard, coming from me,
Trying to explain that I’ve got AD,
Shouldn’t it be the other way round?
She said to me with a frown,
I`m glad it’s not I said to her,
That would be too much to bear,
She has the cancer; it’s at stage four,
Life has nearly closed its door,
So there I was with teary eyes,
Explaining all between the sighs
Telling her I’d be ok,
And to live our lives from day to day,
When all was said, I looked at her,
So full of love, so full of care,
I knew then the job was done,
Just want to say, I love you mum.
Watching
The World
Go
By
As I sit here, watching the world go by
Keeping my secret, trying not to cry,
Thinking of things, I’ve done in my life,
Before and after, meeting my wife,
Who would have thought it would end like this,
Never remembering that first kiss,
Or the dates my kids were born,
And the wedding dress my wife adorned
Life can be cruel and thoughtless to
When there is so much to do
But while I can, I will remember well,
Life`s adventures and stories tell,
Of times gone past and future plans,
And holding my children in my hands
As I get older and things get worse,
And you become my full time nurse,
Thank you so much for all you do,
I would have done the same for you,
And to all you carers who give without thought,
Your time and love which cannot be bought,
I salute you too for all you do,
May God keep you safe and healthy too
If My
Eyes
Could Talk
If my eyes could talk, what would they say?
That I love you more, every day?
Would they say thank you for all you do?
For keeping me safe and healthy too
The AD means i cannot talk
But my heart and yours both will walk,
Down life’s road hand in hand
Playing the same tune just like a band
Dancing together as we have always done
Loving life and having fun
So look into my eyes and you will see
I’m no different really, just the same old me.
Best wishes to you all Norrms
Gardening
With
Alzheimer`s
As I sit here in my garden, wondering what to do,
Trying to remember the flowers names, and the roses too,
Remembering all those days gone by,
Endless summers and clear blue sky,
Knowing all the names, of course in Latin as well,
Now it’s “which is which? Far too hard to tell,
Watchng all the flowers dance,
Roses sway, pansies prance,
Some names will stay with me, I hope for all my life,
But some I will forget, amongst the mist and strife
And until that day arrives, when i remember none,
Endless summers and blue skies gone,
I will continue to plant till my heart’s content,
Because all Earths flowers are heaven sent
Its
Ok to be
Scared
It’s ok to be scared he said to me,
Just after telling me I’d got AD,
That’s ok for you to say,
Don`t you know you’ve just ruined my day?
Sitting there without a care,
Looking over your glasses in you big plush chair
What happens now, do I pray?
Or just carry on from day to day,
As if nothing’s wrong? That should be fun,
When you`ve just said my life is done,
What do you mean there is no cure?
Of that are you absolutely sure?
Well I for one do not believe,
That these symptoms you can’t relieve
So I will go now and try my best
To be the winner of my new Quest!!
There is always hope, best wishes, Norrms and family
The pub
On
The Harbour
Twas on a night like this, in 1984,
When the wind and rain came banging at the door,
We were in the pub, Bill and me,
Then Tom came in and that made three,
The howling wind made a mighty roar,
I looked, and through window saw,
Lightning stretched across the sky,
Then the thunder came with a deafening sound
Hurting our ears, shaking the ground,
I looked at Tom, and then Bill looked at me,
Not knowing what to say, just hearing the sea,
Battering the harbour, coming over the walls,
But with pints in hand we three stood tall,
Trusting our pub, to keep us safe and warm,
Against the winds and this terrible storm
And when it was over, we peeped through the door,
To see thousands of branches, blown to the floor,
And water receding back to the sea,
So it was back the bar, for Bill Tom and me.
I`ve Got through
Another
Day
I’ve just come back in from sitting in the sun,
With my old wooden bench burning my bum,
Looking aloft at the clear blue sky,
Thinking of my life passing me by,
Wondering how, things will turn out,
Will i go with a whimper or as loud as a shout?
Looking around, surveying all that I see,
Listening to birds and the buzzing of bee`s,
Is it all worth it? Comes into my mind,
Am I just like the others, or one of a kind?
There`s a lot more people worse off than me,
Some unable to walk and unable to see,
But I must admit, there are certainly times,
When I scream “That’s enough” it’s cruel to be kind,
But then it passes and when I calm down,
I look in the mirror at my big frown,
But quickly that changes, I smile there and then,
And think that I`m lucky, I’ve survived once again.
The
Time Has
Come
The time has come the Walrus said to speak of many things
But he never mentioned AD and the misery it brings,
I’ve had enough! You hear me cry, I’ve had enough of this,
My wife holds my head gently, and plants a loving kiss,
I know you have my darling Norrms, please don’t give up the fight,
You have to fight this cursed thing, fight with all your might,
But it’s so hard on certain days, when nothing makes much sense,
To smile and be so cheery, it’s such a great pretence,
I know deep down how you feel, and long to be set free
But Norrms you are my life and mean everything to me,
This is how or little chat, was supposed to clear the air,
And yet i still felt cheated, life is so unfair,
So i will carry on, just for now, we will have to wait and see,
What about the future? What will be will be?
The Fight
Never Ends
Is it too soon to be talking of this?
Secretly remembering our first kiss,
Of how you will manage when I’m gone,
When my fight is finished, over and done,
I ask you this with tears in my eyes,
Trying to stifle a million cries,
Don’t be so silly, you`ll outlast me!
Is always your answer, but please will you see,
I need to make sure that life will be kind,
And then you can rest and have peace of mind,
I need to say this before the AD,
Removes all my memories and steals them from me,
I didn’t mean to make you cry,
Just want to be sure that you will get by,
You take hold of my hand and say” Listen to me”
Your going nowhere, why can’t you see,
We are in this together, no matter how long,
Nobody`s singing their last song,
You have provided for us, all of your life,
And I`m proud to say that i am your wife,
We have wonderful kids, and grandchildren too,
All of them grateful for the kindness from you,
Then I say Shhh; please just let me say,
That when my time comes, no matter what day,
You shall remember, that very first kiss,
And how all our life has been absolute bliss,
And do me one favour, is my question to you,
When you look up, at a sky that’s so blue,
Always remember, I will always love you,
And please say goodbye to all of my friends,
And always remember “ The Fight Never Ends”
Out
Of The
Darkness
Some days are good some days are bad,
One day happy but many more sad,
Because this illness knows no rules,
You just can’t fix it with your tools,
But when you get a few good days,
With no clouds or shimmering haze,
Make sure you grab them, hold them tight,
And cherish them with all your might,
Because i do believe one day,
One that’s not very far away,
Out of the darkness we will walk,
Heads held high, talking the talk,
And until that day is here,
Every day we will cheer,
We don’t care what AD does,
I`m with my friends on the friendship bus,
And together we will stay,
Until that glorious winning day,
When at last they find a cure,
And they will, of that i`m sure.
Best wishes, Norrms and family xxx
THE FLEETING TOUCH
The fleeting touch of a gentle kiss,
Your hand in mine and a warm embrace,
All these things I do miss,
As I gaze upon your beautiful face,
I know that sometimes you all think,
I`m not here but far away,
Just because I stare and blink,
Doesn’t mean I have nothing to say,
If I could, I would tell you,
Not too worry it will be ok
Because I love you for all you do,
Even though I cannot say,
I see you hide your tears,
And wipe them from your face,
And in your eyes I see the fears,
As clearly as through lace,
So I thought I’d write this down,
Just to tell you this,
Please will you smile instead of frown?
And will you gently place a kiss,
On my cheeks or on my lips,
These kinds of things I do miss,
As from your loving cup i will always sip.
Too Much
Bear
How much in life are we asked to bear?
No matter how much we care and share,
How many times do we ask?
Please don’t give me one more task,
But when it comes we always try,
To do our best, it’s do or die,
We are only human after all,
But we always go beyond the call,
Always putting others first,
Looking after, gently nursed,
It sometimes feels never-ending,
But with all my love I am sending,
To all you carers, you know who you are,
Who are full of love and so much care,
Thank you, from Norrms and all AD sufferers all over the world
WHEN ALL IS LOST
Sometimes when you think all is lost
And it couldn’t get any worse
Then something else comes along
And you’re convinced you’re cursed,
When every door you walk through
Seems a million miles,
And all that you are longing for,
Is that all familiar smile,
Just cast your mind back to a time,
Not so long ago,
When all your worries were little ones,
And you never once felt low,
Those days are in your memories,
And will never go away,
So just remember the happy times,
And in your heart will stay
The one that you’ve loved all your life,
And who has loved you so,
They don’t want you to feel like this,
They don’t want you to go,
They see you’re hurt, your sorrow and pain
If you look into their eyes,
How they would love to call your name,
And wish away the cries,
But until that day when they find a cure,
Just do what you do best
Just love and care for each other
And all will pass the test
Best wishes, Norrms and family xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ONE DAY
Maybe one day, my story will be told,
How I was once young, before growing old,
And how I used to live my life,
Before I met my darling wife,
Of how I once, stood so tall,
Always keeping my eye on the ball,
I`d never stop running while playing a match,
And some girls thought I was a very good catch,
All those times seemed to pass so fast,
But I wanted every day to last,
Just that bit longer so I could stay out,
But if I was late home, I would get a big clout,
My parents were strict but look at me now,
Always polite without wondering how,
I became that way and who I am,
Brought up on butties, that was made of jam,
No worries, no problems, life was a breeze,
I lived through my teens with relative ease,
Now I look back at what I have done,
It’s now nearly time for the setting of the sun,
So goodbye my friends, to you one and all,
Life`s been so good, it’s been quite a ball,
This is my final farewell; it gets harder each day,
To get out of bed and say what I say,
So I thought I would say, the way that I know,
I will remember you all, and love you all so,
For as long as I can, I promise you this,
And close this last line with such a big Kiss.
Thank you one and all, best wishes and keep the faith,
Norrms, Elaine and family
Here
And
There
I’ve been away, but now I’m back,
But I’m going away again,
But this time it’s on holiday,
Where I certainly won’t get thin!!
We are going to Exmoor to see the beast,
It’s just my wife and me,
No mobile phones to bother us,
So much to do and see,
The last few weeks have been so hard,
Much more than we could take,
So It`s off to Exmoor for both of us,
We really need the break,
But there`s one thing that I will say,
If I had one wish,
That my AD would stay at home,
It really wouldn’t be missed!!LOL,
But no matter what, I know this,
A great time will be had,
Especially if Elaine lets me,
Be a little bad LOL
Gone too
Long
I’ve been gone too long, far too long, as far as I’m concerned
We`ve been on holiday on Exmoor moors with every corner turned,
The badgers came every night and said hello to us,
We even went round Minehead, on an open topped bus,
The weather was kind and sunny, every single day,
And I must admit there were times, when we thought we might stay,
But to Torquay we came back, and to a brand new flat,
And it took me many days, to recall, where I was actually at,
With so many things going on, it was hard for me,
To actually remember, this is where that I should be,
But thanks to you know who, my angel in disguise,
Calmed me down, showed me round so it was no surprise,
It still feels strange living here, and will do for a while,
But I’m sure I will cope, with my everlasting smile,
And there`s one thing that’s for sure, and I will never lack,
Is the support from you, my dear friends,
It’s so so good, to be back
Best wishes, Norrms and family xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
When The
Surgeon
Says
When the surgeon says the odds are not good,
And you might not survive the op,
When you lie there with your mind racing,
Wishing time would stop,
Thinking of all the things you’ve done,
And all the things you`ve said,
Knowing in your heart,
That within an hour you could be dead,
It’s surprising what you think about,
And all the things you`ve done,
Remembering winters snows,
And the warmth of the glorious sun,
But the first thing I remembered,
Were my family and my wife,
And the many many journeys
We had travelled through our life,
I didn’t want to leave them,
Life is so unfair
I’ve still so much to give,
And show them that I care,
Then I remembered with such dread,
That I still had AD,
And no matter how hard I tried,
Some memories I couldn’t see,
But I was so determined,
I was going to see this through
And the last words on my lips,
Was “Elaine I love you”
Then I felt my eyes closing,
As they sent me off to sleep,
No more time to worry,
Only peace to keep,
I really can`t explain,
The feeling between the cries’
When I knew I was ok,
As I opened both my eyes,
Within a minute Elaine was there,
Standing by my side
And together holding hands
We both broke down and cried,
So when you think that all is lost
And nothing can be done,
Just remember winters snows,
And the shining of the sun
Best wishes, a very grateful Norrms and family xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Growing old
Do you see what I see? When you are growing old,
Can I tell you what I see, if I may be so bold?
I see myself at twenty one, and not at fifty two,
Laughing, joking walking tall, what else can I do?
I know that these old bones, troubled with AD,
Will bring me crashing down one day, for everyone to see,
So what’s so wrong of living life, full and to the max?
Instead of moping round all day, limp, sad and lax,
Life`s too short and precious, every single day,
But it’s every single night, that I kneel and pray,
That a cure will come for everyone, who needs the cure to come,
So when the morning comes, with the rising of the sun,
We have the hope to carry on, each and every day
So we can do just what we want, laughing all the way.
Best wishes, Norrms and family xxxxxxx
Memories
Of
Bolton
I used to live in Bolton, my mum my dad and me,
But then I moved to Devon, when I was forty three,
The best years of my life, were spent in Bolton town,
Growing up on cobbles, my knees a dirty brown,
We used to play on “Barlow Park”, footy and the like`s
Or down in Bluebell forest, rallying on our bikes,
At weekend we`d go walking, over Bolton moors,
Rolling down the great big hills and climbing on all fours,
Then off to Moss street baths, for our weekly swim,
Or down to Silverwell Street, to run around the gym,
Then as we got older, the “Palais” was the place,
To get to know the girls, and dance with awful grace,
And every Thursday night, the “Navada” we would go
To skate our little legs off, skating backwards for a show
And when we went to fast, the bouncers would be there
In their bright red jackets shouting “Oi You! Skate with care,
So here I am in Torquay, why I hear you cry?
It’s because we have such good weather, But GOD I miss the pies!!
Just Wanted
To Say
Thanks
This is a poem to all my friends,
To say thank you for what you do,
To all you guys on Talking Point,
I love you through and through,
No matter what life throws at me?
You are always there,
With good advice and words of cheer,
So full of love and care,
The days ahead? No one knows,
What`s about to happen.
But there`s one thing that’s for sure,
You will always keep me laughing,
So thank you all for what you do best
And long may it continue,
Elaine and I send all our love,
To every one of you.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Why can’t you remember?
My Name
Hello my love, yes it’s me, I’ve come to sit with you again,
Yet all I seem to say to you is “do you remember when?
I see you smile, I see you laugh, I also see you cry,
And I wish that I could answer, when you ask me why?
If I had that answer, I would surely tell
The reason for all this, and your living hell,
There`s nothing I wouldn’t do, to change the way you are,
So all that I can do is to give you loving care,
But all has changed forever, nothing is the same,
But if I had just one wish, you would say my name,
Just one more time is all I ask, it’s something I do miss,
But until then I’ll just be happy, with a tender kiss
Best wishes, Norrms Elaine and family xxxxxxx
Putting On
Brave Face
If there`s one thing that I’m good at, and do it every day,
Is smile and laugh and joke, whilst hiding my dismay,
My friends they come and visit, saying, you look really well,
I smile and shake their hands, yet I’m in a living hell,
I sit there sometimes staring, at my darling wife,
Wishing things were different, and have a better life,
Don’t get me wrong, I`m grateful, for everything they do,
I know that they all love me, and I love them too,
But as time goes by I`m getting tired, of smiling, being happy,
When I know deep inside I`m feeling really crappy,
My Angel says “when it’s your turn, you will surely know”
Yet sometimes I do feel, I should be letting go,
But I`m scared, not for myself, but what will happen when,
My family they don’t have me, and have to start again,
So I suppose I’ll keep on smiling, and joking all the way,
Living life to the full, enjoying every day?
Christmas
Past
Looking back to last year, and the Christmas that we had,
I never could have imagined, the bad year that we’ve had,
We lost a member of our family, who was oh so close and dear,
He left a gap oh so wide, the hole was filled with fear,
Then just a few weeks later, I was really ill,
And I thought my heart, would finally be still,
But through all this we kept on smiling, the only way we knew,
And relied on friends and family, to care and pull us through,
Now this year’s nearly over, and I must say I am glad,
But `I`m still as happy, and very rarely sad,
So bring it on 2010, we will have to wait and see,
I know whatever happens, it is meant to be.
Best wishes, Norrms and family xxxxxxxxx
Christmas comes but once a year,
But it never comes without a tear,
Looking back to Christmas past,
Wishing those days would forever last,
All our problems were very small
Great times had with one and all,
When it always snowed on Christmas day,
Parents watching children play,
But now those days are all but done,
With fading memories nearly gone,
I’ve loved my life and all I’ve done,
With its snowy winters and summer sun,
How much longer can I last?
How I long for Christmas past.
What will the next day year bring?
What will next the day bring, is the question I ask today,
Will it bring just happiness, or sadness and dismay?
It’s so hard to look forward, when you’ve got AD,
Just living day by day, saying what will be will be,
Take a walk in my shoes, is what I often say,
Look at life through my eyes, it never goes away,
The sadness, guilt and terrible feeling of knowing what’s to come,
Knowing deep down, in your heart, that nothing can be done,
Always smiling, being happy, is sometimes hard to do,
My darling wife thinking, I can see I’m losing you,
The waves of depression come so fast, never knowing when,
They will go away, so I can start again,
To try and smile and live my life, always to the fullest,
To give my family all my love, because they are the best,
And when it’s finally over, and I have lost the fight,
To those I leave behind, you must fight with all your might,
To end this awful suffering that we are going through,
And fight it to the end, that’s what I am going to do!
Best wishes, Norrms and family xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Shopping
Just been shopping for Christmas stuff,
Watching wives and husbands going off in a huff,
Heavy breathing and bright red faces,
Like human horses going through the races,
Children screaming, mummies shouting,
Teenagers in Debenhams with mouths pouting,
Dads in the pub with their mates,
Ordering pints and take away crates,
Then there`s me, in the middle of this,
Needing a hug and a little kiss,
Watching my wallet emptying fast,
How long will this Christmas last?
Then it’s time for home, a little bit lighter,
And not just my wallet that I grab tighter,
Because it’s too late, my moneys all gone,
Still, at least, the shopping is done!! LOL
Boxing Day
Woes
It was Boxing Day last Saturday, and everyone was there,
Laughing, joking and drinking, and all without a care,
Children running wild, shouting oh so loud,
And there I sat, watching all, head filling with the clouds,
Then I started to worry, about the future and the like,
As my grandson showed me, his spanking new pushbike,
The youngest one was on my knee, he`s only three months old,
Dreaming dreams of angels, and stories yet to be told,
I watch them all with such pride and the older children too,
Wondering when I’ve gone, what are they going to do?
My one and only hope, is they remember well,
Some of grandads stories, and tales that I did tell,
I hope they don’t remember, the times when I was ill,
When I was really sick, and always taking pills,
So when my time is up, and I go to see the big guy,
I want them to be happy, and not for them to cry,
And I want all them to know, my suffering is over,
And always remember grandad when you see a four leafed clover
2009
Well that’s it, were nearly there,
This year is nearly done,
Along the way we’ve shed some tears,
But also had some fun,
Yes we`ve had our ups and downs,
And many laugh`s as well,
Talked of many things,
And stories we did tell,
But there`s one thing that stood out,
Way above the rest,
The friends I’ve made on here,
Are the very best
Through times that were hard,
Sometimes too tough to call,
You all stood by my side,
Together we stood tall,
So from me and all my family,
I would just like to say this,
Thank you one and all,
We send a great big Kiss xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
New Years
Vow
The start of yet another year,
And I’ve made a New Years vow,
To spend more time with those I love,
And to make the most of now,
Time is precious and goes so fast,
We`re always in a hurry,
We need to stop, enjoy the view,
And spend less time on worry,
We can’t count on material things,
For our happiness and health,
Love and loyalty, family, friends,
Are surely the greatest wealth?
So as this fresh New Year begins,
Let’s all make a new year’s vow,
To spend more time with those we love,
And make the most of now.
Monday
Morning
AD
Monday mornings here again, it’s time to start afresh
I wonder what this week will bring; I’ve got to try my best,
Just plod along doing what I do, I`m grateful for every day,
And try to deal with most things, that happen to come my way,
But the thing that always haunts me, and is forever there,
Is my AD sickness, it’s such a heavy thing to bear,
I try to shake it off, on my good days at least,
But it is, always there, just like a sleeping beast,
And when it comes awake, for everyone to see,
I just want to scream, THIS REALLY ISNT ME!!
I want to be how I used to be, quiet but having fun,
But now I know I’m like this, until my days are done,
So Monday morning comes and goes, and we do it all again,
I wish they would find a cure for this, But only God knows when
Fiona Phillips
First, the tears and then the dread came creeping into mind,
After watching Fiona Phillips, so gentle and so kind,
Looking after her father, with so much love and care,
But deep down always knowing, I will soon be there,
To suffer from this horrid thing, it couldn’t get much worse,
But knowing that you have it, is a dreadful curse,
I watched the first one last year, but nothing’s really changed,
Although this comes as no surprise, this time it was arranged,
To stand up and be counted and raise your voices high,
Instead of turning round and standing idly by,
Yes it’s true I’ve got AD but this I promise all
I will be stood proud and loud when I hear the call!!
Best wishes, Norrms and family xxxxxxxxxxxx
I
Haven’t Got The
Plague
As I walked through town today, I saw a friendly face,
But as he walked towards me, he then walked past with pace,
I`m sure that he had seen me, and saw my friendly wave,
I’ve only got Alzheimer’s, and not Bubonic plague,
Why do people treat me so, why are they so cruel,
I`m just the same as them, not some bumbling fool,
Some are friends I have known, all my working life,
Who used to chat and laugh, to both me and my wife,
But now most of them act, as if I don’t exist,
And all the good times that we had, are just a distant mist,
I still laugh and I still cry, and still know that they’re there,
Even when they ignore me, without a fleeting care,
But at least I know now, who really are my friends,
And ones that I can trust, right up to the end,
So those friends I have lost, I say to one and all,
I hope the dementia demon, never comes to call,
Best wishes, Norrms and family xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Every
This is a poem that needs to be said
About my illness before I am dead
I’ve rambled down so many roads,
Sometimes carrying such heavy loads,
The obstacles that I have faced,
Along life`s road or some other place,
Have made me strong so I can fight,
This dreadful illness with all my might,
I have good days and I have bad,
Sometimes happy, sometimes sad,
This is without doubt my biggest test,
But I`m hanging on, doing my best,
Every day when I awake,
The best of it I try to make,
Even when the clouds appear,
Frustrating me, shedding tears,
I still have hope and always pray,
They will find a cure, soon one day,
But until then I promise you this,
I will embrace life and all its bliss
Best wishes, Norrms and family xxxxxxxxxx
Last
Night`s
Dream
I had a dream last night, that I was twenty one,
It was full of fun and laughter, not a life that`s nearly done,
I was standing in a nightclub, looking here and there,
Without a single worry, without a single care,
Then in the corner of my eye, I saw you stood so proud,
My heart went all a flutter; I was sitting on a cloud,
I walked towards you on that night, and took you by the hand,
Then we danced very slowly while listening to the band,
In my dream I could still smell, the perfume that you wore,
And we danced the night away until our feet were sore,
When the night was over and we had to say goodbye,
I`m sure I saw a little tear, in the corner of your eye,
I turned to you and said, your company I would miss,
You walked towards me slowly, and then we shared a kiss,
At this point I awoke, to find you lying there,
All snuggled up in bed, with your tousled hair
While you’re asleep I`ll keep you safe, and quietly tell you so,
That I am very happy I met you long ago,
So sleep in peace my darling, and remember this,
The one thing I`ll remember, is that very first kiss
A Walk in
The Park
Just been for a walk on Torre Abbey,
Elaine, Sam, Jack and me.
Sammy`s only one,
And Jack is nearly three,
The sun was out shining,
The sky it was blue,
How pleasing to see,
The “Daffs” popping through,
Oh how I wish,
Life was the same,
Always regenerating,
Never staying the same,
Then every spring,
Those people with AD,
Would suddenly get better,
And be set free,
But until that time,
I will enjoy,
The time that I have,
With my wonderful boys
Best wishes, Norrms and family xxxxxx
Peace
Of Mind
As the fog clouds my brain, and confusion reigns again,
I ask the same things many times, sometimes nine or ten,
Trying to make my footsteps follow, one after the other,
And saying sorry so many times, trying not to bother,
My darling wife who tries so hard, to help me all she can
Even though I feel inside, I am a broken man,
Gone are days of endless dreams, or futures that we had,
And times of scuffed or dirty knee`s, when I was a lad
Instead the words just won’t come out, try as I might,
To say the things I want to say, and to say them right,
All of this because of AD, and everything it brings,
With all its awful luggage, destroying everything,
Oh how I long for peace of mind, and revert to days gone by,
When there were no tears, or watching my wife cry,
As for the future, who knows what it will hold,
Who knows maybe one day, my story will be told?
Fro
Illness`s come, illness`s go but Alzheimer’s here to stay,
Until they find a cure I hope, maybe soon one day,
For us that have this horrid disease, early or late stages,
It feels like we are cursed, or kept in little cages,
With no hope of reprieve, or even of parole,
Fighting, wanting every day, to climb out of this hole,
Seeing things through eyes, that feel they don’t belong,
To any of our heads, something’s always wrong,
Trying to explain how we feel or how we see the world,
And only ever wanting, our story to be told,
Trying to cram in, from ceiling to the floor
All we need to do and say, before the closing of the door,
So please be patient with us, in everything you do,
Whilst always remembering, we are still in love with you
Going Out
My Mind
This last two months we’ve had a terrible time,
Making me think I’m going out of my mind,
Its bad enough suffering from AD,
Without all these things happening to me,
Am I being selfish when I say me?
If it sounds that way it isn’t meant to be,
The last few weeks I’ve been watching my mum,
Slide into dementia from a bundle of fun,
Because that’s what she was, always so funny,
With an attitude and smile, that always seemed sunny,
I have come down to earth, with a terrible thud,
After a glimpse of my future, where nothing is good
I want my mum back, but it’s not to be,
Is that what Elaine will be saying about me?
I`m dealing with this, as best as I can,
But I’ve got to admit, I’m not the same man,
I feel so broken, I can’t do anything right,
Sometimes I get tired, of fighting this fight
So please bear with me, if I’m not quite the same,
After all said and done, nobody`s to blame,
It`s the way life goes and it’s just a test,
But I promise you this, I’m trying my best
Losing Touch
Reality
Seeing shapes and figures, appearing here and there,
Hearing familiar voices, shouting without care,
Voices I haven’t heard, for forever and a day
Straining to hear, exactly what they say
Even though I know, that the voices that I hear,
Aren’t really there, yet they feel so near,
I knew this day would come, it’s happening right now,
How long will it be, before I don’t remember how?
I arrived in the street or find myself in town,
With nothing on my feet and feeling really down,
Alzheimer’s disease, and all that it entails,
Is so soul destroying, and it never fails,
To bring you to your knees, it eats away at you,
And the worst is the knowing, there`s nothing you can do,
I know I have entered, yet another stage,
And so life goes on, I’ve turned another page,
So if I disappear one day, never to come back
Please don’t ever think, its backbone that I lack,
But that my epic battle, I fight each and every day,
Has not ended how I wanted, but gone the other way
Best wishes, Norrms and family xxxxxxxxxxx
When Grandchildren
RuleThe World
When Grandchildren rule the world,
What a wonderful place it will be,
From the snow-caps pole to pole,
Stretching far across the sea,
There will be Dragons, Prince`s and dreams,
Coming true at every turn,
Seahorse`s, Dolls and lollies,
And money trees for all to burn,
The laughter in the homes,
Will be forever heard,
While children spread their arms,
And soar just like a bird,
The sky will be made of ice cream,
And the rivers flow with juice,
When grandchildren rule the world,
What fun to be let loose.
Best wishes, Norrms and family xxxxxxxx
Mums
Birthday,
My mum is eighty one today; I wish I could be there,
To give her such a hug, and gently stroke her hair,
Eighty one years old, the things that she`s been through,
Bringing up us kids, and knowing what to do,
I was gently guided, up to my teenage years,
By this wonderful mum, without too many tears,
But I live so far away, down in deepest Devon,
My mum is up in Bolton, gazing up to heaven,
She`s said so much, seen so much, done it all before,
Now she`s saying goodbye, with the closing of life`s door,
So happy birthday to my mum, from your eldest son,
And I will always love you, until my life is done
Norrms and family xxxxxxxxxxxx
Time
Think
Let’s just take time to think,
Of happy days gone by,
Of those days we rocked with laughter,
And not the days we cried,
That cheeky grin, that knowing look,
Oh the tales that could be told,
What about that winters night?
When we were both so cold?
Now the Dementia Demon`s here,
Trying to take them all away,
And I am trying oh so hard
Willing them to stay,
I cannot think of any other disease,
That treats you oh so cruel,
It strips you of your dignity,
Tries to make you look the fool,
But please have faith my dearest friends,
I just know one day,
That a cure for this Alzheimer’s,
Will surely come our way,
Until then with head held high,
Walking side by side with you,
We will fight the “Dementia Demon”
Doing whatever we have to do
Living
Two
Lives
My dreams they come thick and fast
I`m just an actor in this cast,
All night long they come and go,
Do I get a good sleep? The answers no
Remembering all when I wake,
Not knowing how much more I can take,
Alzheimer`s came and won’t go away,
This disease is here to stay,
Everyday my memories diminish,
But my dreams don’t, they never finish,
Every night when I go to bed,
And I lay down my weary head,
I close my eyes and hope and pray,
Those pleasant dreams will come my way,
Don’t get me wrong they are not all bad,
But every night? Just gets me mad,
From going to sleep till I wake up,
Forever dreaming, never stops,
It’s like living two lives’, asleep and awake,
All this dreaming`s hard to take,
Knowing which is which, is my new quest,
I`m trying hard to do my best,
Thank
You,
NOT!!
Thank you Alzheimer`s and heart failure,
For taking my life away,
I thought that all my family,
Were always here to stay,
But thanks’ to you two,
This is not so,
My mind ebbs away,
And my memories go,
And then there`s my heart,
Palpitations’ and all,
Having heart failure,
Means my heart is not small,
Beating away,
At a much slower rate,
Dragging me nearer,
To that eventual date,
When my body says,
Enough is enough,
And I’m lying quiet,
Not looking so tough,
Who give you the right?
To take me away,
When all that I want,
Is my family to stay?
But I`ll tell you what,
I will promise this,
I`ll treasure each moment,
Not a second will miss.
Will
Survive
I wake each morning, and open my eyes,
Trying to remember where I am.
Sitting at the edge of the bed,
Remembering what I can,
Sometimes I sit with head in hands,
Thinking this is just a dream,
But then I look around me,
Is normality what it seems?
I have this urge within my heart,
And it tells me to stay strong,
But then my mind takes over,
And I realise something’s wrong,
What day is it? What time is it?
Is this really where I live?
I still have so many things to do,
I have so much to give,
What time do I have left?
No one really knows,
How many more glorious summers?
How many winters snows?
But there`s one thing that I`ll say
I will always have the drive,
To go forward and to Conquer,
I promise “I Will Survive”
Forever
Friend`s
Alzheimer’s then palpitations beating through my chest
If it wasn’t for my family I would lay me down to rest,
No one knows what we go through, as much as I explain,
The tears, the fears the sorrow, the everlasting pain,
It’s the knowing that’s the killer, of what is yet to come,
How long will it be? Before the setting of the sun,
My speech is getting worse, I forget many things,
I dread each day arriving, and everything it brings,
I try to smile though all of it, pretend that all`s ok,
Hurting deep inside, worrying every day,
That my illness is getting worse, each and every hour,
Instead my memory`s fading, wilting like a flower,
Today is good, tomorrow`s bad, no two days the same,
Sometimes I get so angry, but nobody`s to blame,
So on I walk and sometimes skip, but I never run,
And there are even days, when I have such fun,
So don’t despair, don’t worry now, I will be ok,
I hope we`re friends forever, and that’s the way it stays
What Do You Mean I Have Alzheimer`s?? Ive been Dieting For Goodness Sake !!
These are absolutely brilliant. I hope other workers on here and students are reading these... and all the other things you have written. Your writing gives us a lot of insight into Alzheimers and I thank you for contributing here on community carespace forum thing. Keep posting!
Wow this amazing, keep it up Norms...............i dont know anyone who has Alzheimers but reading all your poems has given me some insight into what you are going through. keep the faith and continue to keep strong and keep fighting it. Take care
You are very welcome my friend, just hope it helps, best wishes, Norrms and family xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
You are very welcome my friends, just hope it helps, best wishes, Norrms and family xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
These are brilliant, I've supported people with dementia / alzheimers and these show exactly how people manage with these conditions
Thank you so much, if there is anything i can do to help, please just ask, best wishes, Norrms and family xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Norms... would you be able to write one about your involvement with social workers and care/support workers? Perhaps highlighting the positives and negatives of having social workers etc (that is preuming you have one). It's always good to gain feedback in creative and imaginative ways :)
Best wishes to you and your family
AndyPandy
hiya Andy, hope this helps, best wishes, Norrms and family
Professionals
I’ve
Met
Social workers and CPN`s always get the blame,
When it all goes wrong,
But what about the good they do,
For which they`ve worked so long,
Helping all, doing the hours,
Above and beyond the call,
When all others take a “Pop”,
They always stand so tall,
It’s a job you wouldn’t do,
Or probably do much better,
Trying to follow every rule,
Straight and to the letter,
So I for one would like to say,
For when the going gets real tough,
You answer every call,
And if you didn’t do the job,
Whatever would we do?
So here`s a special thank you,
For everything you do
Hiya Andy, hope this helps, best wishes, Norrms and family xxxxxxx
Beautiful stuff Normms, you've brought a wee tear to my eye.
Need to step outside now.
Aww thats lovely!
Yep, I'm a softie deep down
How are you at present Norms? Any more poems / gems of wisdom for us?
Fantastic, i have laughed and shed a wee tear too lol
Brill ....
keep posting xx
Best Wishes to you and your family x
Hi Norrms
Saw your blog post recently in the other section of this website. How are you keeping? Looking forward to your next poem or blog post.
Best Wishes
Andy
Hiya Andy, i am very well thank you, hope you are the same, best wishes, Norrms and family
Just read these for the first time....everyone should !
Thank you my friend, please feel free to share with who you like, thats what they are there for , best wishes, Norrms and family
For more please click onto
http://dementiaawarealliance.wordpress.com/
Hi
I read your inspirational poem on 'Ups and Downs' and would like to use it on my just giving running page as i am running the London Marathon for the Alzheimers society this year
Your poems are very powerful
I hope this is ok and wish you well
Julian Seal
University of Brighton
of course you can and good luck,, could you please include my website? Its
Norrms and family
Thank you again
I have included your link on my page
feel free to browse/post
https://www.justgiving.com/Julian-D-Seal
Thank you my friend and good luck