Tim Baker

Not that it matters that much, but I just wanted to say (based on my experience at the hospital yesterday) that not every hospital is a good thing. In fact, some hospitals, or parts of hospitals, are really bad places. Yesterday we sat with the most unhelpful doctor I have ever met. The guy clearly did not want to speak with us and he treated my dementia/Alzheimer’s friend like they were an insignificant child. He did not at all understand the gravity of what Alzheimer’s patients deal with. I’m at the very beginning stage of underestanding how to help someone with this disease, and I’ve got a lot to learn. So, maybe this is lesson #1 for me - not everyone gets it, not everyone understands the gravity of losing your memories or of being unable to care for yourself. Not all doctors appreciate the struggle some people have in caring for someone with memory loss.

It’s frustrating that I can’t say more. What a frustrating experience. Next time I’ll be more prepared.

I’m spending some time this morning with a close friend who’s battling a memory / brain related disease. There’s probably no way to accurately describe, from my perspective as someone who doesn’t suffer from this, what it’s like to be in the beginning stages of Alzheimers. At first it looks like someone caught in an unending series of forgettings…they can’t find their car keys, they’ve lost their books or can’t find that thing they just laid down. Every conversation seems frustrating because they’re never sure if they’ve already had that conversation, which, I think, turns them into a hermit. It’s safer.

Well, from watching it, I’m thinking that memory loss (call it Alzheimers, Dementia, whatever) is one of the cruelest diseases. It slowly robs the person of valuable things…memories of their children. It takes their dignity and leaves them at the mercy of others. It’s really, really frustrating to watch.

So, this morning I’m the driver, the reminder, the room finder, the ears for the doctor’s words, the assurer, and the friend. When you get the chance, pray for my friend. Thanks.

I mentioned last week that this past weekend felt like a monster. Well, it was. Here’s the highlights.

Thursday night we went to see Nicole in her schools production of Cats. The students did an amazing job. I wrote about that here.

Months ago we planned an all night Rock-A-Thon for our Mexico trip this summer. Several weeks ago, when we realized that we’d met our fundraising goal (we have an extremely generous church) we weren’t sure what to do with the event. So, we used the night as an opportunity to train the students going on the trip. Turns out, our missions trip students made up just 1/3 of the people at the event. Everyone got Spanish lessons, Mexican praise songs, and ate Mole which was, by the way, fantastic. Only a few of us stayed up all night (you people who slept are WIMPS). We played several hours of crazy group games. I’m not sure I can really pick one highlight, but a few have to be the scavenger hunt in Super-1, the trip to the Panaderia, watching people eat cactus, and playing “Honey If You Love Me” at midnight. It was a very good time.

Jacqui’s sister and her husband were in town for the weekend so we could celebrate their kids birthdays. So, I slept for about ninety minutes and headed out to McDonald’s for the party there.  We had fun. Slept for a bit that afternoon and then worked to set up for Jacqui’s piano recitals on Sunday. And, of course, there was all kind of other stuff going on.

Jacqui’s piano recitals went very well. She has the opportunity to teach about thirteen really great kids. It’s fun watching them get better with their piano skills, and it’s been great keeping up with just a bit of what’s happening in their lives. Our ancient digital camera tanked the night before so I had to sprint out and pick one up before the recitals (bummer), but other than that they went perfectly.

Today (Monday) is about resting, cleaning and getting ready for the week. My sleep schedule is all out of wack. I’m behind on a few things, and I need to get a few things started. And, I’m speaking at this Sunday’s services. We had a brief meeting yesterday about the direction for worship this Sunday, and I’m thrilled about what’s being created.

So, there’s a lot to do this week!

I’m going to try this the first chance I get. Very cool, with brainsoothing background music.

Last week I stopped by my kids school to visit briefly with a teacher and on my way out decided to put on my Embarrassing Dad hat. I stopped at my oldest daughter’s classroom as they were starting class, pushed my face against the window and made a few faces until someone saw me. I waved at my daughter, opened the door to embarrass her just a bit more (with an “I love you Nicole…have a great day!”) and the teacher invited me in to read from my book.

Read from my book? It caught me off guard. It’s not something I hear very often.

Turns out, the class has been reading a little bit each day from one of my books. I can’t imagine how weird (or possibly annoying) it is to have to listen to your dad at home, and then at school too.

So, I stood in class and read a story about Nicole when she was very young, and what God taught me through watching her, and then we prayed for a bit. It was very, very weird to read my thoughts outloud in that environment.

Dutch industrial artist Christiaan Postma created this very cool clock that spells out the hour using over 150 different clock mechanisms. It only tells the hour, but it’s really cool to watch in action.

View this very cool flash animation for how the clock works here.

Tonight was opening night of the LCS musical Cats. The students did an amazing job. The makeup was really good, so good that I couldn’t tell who several of the kids were. They sang very well and did an amazing job with the material.

Weirdest part of all was seeing my oldest, Nicole, in the cast. She did a great job in her first musical. I’m very proud of her. Yesterday she was a tiny bundle and today she’s a singing-dancing-meowing almost adult. When she’s forty-five and finally leaves home, we will miss her greatly.

I think Twitter is a silly. BUT, this constantly rotating Twitter map is so very cool. Check this out.

And it’s gonna be a doozie, too.

Thursday through Saturday is Nicole’s musical performance. She’s in the chorus for her school’s performance of Cats. We’re going Thursday night and I can’t wait to watch my kid. Nicole has been working hard, spending a lot of her time at the school getting ready.

Friday night - We’ve got family coming for the weekend to stay with us. We just love ‘em, and their kids and will have a huge blast with them in our house hanging out and goofing off. There’s also an all night party / Lock-In for our Mexico Mission Trip Friday night too. It’s an intense night of movies, games, a scavenger hunt around the city, time with a spanish tutor, learning mexican praise songs and mostly, goofing off.

Saturday - Recover, musical, set up for Sunday’s recitals, clean church.

Sunday - Jacqui (the World’s Greatest Piano Teacher) holds her Spring Recitals. This year because of some major scheduling conflicts, she’s having two back to back. We’ll listen to, record and enjoy the piano playing of her students, and hang out with their parents. And then, we’ll clean that up. There’s also set striking at the school for Nicole.

And on top of all of that there’s errands, work and a ton of other stuff that needs to be done. It’s probably not a lot of stuff for some families, but it’s a lot for us to have going on. What a wonderful adventure.

My two daughters have been talking about their eyes a lot lately. Nicole wears glasses, Jess doesn’t. Jess has been having headaches and we haven’t been able to figure out what’s happening in her skull, and Nicole has been saying “Dad, those birds at the birdfeeder look like two brown blobs” a lot, so, we stopped by the doc’s and got them checked out. Whiz-bang-boom, before we knew it, Nicole was walking out with contacts. We didn’t plan on contacts, but had one of those quick parental conversations and caved (Nicole had been asking for a few days…). A few observations…

1. Your kid looks a lot older without glasses. At least mine does. Older and beautiful.

2. I am not prepared for my daughter to look older yet. Who can I blame for her getting older? I may need therapy to help me deal with her older-ness.

3. I relate to my kid differently with her sans glasses. Maybe it’s because I can see her whole uninterrupted face.

Anyway, this site has some cool pictures that kind of demonstrate what I’m talking about. People look different with glasses. It becomes part of their personality. Cool site…check it out.