Random Act of Kindness

Ay-yi-yi!  I decided to write an entry today, but then couldn't figure out how to get to the place where you enter a new blog.  I'm sure they didn't move it...  I just couldn't remember.  I just kept clicking on things until I found it.  Kind of a scary way to start out.

If you read my blog from last week, you remember that I mentioned a gentleman who had come to the house to give us a bid on some painting and a couple tasks around the house that we could not handle. One of those was to install a second handrail on the stairs. When we were talking, he asked if it was okay if he could not get to it for six weeks or so.  I told him that was completely acceptable since I had waited over six months to call him.  When he was leaving, he said "Oh, I bet you would like that handrail up sooner?"

Well, he showed up this week, delivered the bid in person and prepared to install the rail.  After it was installed, we asked him how much we owed him.  His answer?  "This is my gift to you. I know how important it is for your safety."  I think he cut us a break on the price for the painting as well, since it was much less than what we considered reasonable and what we had paid the last time we had painting done.  I have seen a lot of his work at the church where we both belong, so I know it will be quality work by a quality man.

Now, if I could quit changing my mind on what colors I want...

On a different subject... I belong to two different online support groups.  The first is only for those with a confirmed diagnosis of FTD.  It has been my saving grace many times.  We help each other by sharing information we find but mostly, we support each other. We post our frustrations as well as the things that we do that you can't help but laugh at ourselves about.  The second group is open to, not only those with FTD, but also their caregivers.  This one often frustrates me because a lot of the caregivers get a little carried away, in my opinion, when venting about the loved one for whom they are caring.  But, every once in a while, I am able to help someone by giving my input from the patient's perspective.

I was able to do that a couple times this week.  Since I get so much from the group that is exclusively for those suffering from FTD, it was very satisfying to me to be able to help them.  One was just common sense, I thought, but since their loved one was no longer able to communicate, it was something they had not thought of.

Of course there was yet another example of someone on the mixed group insisting I was fine since I was still able to communicate.  This disease is fickle when it decides what to rob from each of us. I can communicate well, as long as it is typed, not so well when speaking.  Writing by hand?  Forget it, Many, many times, I can't remember how to make the letters.  So, that's easy, I keep typing!!