Happy Birthday Randy!

Randy turned 73 on Sept. 7th. 

33 years ago he was gifted an art piece created by our friend Bob for his 40th birthday party. We all got such a kick out of it. Of course we all imagined he would be playing his 12-string guitar well into his twilight years. 

We never imagined he'd stop... nor receive a dementia diagnosis.

 Although unlike the art piece, Randy still has a head full of black hair and still so handsome.

When I visited Randy on his birthday he stared deep into my soul and I felt such a strong connection. Those moments are so rare. But then he leaned in for the sweetest kiss. I was stunned. Oh how I needed to know he is still there and still knows me. 

So grateful to God.

Happy Birthday Honey ~ from your Sugar

 

Dementia Park - Tempe Arizona

A year after my husband Randy was diagnosed with Frontotemporal dementia, Tempe became Arizona's first dementia-friendly city. I couldn't have been more proud of our city.

But it gets even better. 

"Tempe is now developing a new park for people with dementia, which the city is calling the “first-of-its-kind” in the country." (posted Sept. 2026)

And it will be located a mile from our home.

"The park will also be hugely beneficial for caretakers whose role can be demanding and isolating." 

The park will be a “thoughtfully-designed place” where those living with dementia “can safely enjoy the outdoors while their caregivers have a chance to rest, breathe and simply enjoy being with the person they love,” said Tempe council member Doreen Garlid, who was the former caretaker of her late father who had dementia.

Tempe council member Nikki Amberg said the project is “deeply personal” for her and that such a park would’ve been a “safe haven” for her mother, who was the primary caretaker of her late father who had Alzheimer’s.

“She was stuck at home, because I think she felt that was only the safe space that she had really to care of him,” Amberg told Arizona’s Family, adding, “So this kind of a park would have been so wonderful for her; it would have been able to get her and my dad out of the house.”

Love that part of the article. As Randy's caregiver for 7 years before I placed him 8 years ago, I would have loved to have had a safe place to take him, without the worry of him walking away. Cuz he was a fast walker! So we stayed home.

Then I got to thinking...

Remember when Dog Parks starting showing up everywhere? Well, it quickly became more than taking your dog to a park to run free and interact with other dogs. People were interacting with other dog-lovers! I witnessed it when we'd take our dog to the dog park. It was becoming the new social hang out! 

That's what I see happening at this Dementia Park. Isolated caregivers desperate to get outside with their loved ones, to socialize, to connect and share their story with fellow caregivers. A place to rest, to be seen, to breathe in the fresh air - knowing their loved ones are safe.

Oh how I would have benefited from such an outlet. Caregivers face such a high risk of compromising their physical and mental health because of stress, exhaustion, isolation and neglect. That was definitely the case with me. I once drove myself home from the ER with my blood pressure at 204/98. And that was much lower than it was when I arrived. But I was so upset I wouldn't make it home on time when Paratransit dropped Randy off from Adult Daycare. And they were notorious for driving off without checking to see if he got in the house. So thankful the ER Dr decided I would be better off going home, with a promise to have my MD adjust my BP meds. 

My heart goes out to everyone carrying the heavy burden of caregiving at home.

The Dementia Park article

I can't post without a photo. So here's my handsome husband & I celebrating our 47th Wedding Anniversary on August 25th.

Randy still has a head of black hair, and mine matches his grey beard!

 

The 20th Birthday of My Blog

I posted my very first blog post August 13th, 2006 ~ 20 years ago today!

I've written 1014 posts in 20 years

LindaThompson.blogspot is named ~ Reminisce & This & That

(from the animated Disney movie Robin Hood)

"Reminisce & this & that
And havin' such a good time
Oo-de-lally, Oo-de-lally
Golly, what a day"

If there is one movie our family quoted a lot over the years ~ it was Robin Hood.

Anyway, I've had so much fun reading old blog posts, stories I've written about the past, and the present. I've laughed and cried, giving thanks to God that I documented the details of my life, along with Randy's life leading up to his Frontotemporal dementia diagnosis in 2014. 

My life was a blur after he was diagnosed. I read those posts now and thankfully the memories come back. But they would be long gone had I not written them down.

I am linking you to the 2nd post I ever wrote ~ HERE

'62 Chevy Impala ~ '69 Dodge Charger

I was only planning to stay a year when I moved to Phoenix, AZ in 1977 with my best friend Linda. But 2 months before we returned to WI, I met my future husband. I immediately knew Randy was the one. We wrote letters that summer and I soon made plans to return to Phoenix. I was thrilled when he called and asked if I wanted to buy his Mamaw Bean's '62 Chevy. I had never owned a car before, and had no clue what a '62 Chevy even looked like! So Randy's Dad sold it to me for $500 (sight unseen), even though he had neighbors offering to buy it for $1000. This car was a gem!

But then... I found out it was a standard on the column. So when I arrived back in Phx. Aug. 28th, 1978, Randy spent every Sunday afternoon for weeks teaching me to drive it around the Luke AFB area. Finally I was ready to drive it to the rental house I shared with 2 roommates. 

Oh how I loved that solidly built boat with the ginormous steering wheel. And you better believe I quickly removed the original clear plastic seat covers that were installed in 1962! Yes, they got so hot that when I got in the car wearing shorts, I received some pretty bad burns. Although the turquoise naugahyde seats weren't much better. 

 

So what was Randy driving when we met? His beloved '69 Dodge Charger. He practically rebuilt the entire car. He poured gallons of blood, sweat and tears into that car! Literally! 

Oh how he loved that car! 

But then... there was that Sunday afternoon when he drove it over 100 mph ~ at the urging of a college friend in the front seat with him... while on our way to sing at a tiny Baptist church in the little town of Maricopa in 1977. Omg, the G-force seriously pinned me to the back seat of the Charger. I was so scared out of my mind that I started crying. I thought I was going to die. Needless to say, he never went that fast ever again. 

That I know of... 

You can read the blog post I wrote in 2007 about moving to Phoenix and meeting Randy 6 months later ~ HERE

July Milestones

 July brings to mind a few memorable milestones.

My husband was placed in a memory care facility 8 years ago. (2018)

My husband's book A Believer's Journey was published 2 years ago. (2024)

My husband's brand new website was launched 1 year ago. (2025)

Randy was diagnosed with Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in 2014, although I sensed that he was not himself as early as 2010. Thank God he wrote a book just before he was diagnosed. And so thankful his legacy lives on through his children, his music, his book and website.

Randythompson.org 

Randy's website is filled with his music info, sample songs, lyrics to 90+ songs off his 8 CDs, his book info and so much more. I recently lowered the price of his book on Amazon.

A Believer's Journey

Randy has been on Hospice 2 1/2 years but was recently discharged. Medicare is really cracking down and now requiring they be actively dying to be on Hospice. That was a huge blow. I feared how the lack of extra care would affect him. But so thankful palliative care is on board and it's going well.

Randy is now in a wheelchair. I can't begin to tell you how hard that has been for me. Walking was his favorite thing to do. In fact his only thing. He rarely participated in activities. He rarely interacted with others before he stopped talking in 2020. But he walked. all. day. long.

Randy is still very healthy. He would have lived a very long life if not for dementia. He has actually outlived the 2-8 years life expectancy after symptom onset. At 72, Randy is now in his 16th year. Although I would miss him terribly, I want him to be with Jesus so bad. But only God knows the number of Randy's days. I am just so thankful he is peaceful, and not suffering. 

I wish I could say the same. I have struggled to fully trust God these past 16 years. I actually did real well the first several years. But this long goodbye is taking a toll on my mental health. My friend recently pointed out that I have been in a very long trial. I was stunned, as I guess I thought of a trial as being more short-lived... not a 16 year trial.

Trials are difficult life circumstances, tests of faith, and periods of suffering designed by God to build spiritual maturity, character, and endurance. 

As the years have gone by, I have grown so weary and tired... and sadly I've failed the testing of my faith. I want the trial to be over. But then there would be others. So I lay in bed every morning and cry out to God for peace, strength and total dependency on Him.

Do not fear the road ahead, for God walks with you, His hand will guide you, and his grace will sustain you through every trial.  Deuteronomy 31:6

 In the midst of it all, I have so many blessings!

• my caregiver support group ~ Makers of Care
• pickleball with new friends
• phone calls with my siblings
• my dear elderly clients ages 89 and 100
• Randy's wonderful caregivers
• zoom calls w/ dear high school friends
• Doc - a 2001 tv series on Tubi - so good!
• my new FTD friend from Minneapolis
• and my amazing grandkids!

               Nathan +  Emolyn + Cora + Will + Theo + Hazel + Elsie + Jonah + Mimi

Joy in the Unknowns

 

So thankful I captured this photo of Randy on Mar. 28th, 2024 ~ 2 years ago today.

Randy's frontotemporal dementia journey has progressed very slowly... symptoms starting in 2010, 16 years ago. 

When I found this photo I could see how much he has declined in the past two years.

I recently noticed that while a lot of the residents have an angry/sad resting face, Randy doesn't. He has a peaceful resting face. I am so thankful for that. Because even though Randy can no longer express himself verbally or facially, Christ in Randy's heart is clearly evident because of God's love for Randy and Randy's love for God.

God is love and anyone who lives in love, lives in God, and God lives in him. 

I John 4:16

 I recently read this ~

Don't forget to picture the best case scenario, not the worst case scenario.

That's me ~ dwelling on the unknown ~ Randy's passing, my future, finances, maintaining my home, the day-to-day decisions that paralyze me. 

But joy in the unknowns of life can be found by embracing uncertainty as an opportunity for me to grow in my dependency on God as my rock, my protector. 

The best case scenario? Fully trusting God, His sovereignty, peace, joy in the journey, contentment, the courage to travel, be adventuresome, road trips alone with Jesus riding shotgun, supporting women on their dementia journeys, creating in my sewing room, being grateful and accepting of all that I have been given.  

So thank you God ~ for Randy, his caregivers, his awareness of who I am, the memories we share, my family & friends, my health, my home, 

my caregiver support group (Makers of Care) and...

Theo, my 3 year old grandson says I'm his best friend! Oh how I love that curly-haired little boy! I am so blessed! 

My dear friend Helen is 100!

 I've been caring for a precious Christian woman for the past several years at an Independent Living facility. And she has become one of my dearest friends. Well…

Helen turns 100 years old on March 12th! 

Helen turns 100 3 weeks after my Dad would have turned 100. And 5 weeks before Queen Elizabeth would have turned 100. Yes, 1926 was a very good year. 

The address book Helen is holding in the photo was given to her when she was 18 years old in 1944! That book is 82 years old and still in great condition and filled with addresses!

She still lives alone, is doing quite well and so proud of her Danish heritage. Helen completed nurses training after HS graduation, through the Cadet Nurse Corp in Sioux Falls, SD.

Every week we have "church" in the apartment she has lived for the past 25 years. (after her husband passed) We sing hymns from a huge book of "101 Lutheran Hymns". And she knows every single word to every single hymn. Often times I will cry while singing my favorite hymns ~ recalling sweet memories while growing up attending a Lutheran church in Wisconsin.

I Need Thee Every Hour

Onward Christian Soldier

Beautiful Savior

Blessed Assurance

What A Friend We Have In Jesus

I also want you to know that Helen has been faithfully praying for me for all these years. She will often ask about Randy and prays for him too. She loves when I show her weekly photos of my granddaughter Hazel, because she had a sister named Hazel. Helen was the youngest of 9 kids growing up in South Dakota. Her brother recently passed at 106. I tease her that she's still a spring chicken at only 100 years old!

I recently took a fall while on a morning walk. For a split second I thought 'I need to call my Mom!' But she's been gone for 9 years. So I assessed my bruised bones, bandaged my wounds, and went to work. But when I limped through the front door, Helen could see I was a mess. She was so concerned and caring... like my Mom would have been. God was so good to give me Helen that day.

Today I will come bearing gifts ~ balloons, milk chocolate bars and Danish Aebleskivers (pancake balls)! Danish Kringles and Aebleskivers from Trader Joes are the best! And Helen's favorite's!

I am so blessed to have Helen in my life. Happy 100th Birthday!