Title : Alzheimer’s Trippin’ with George

Genre: Travel, memoir, Eldercare, Alzheimer’s and Dementia, Bicycling

About the Book

What would you do if you learned that your spouse or partner has progressive dementia, possibly Alzheimer’s disease? 

This is the brutally honest journal of one spouse and reluctant caregiver that “ran for the hills.” Of course she took her husband George along. 

What challenges did Susan encounter?  How can she enjoy the present — a journey across the U.S.A. –  while worrying about the future?  How do she and George deal with his increasing dementia symptoms? 

And the biggest question of all, after 40 years together, can they remain married and loving through it all? 

Travel the U.S.A. along with George.  Don’t let the number of pages scare you, there are LOTS of pictures.  You will glide through the days as they did.  You will learn, you will laugh and maybe shed a tear as you too go Alzheimer’s Trippin’ with George.

About the Author

Susan Straley started to journal at age 16. In 2016 she journaled online to provide a platform to bring her family and friends with them on their road trip across the U.S. As their trip progressed Susan began to share more about their other journey with her husband’s dementia symptoms. This journal is now being published into two books

Her first book, Alzheimer’s Trippin’ with George, Diagnosis to Discovery in 10,000 Miles, shows her passion for openness, honesty, and sharing what she learns along the way…. from sex to incontinence.

Her second book, Alzheimer’s Trippin’ with George – The Journey Continues, Dementia Caregiving with Friend, Family and Community Support is scheduled for release in June 2019.

Susan resides in Inverness, Florida and still enjoys riding her tricycle with friends.

Twitter: @SusanStraley

Facebook: https://bit.ly/2DjzhJN

Website: https://www.susanstraley.com

On Amazon: https://amzn.to/2SGrFKv

George disappears at the Zoo: https://youtu.be/Rr3DQ4xBym0

EXCERPT FROM Chapter “Sex and the Demented”

“We will do that tomorrow morning then,” George says.

I searched through my recent memory.  We had been silent, was there anything I had mentioned about tomorrow?  I had mentioned using the fitness room at the community center.  Was that it?  I had told him we were going to take the back roads to Carbondale, Colorado.  Was that it?

“What will we do tomorrow morning?” I ask George. 

“Have sex,” he says.

I look at him, he hadn’t said a thing during our whole walk other than to echo what I had said or agree with something I had said.  

We were getting close to our cabin and the end of our walk.  Maybe he came along on the walk because he had expectations?  

“Did you think we were going to have sex on this walk?”  I ask.

“No,” he shakes his head and grins.  

I am puzzled.  This just came out of the blue, like he had been having a conversation in his head and thought I was listening in.  I shrug askance.  He mirrors my action.

“Are you just giving me a warning?”  I ask.

“Yes,” he nods and he smiles at me.

“Ok then!  Thanks for the advance notice!” 

That conversation occurred at the end of this day, our last day in the condo near Rocky Mountain National Park…

My review:

:star: :star: :star:

An amazing story of a wife’s love, acceptance and journey of learning to live with her husband’s dementia. I found it very inspiring that they didn’t allow his Alzheimer’s to hold them back from enjoying life.

The author’s positive attitude comes shining through and I love the humorous tone and the hilarious incidents shared.

I’m sure it will be a very inspiring book for those dealing with the onset of Alzheimer’s in a loved one.

The downside for me is that since it is a journal, there are too many details that I could have done without.