'Twas the night before Christmas,
When all through the house
A caregiver was scurrying,
Caring for her dear spouse;

His stockings were placed
Upon his feet with great care 
In hopes he felt well enough to step
      out for some fresh air

Their children were scattered,
All snug in their beds
Around this great country,
Not a care in their heads
And the caregiver who worked nights,
'Cause the funds they did tap
Had just settled down for a five minute nap

When in the next room, there arose such a clatter,
She sprang from her bed to see what did splatter.
Away past the bed sheets she had thrown in the trash,
Tore open a new set and hoped these would last.

The weight on her breast was of one who did know
That, by the luster of daybreak
Her sorrow would grow
When, what in any other year
Would be a thing quite so dear
That time when her family would visit
From far and from near

With no one to hold her, since her loved one took sick
She felt that the holidays were just a mean trick
More rapid than eagles her friends they did flee
When they could no longer travel or even take tea

No Cohens!, no Schwartzes!, no Millers!, no Dicksons
No, Olivets, no Lutids, no Donners and Micksons
For a while they gave support, for a while did they call
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away to the mall!"

As new restaurants that before were easy to try,
When her loved one was too sick, away did they fly
So now with the holidays, the family will do
with the sleigh full of presents, and bad advice too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard in the drive
Aunt Nancy and Chloe and all my in-laws arrive.
As I had in my hand, a bedpan disposal bound
I turned very quickly and tripped over the hound

My man was a mess from his head to his toes
And his clothes were soiled and not easy on the nose
A bundle of nerves, I shout out very loud
Words, which to this day, do not make me feel proud

He lie there so quiet, not saying a thing
When suddenly his laughter filled our home
Like a fresh breath of spring

He doubled over with glee making such a roil
That he slapped a bad knee through
    the all too grim soil
As his eyes twinkled through all the great mess,
This old dear for a moment, 
Forgot the pain of this past year 

On a normal night, the pain of his stump
Would make tighten his teeth,
But tonight, for a moment, his laughter
Caused such uncommon relief
That the joy of it encircled his head like a wreath;
As he lie on the bed he shook his round belly, 
For all the world, not unlike a big bowl of jelly.

He was lying there laughing, like a jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
When, all of a sudden, the door burst opened
      wide as can be
And what did I see, the Cohens, the Swartzes
and Aunt Nancy all looking at me
With nary a word and they made up the bed
Then they all straightened up and got us both fed

They all had not known the support that I needed
But once they saw they could help,
They learned and succeeded
In sharing the heart, the soul and the care
That I always was sure was really right there

I hadn't spoken a word of the great strain
     and the work
That I thought they had all turned into one major jerk
After knowing what help each could give if I did ask
I never alone had to shoulder the entire task

We had time to play and to sing and to wet a whistle
Until away they all flew like the down of a thistle
But I heard my loved ones, as they drove out of sight
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!
And, we're coming back, next Friday eve
To take you for a bite."

 

Take care

Gary Barg
Editor-in-Chief
gary@caregiver.com

---

Register for a Fearless Caregiver Conference

---

Let's Talk About It - December 2008
If you are unable to attend a support group in person, do you have someone you can call who understands your situation?    To participate in this this month's discussion, click here.
Share The Gift of Support Customized Gift Subscription Cards A cost-effective and successful way to support your caregivers.
Today's Caregiver magazine's Gift of Support gift card subscription program is an easy and inexpensive way to recognize and support those caregivers for whom you care. The Gift of Support program will personalize your message on full color gift subscription cards, available in discounted quantities of 20 or more. Mail them directly to your caregiving friends and clients, present the cards in person at events or regular meetings or Today's Caregiver will even send them for you at a small additional charge. Now is the perfect time to send the gift that caregivers really need. A Gift of Support subscription to Today's Caregiver magazine will be remembered and appreciated issue after issue. For more information on our gift card program, click here.
Parkinson's Disease Information - 866-650-2865
Today's Caregiver magazine Supports Your Conference
	Non-profit organizations:   Contact us and we will provide complimentary magazines for your conference attendees.   All you pay is shipping and handling. Don't miss this opportunity! To sign up, click here
www.emphysematrial.com
Take a look at the new books in our bookclub.  Listen to the interview with one of the authors.
Feature Article
Reaching People with Alzheimer's Through Music
By Barbara Jacobs, M.S.
Dr. Oliver Sacks, Professor of Clinical Neurology and Psychiatry at Columbia University, in his current bestselling book, Musicophilia, writes about the amazing therapeutic effects of music on people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias....Continued
Careverse
The Gift of Now
By Ann Fowler A hedge row stitches suede sky to prairie patches. I brake for a weathered, red truck and read the "eat beef" bumper sticker. My pulse slows as Public Radio plays Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring. ...Continued
Today's Caregiver magazine - Nov/Dec 2008 Issue
Caregiver Story
Confessions of a Recovering Caregiver
By Daphne Simpkins
Since my three-year stint as my father�s caregiver I wrestle with socially unacceptable urges to comfort, feed, and water just about anybody...Continued (Do you have a story? Tell us.)
New! on Caregiver.com Sharing Wisdom: Tips from Family Caregivers
The best ideas and solutions for taking care of  your  loved one often come from other caregivers.  Please post your ideas and insights here and we will share them with your fellow caregivers.
Caretips
Nourishing Holidays
By  Rita Miller-Huey
Ah, ��Tis the season�.� But for many of us, it is another day of the same old thing, or, maybe worse, it is a time when there are even more expectations and responsibilities placed upon us than we usually face. ...Continued
Have you ever used the Personal Emergency Response System (PERS)?  If so let us know about your experience.  Email us.
Carenotes
There will be no carenote this week. This feature will return in January.    Have a blessed and peaceful holiday season. View past carenotes
Caregiver.com Support Group Directory. Click here for information about any caregiver support groups in your area. Caregivers need your help. Please add information about your local support groups to our Support Group Directory. Include the name of the group, where and when it meets, city and state and support group leader contact information.
Have an idea for an article? We are always looking for contributing writers. For more information contact editor@caregiver.com Recommend Us Tell your friends about Caregiver.com!  If you have a friend who you think would benefit from our newsletter, complete and submit the form: recommend/index.htm Subscription Information If you received caregiver newsletter and are not yet a subscriber, and would like to begin receiving a complimentary copy of your own, please click here. Unsubscribe To unsubscribe from caregiver newsletter, simply  click on the 'manage your subscription' link at the bottom of this newsletter.   Privacy Policy Privacy Statement http://www.caregiver.com/privacy/index.htm
Copyright© 1995-2008 Caregiver.com Inc., All rights reserved by Caregiver.com and its subsidiaries.