Ron Regan passes away at 93

[Colleen Thomas]

Former president Regan died today. He was the first president I remember well and admired to pass.

-Colly

 

[Wildcard Ky]

Like him or not, the man was a powerful figure in what ever office he held.

I'm sure that there are some on here that didn't care for him or his politics. I was in the military while he was president and I can honestly say that I am proud to have served under him.

 

[Liar]

I grew up in the 80's. To me, Reagan is the pictutre of an American President I'll always remember.

 

[shereads]

I'm not a fan, but I know he was an icon to some of you and I'm sad for you, and for his family.

Edited to add: Alzheimers' is such a cruel disease, his family are probably relieved to see his suffering ended.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

The published reports say he had passed the point where even Nancy could reach him. My heart goes out to them, watching a loved one succumb to Alzheimers is awful.

He was my president, just as Truman was my grandfather's. The man I think of when the word president is mentioned.

-Colly

 

[shereads]

I've known several people who lost parents to Alzheimers. Fortunately, there are some experimental drugs now that can slow or even stop the progression of the disease, but for someone who is already pretty far gone, the worst suffering is for the family. A friend told me she lost her father over three years before he actually died. He didn't recognize his daughter or his grandson...Nancy R. will be a strong voice for Alzheimers Research, and maybe she can get the attention the disease deserves.



For Colly

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I've known several people who lost parents to Alzheimers. Fortunately, there are some experimental drugs now that can slow or even stop the progression of the disease, but for someone who is already pretty far gone, the worst suffering is for the family. A friend told me she lost her father over three years before he actually died. He didn't recognize his daughter or his grandson...Nancy R. will be a strong voice for Alzheimers Research, and maybe she can get the attention the disease deserves.



For Colly

Thanks Sher, I know he wasn't one of your favorite presidents. I really appreciate the flower.

*HUGS*

-Colly

 

[Wildcard Ky]

Alzheimers and cancer are both cruel, indiscriminate killers. I wouldn't wish either on my worst enemy.

 

[cloudy]

He was the first president I'd ever voted for, and like Colly, I admired him.

So sad to see him go, but I know it had to be hard on his family to see him the way he's been recently.

 

[Guest]

I've known several people who lost parents to Alzheimers. Fortunately, there are some experimental drugs now that can slow or even stop the progression of the disease, but for someone who is already pretty far gone, the worst suffering is for the family. A friend told me she lost her father over three years before he actually died. He didn't recognize his daughter or his grandson...Nancy R. will be a strong voice for Alzheimers Research, and maybe she can get the attention the disease deserves.



For Colly

Beautiful thread, Colly -

Alzheimer's is a horrible disease. My husband's mother (who was a brilliant English teacher) was in a slow decline for years. She even called us once in the middle of the night because she said there was a strange man in her house (it was her husband). During the last five years of her life she had only brief periods of awareness.

My dad-in-law wouldn't put her in a home despite becoming ill by taking care of her full-time. We were finally able to convince him to do so after she had a horrible fall one evening that required hospital treatment. By then she was completely bed-ridden and spent the time staring up at the ceiling and mumbling incoherently. She passed away six months after that.

I am relieved Reagan's suffering has ended. Now his family can begin to grieve his death and not his horrible illness.

 

[smutpen]

I have mixed feelings about Ronald Reagan. On this occasion, I'll omit the negatives.

I believe he was about as honest as any successful politician can be.

I believe that he, more than Bush Sr., and far more than either Clinton or Bush Jr. , thought of himself as a public servant and truly dedicated himself to that role with all of his energy and skill.

I think the interests of America as he perceived them were always foremost in his mind, and I respected his dedication and his commitment to principle, even when I disagreed completely with what he thought would best serve the interests of America.

Much of my time in the military was during his presidency, and I felt then, as I do now, that he had real respect and concern for the military and the people serving in it.

And he seemed, well, Presidential, which inspired confidence in the public, sorely needed in the post-Carter malaise, when our prestige around the world was at a low point, and in essence, our national morale was in bad shape.

I cannot imagine what he and Nancy suffered due to the Alzheimer's, and I hope and suspect that her grief now is tempered by relief that he is finally at peace.

 

[Kirk482002]

Dear Mr. President,

I remember what this country felt about itself, before you took office. We were no longer the strongest country in the world. We were number two. Our hostages in Iran sat prisoners, until the day of your inauguration approached, and then they came home. Our military rotted and rusted, until you set the course to revitalize it. I stood in shock as an attempt was taken on your life, as I had seen happen with Kennedy when I was a child. I watched you give the State of the Union Address, after you recovered, and wowed your dissenters. I watched you offer the ‘Supply’ side of the economy, and nearly sent my family into bankruptcy. But after a few months, we were doing just fine. I watched as you grieved with the nation with the loss of the Challenger, making it even more personal than just some astronauts and a school-teacher losing their lives. I learned to ‘Just say No’ with the help and love of your life, Nancy. I remember your comforting voice, your warm smile, and the inevitable, “Well…”
Rest well, Mr. President.
You served your country well.

 

[Blarneystoned]

Strange Day

Strange Day
I walk into a patients room today..a 6 yr old boy who has a terminal brain tumor...He is usually asleep, but today he is wide awake. He asks for some yogurt , his favorite, and I grab him two. I help him eat because he is half paralyzed from the tumor..He asked me if I like yogurt and I say yes it is the best. He laughs...out of the blue he touches my face and says "Mr Neil, I am going to miss you. I said I am going to miss you too David, put in a good word for me would you? He laughed and we finished the yogurt and watched cartoons. He knows it wont be long.

I then spoke to a coworker who is afraid to sleep in her own house...it seems out of that her children have been seeing a young ghost who waves at them...and has moved their dolls around in the kids room. She says she is scared and has been dealing with this apparation for months now. We have a long talk and I say well two things...this is a child who doesnt know she is dead...she came to play and knows you work with children...Ask her why she is here and what she wants to tell you?

She laughs and says Neil Im a black woman...Im scared of this litte girl...and my kids are scared too....

We talk a long time and I tell her that her fear allows the ghost to stay...she should talk with an exorcist if she is really afraid...or pray and then confront it and then ask it to leave politely, but forcefully and open the door...tell it that it is dead and has lost its way...I leave it there for her to figure out but am looking up exorcist prayers right now.


I then get home and Ronald Reagan is dead. Today the realms are colliding my friends. Be at peace and pray...enjoy your families and friends..and tell your kids you love them.

Blarneystoned

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Reagn was a the last president we had whose policies you could disagree with without feeling animosity for the man himself. That's a gift in a president and in a human being.

He was ill a long time, and had completely disappeared from public view, but still it's a loss.

As for Alzheimers, they seem to be having some remarkable results in preventing it by adding a chemical found in turmeric to the diet. Turmeric's used in Indian curries (that's how they found about this. Alzheimer's is very rare in southern India) and is what makes mustard yellow. So eat lots of curry and mustard.

---dr.M.

 

[KarenAM]

There are some diseases that just shouldn't be, and Alzheimers is one of them (I'd agree with Wildcard that cancer is another, and add schizophrenia to the list). While Reagan's politics were not my own, I was so very impressed that he went public with his condition, bringing it out of the dark and, I am certain, helping all who face it, patients and families alike.

Let's beat Alzheimers for the Gipper, shall we?

 

[Blarneystoned]

Alheimers

That is one of the saddest ways to go...forget your friends, forget your family, forget your wife, then forget who you are...the heart still beats but the mind is not. I worked with a few Alzheimers patients....extremely difficult for the families to watch...they wake up at strange hours and tell you they are going home or they are going shopping...I remember one German lady that kept telling me she was in Frankfurt...I kept saying...Nein, Nein dass ist Baltimore.....She would then ask Wo ist mein Hand Tasche? Where is my hand bag? I would say it is in the closet...she would act surprised..thank me..go get it and then go to walk off the unit...I would redirect her...she would ask about her dog and her daughter...then start the whole conversation over and tell me it was Frankfurt again........tough stuff to deal with....I remember working night shift and being the only one who understood her ramblings....she followed me on rounds the whole night...haha..I sat her in a wheel chair and took her with me...telling her over and over...he dog was fine...he daughter will be there in the morning, this is Baltimore and your hand bag is in the closet.

Blarneystoned

 

[slo_hand]

Bye-Bye

I was going to try to say something meaningfull and perhaps profound...but you know what???...good riddance

 

[cloudy]

Re: Bye-Bye

I was going to try to say something meaningfull and perhaps profound...but you know what???...good riddance

I started to blast you for your terrible manners but I refuse to fall to your level.

If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.

That was uncalled for, and extremely rude.

 

[BlackSnake]

He was the first President I voted for also. I began looking at the Republican party when he first ran for office. It is very sad what happened to him, but I will have to say that in those 80 years he had a full life.

"...America is a place where anyone can become rich..."

What a President, what a man.

 

[Blarneystoned]

I wasnt being rude

I can only imagine what Nancy went through...that was my point...talking about disease is one thing...dealing with it another...Ronald Reagan was one of the good ones...I was just throwing in some personal run ins with the disease...it is truly tragic...

Blarneystoned

 

[Guest]

Blarney -

She wasn't talking about you.

 

[cloudy]

Re: I wasnt being rude

I can only imagine what Nancy went through...that was my point...talking about disease is one thing...dealing with it another...Ronald Reagan was one of the good ones...I was just throwing in some personal run ins with the disease...it is truly tragic...

Blarneystoned

I wasn't talking about you - that's why I quoted "slo_hand" in my post.

I didn't think yours was rude at all.

 

[minsue]

http://www.angelfire.com/la3/maryshome/miscwhiteroselge.gif

 

[Jamdin]

Good night, Mr. Reagan

 

[Blarneystoned]

Goodnight Mummy!

I miss that guy already...what a great communicator!!

Blarneystoned

P.S. Like the Halfmast salute ! Nicely done.