Soldato
Music does reach parts of the brain that most other things don't, eventually, so it can be something to cling to as the family journey turns into a spectacularly depressing car crash. I'm very lucky though in that Mum has a small but detached bungalow, so after three decades in shared houses and a flat where I hardly dared play at all (the soundproofing was non-existent) I've been free to learn how to play more confidently and sing a lot better (than not at all!) without getting arrested.
As long as Mum's foot keeps tapping, I know I can't be doing too much wrong. But she did once throw half a mug of tea at me while I was getting a bit carried away though. You don't see that kind of criticism on X-factor... though I guess a few of our performing forumites may have had something similar, late on a Friday night.
My guitar has definitely kept me sane though, and in the three years since I became a full time carer it's allowed me to feel I'm getting something positive out of this miserable experience. And while I used to dread going to the dementia group, and would never have dreamed of playing to friends again (bad experience from 30 years ago!
) let alone strangers, it's been genuinely rewarding to find that I can amuse a few folk and keep more than one foot tapping from time to time.Not sure when the group will get going again, but I know I'd like to carry on doing things like that after Mum's freed from her dementia prison. Because while music can be a great hobby, it really comes alive when you're able to share it... especially if the groups you're sharing it with are exhausted and desperate for distraction! Not sure I'd survive two minutes at a pub open mike, so it's a case of choosing your audience carefully.
Right, someone post a pic of their guitar collection, quick, and get us back on track. :->
