Sunday, July 23, 2006

August MIMA Moment

Refresh yourself....
Picture a big tall glass of Red Kool-Aid and sugar
????? Remember ways you kept cool during the summer months ?????

August Column



Mothballs In My Attic
By Cindy O’Neill
The dog days of summer are in full swing. It’s hot but there are ways to cool off. The fire hydrant gets released and children are in the street giggling and dancing around. The ice cream man is ringing his bell and we run towards the truck while begging Mom for some coins for a cool treat. The ice cream man in his white uniform hops off his driver’s seat and opens the steel latches on the side of the truck. The doors open and close with such authority and the ice cream man reaches in through the cold vapors cascading down around him and retrieves the brown cow or strawberry shortcake, chocolate eclair or Italian ice. He makes change with his "steel belt" and within minutes we knew that the day was complete and we were happy.
Remember your ice cream man and the sound of his bells, the coins sweaty in your palm, your feet dancing on the hot tar pavement just waiting for the truck to turn down your street.
Let the mothballs refresh your memory, enter your attic and open your trunk.
See what comes forward with a step back to a day in August...
Reflecting back in August, remembering *Have an ice cream party*
Heat waves, keeping cool and ice cream.
Fill in the blanks with just one word and see how the memories flood back. Take your time, this is not to be rushed but rather enjoyed. Remember all the feelings and visual sensations and experience the places your mind travels.
We slept outside in our makeshift tent by using ___________________.
I would buy ____________________from the ice cream truck.
In the hottest month of the year, we would keep cool by ______________.
Sharing a MIMA Moment
Sharing a big pitcher of ice cold Kool-Aid refreshes all...
What other ways you can feel refreshed?
Column based on Mothballs In My Attic, a new fun nostalgia book that contains over 220 questions within 12 chapters, poems and illustrations.
To order a book visit http://www.mothballsinmyattic.com/ or
send $14.95+4.95 s/h=$19.90
To: MIMA Publications 173 Maple Avenue,%

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Memory Jogging

Alzheimer's Notes
Encouraging Alzheimer's caregivers from someone who's been there. Written by Mary Emma Allen a b5media blog
Encouraging Alzheimer's caregivers from someone who's been there. Written by Mary Emma Allen a b5media blog
One of the activities I conducted in a nursing home consisted of jogging memories and reminiscing about family history. We used a questionnaire the acitivities aide and I discussed with the group and recorded their answers.
These were fun for the residents, who chatted among themselves as we introduced the memory joggers. These also can be fun for families to use with their family member with Alzheimer’s. I enjoyed writing down and recording my mom’s reminiscing for her family.
I’ve recently discovered a book that will aid in jogging memories, Mothballs in My Attic, by Cindy O’Neill at http://www.mimabook.com/ . This book uses words to bring back memories.
Cindy mentioned that it’s been used as a resource tool by activity planners in the medical field as well as caregivers for dementia patients. More information about the book and how it’s been used can be found on her site. You can check it out to see if it’s something you might find useful.

Saturday, July 01, 2006

July MIMA Moment


DETERMINATION ~ Collecting enough box tops to send away for the prize.... What important thing were you determined to do, no matter what?

July Column



Mothballs In My Attic
By Cindy O’Neill
The celebration of the 4th of July starts with fireworks in every town and city. It’s amazing how we gaze in the dark sky to see the wonder of explosions. Imagine the whole scenario leading up to the nighttime wonderment. The Bar-b-Que gang all assembled, the back yard badminton game, the very competitive croquet game, the hamburgers and hot dogs, potato salad and all the fixins’. Watermelon seed spitting contests and running through the sprinkler.
Dusk settles in and we gather the blankets and prepare for the fireworks display. You lie on your back and as the test rocket shoots up, a hush circulates throughout the crowd. Then begins the sprinkling and array of colorful effervescence of each rocket that is sent up and erupts for display, and is now revealed. The booming after shocks makes the pit of your stomach shake, if only for a moment. It’s remarkable, but it’s only reserved for today. The ooh’s and aah’s are echoed throughout the audience and you know that this is something good. It’s Independence Day and that can mean different things to different people.
Let the mothballs refresh your memory, enter your attic and open your trunk.
See what comes forward with a step back to a day in July...
Reflecting back in July, remembering Wear something red, white and blue
Fireworks, BB-Q’s and Swimming
Fill in the blanks with just one word and see how the memories flood back. Take your time, this is not to be rushed but rather enjoyed. Remember all the feelings and visual sensations and experience the places your mind travels.
The family who had the best fireworks were ________________________.
The pool we swam in during the summer was _______________________________.
The best backyard BBQ’s I can remember were held at _________________________.
.
Sharing a MIMA MOMENT
Sharing the freedom of independence is an honor.
What does independence mean to you?

Column based on Mothballs In My Attic, a new fun nostalgia book that contains over 220 questions within 12 chapters, poems and illustrations.
To order a book visit http://www.mothballsinmyattic.com/ or
send $14.95+4.95 s/h=$19.90
To MIMA Publications, 173 Maple Avenue, Metuchen, NJ 08840