National Senior Citizen's Day by Janice Lynn

After getting at text earlier from someone at the Tennessee Alzheimer's Association, I changed gears on topics. Prior to today I'm not sure I had heard of National Senior Citizen's day, but since Ronald Reagan introduced it in 1991 then surely I have. Senior Citizen's Day is a day set aside to celebrate and honor the more mature members of our country. When I think back just on the things my grandmother has experienced during her lifetime, it boggles my mind. She grew up poor in a 4 room house without electricity, plumbing or water. Eventually the house got electricity and water, but the outhouse was used right up until my great-grandmother died. The first time my grandmother rode in a car was when she was 14 years old. (She was actually on her way to Georgia to marry my grandfather who was 18 because she was too young to get married in Tennessee, but that's a different story for when you want to hear about their 69 years of marriage.) As a girl I can remember playing outside while she washed clothes in a tub with a wringer, then hung them on a line. Now, she lives in a technology-filled world and has a Kindle, a cellphone, and is a huge Hallmark Channel fan on her big screen television. The accomplishments of the older generation is what Ronald Reagan wanted to recognize, on how their past innovations shaped our present.

Now, about that text. According to the Alzheimer's Association's website over 50 million people worldwide are living with Alzheimer's or dementia, with over 6 million with Alzheimer's in the US alone. I've heard Alzheimer's as being called the slow death of a loved one. As a nurse practitioner, I've taken care of many Alzheimer's and dementia patients over the years. As a human being, I've felt so much empathy for what their families are going through and the frustrations they've felt. The Alzheimer's Association says the first survivor of Alzheimer's is out there and that we just have to find them. How? By curing this horrible disease. While writing my story for Forget Me Not (written with Lisa Childs and Kat Brookes in honor of Carol "Honey" Kreuger), I cyber-met a sweet lady who works for the Alzheimer's Association in Tennessee. She messaged so I could help raise awareness of their fundraising in honor of National Senior Citizen's Day. They are sending out a TLD keychain light to everyone who donates $13 or more. I hope you'll join me in contributing what you can, but also, and in many ways even more, I challenge you to reach out to a senior today, talk with them, listen to their stories, show them love, honor, and attention. We've a lot to learn from those who've experienced more than we have.  

Spread some love on National Senior Citizen's Day--and every day. :)

 If you'd like to make a donation to the Alzheimer's Association, you can do so HERE  I know every family affected by Alzheimer's appreciates everything that is done to help further a cure being found.

If you'd like a copy of Forget Me Not, you can buy at AMAZON , B&N, or APPLE

Wrapped Up in Christmas Hope coming October 26, 2021 from Hallmark Publishing

USA Today, Wall Street Journal, & Publishers Weekly Bestselling author JANICE LYNN lives in Tennessee with her Prince Charming and their princes and princesses, her vivid imagination, an adorable Maltese named Halo who's the true royalty of the house, and bunches of unnamed dust bunnies that moved in after Janice started her writing career. In addition to writing romance, Janice is a nurse practitioner, a quilter, an exercise queen, a military mama, and an avid supporter of the Quilts of Valor Foundation. Just kidding on the exercise queen. www.janicelynn.com   WRAPPED UP IN CHRISTMAS & WRAPPED UP IN CHRISTMAS JOY are available at AMAZON Barnes & Noble WALMART

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