Bob and Debbie Conroy - Enjoying the Journey Together!

  We stopped at the SAC Air and Space Museum near Omaha on the way home from Cassidy and Jackson's wedding. An early version of Tesla's Cyber Plane is on display. Okay, it actually is a F-117 Nighthawk undergoing restoration.

I want to let you know that Debbie is entering the later stages of her illness as those around her can notice daily declines. Debbie’s needs have progressed to the point where she was moved into long-term memory at Wesley Life Edgewater in West Des Moines last week. This has been a tough decision, and I am a mix of sadness because I miss her being at our home but relieved knowing that she’ll be getting the care she needs. Edgewater is well-equipped to manage her symptoms and provide her with the best possible quality of life. She is already responding favorably to her new surroundings. Soon I will post how to visit or where to send her cards and photos.

  It's not the size of the fish that matters but rather the quality of the time.

  This was likely Debbie’s last Christmas where she will know it was Christmas, so we maintained our traditions. She had some good moments but was stressful for her, nonetheless. She would see the Christmas tree and the packages under the tree and then get anxious about the need to buy presents. I would reassure her that it was done, and she would relax. But the information would not make it into her long-term memory. A few minutes later she would panic and ask again. This is pretty much how every day is for her now, a lot of anxiety and a little slippage every day. Our goal is to maintain a daily routine as that is calming for her. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers as we continue the long goodbye.

I had an amazing day at Walmart today! The first was finding a parking space up front on a weekend. Next, I grabbed a cart and was shocked. It was the Unicorn Cart, that mythical cart that tracks straight without a wheel that wobbles like it is on a bender or with a wheel pulling the cart back to China. I only needed to buy eggs, bananas, and milk, but since the cart was so perfect, I continued to shop until it was full. Heading to the register for self-checkout, an employee caught my attention and said,” Register five is open, no waiting.” So, an employee rang up my groceries, and they were fast. It was just a wonderful experience. Debbie and I get our prescriptions filled at Walmart and I'm thinking of changing to a new store so I never have to go back. Then I can always cherish the memory of a wonderful day at Walmart.

I have had many inquiries about Debbie’s health status, so this is to bring everyone up to date. Two years ago, Debbie was diagnosed with logopenic primary progressive aphasia, an atypical form of Alzheimer's disease. We suspected for several years prior that something was wrong. So, while the diagnosis was not a surprise it was devastating news. Debbie and I had many talks about her medical condition as there are limited treatments and no cures. We agreed that it was an opportunity to demonstrate to our children and grandchildren how to face a difficult situation with courage, compassion, and commitment. It has been our experience that children pay less attention to what we say and more attention to what we do. Last year she lost the ability to use email and social media apps, but she can still use a phone with assistance. Her short-term memory is virtually non-existent and that causes problems with understanding complex verbal information or communicating her thoughts to others....

Ted Lussem died last year after a long life dedicated to the insurance industry and his community. Ted was a mentor to many successful insurance professionals. He hosted study groups for all programs offered by The Institutes and that created a significant talent pool in Des Moines. He is responsible for much of the economic success we enjoy in Des Moines today.  There will never be another Ted.  Here is a link to Ted’s bio on the Iowa Insurance Hall of Fame website (a group that he championed for 21 years.)   https://iihof.org/recipients/theodore-d-lussem-2000/ I am pleased that a suitable home for the books and other memorabilia that Ted Lussem collected has been found thanks to Bruce Kelley. The Lussem collection along  with several boxes of Preferred Risk/GuideOne artifacts from my collection were  donated to the  Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Library at  St. John's University--Manhattan Campus Below is a photo of the archives. The 12 crates...