Featured Interview With Nancy Nelson
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was raised in the Pacific Northwest, sorta a country girl as I rode horses instead of bicycles, collected eggs from our hen house every day, and learned to drive in our back forty acres in a red pickup truck. Everyone in town knew we were one of the Williams’ children. I moved to Las Vegas, NV with my family right after my 21st birthday, raising two daughters and helping to raise four grandchildren over the years. .
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Though my father had passed from complications of Alzheimer’s in 2002, I never expected to hear those like-words directed to me, “You’ve got early on-set Alzheimer’s!”
I was 69 years old when diagnosed and began writing poetry as a way to explain to myself what was happening to me. Immediately, I began waking up between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. each and every morning, words plummeting from somewhere higher than myself, easily and effortlessly from my hand onto yellow-lined tablet … words, some raw, some loving, some undecided but always with hope. I’ve written and have over the past seven years self-published a trilogy. Three books of my changing world–insights, detailed thoughts and feelings in order than I may help others.
I just knew I needed to share my journey, so I’ve become an Alzheimer’s activist, volunteering to help local and national Alzheimer’s causes, and speaking on behalf of folks who cannot speak for themselves. My car sometimes cannot find its destination so I pull over to the side of street and reach up with my open hands towards the sky above, grabbing energy, and willing my brain to comply to answer the question, “Where am I going?” Somehow, I’m able to drive onward and reach my destination, even though many times, quite late. I do forget things including business appointments, friend engagements, inability to recall people’s faces, voices, and conversations held just the previous day. Heck, maybe minutes ago!
Doctors at Cleveland Clinic confirm I’m doing really well and think it’s due to the fact I’ve changed my lifestyle and lifestyle does matter, as does early detection, and a positive wholesome attitude. My life is enriched by showing and helping others to see there is hope and we can live life better for longer.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Most of my reading in my life has been for the most part, motivational in nature and professional “how to’s.” Eclectic at best. I love “Perseverance” by Tim Hague’. An inspiring story of learning to overcome–no matter what life hands you. “The Language of Flowers” by Vanessa Diffenbaugh tells of a young girl who perseveres. Terry Hersey’s book of “Pause” … and we all need to do this. Ahhh, perhaps seclusion via Covid-19 has done that.
Who inspires me is almost everyone I meet within the Alzheimer’s/dementia community–their stories are countless and making my life look like a walk in the park. They are the heroes.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
First book Blue.River.Apple. an exploration of Alzheimer’s through poetry covers my first seven months after diagnosis of early on-set Alzheimer’s. Pearls of insight as a newcomer learning, watching, and attempting to make day-to-day stuff okay out of a dreadful diagnosis. That’s when I decided not to own it and accept no pity here.
Second book Blue.River.Apple. SECOND HARVEST a continuing exploration of Alzheimer’s through poetry … covers the following two years of juggling between high’s and low’s of brain fog, change of diagnosis to Mild Cognitive Impairment which brought on an anger unlike I’d not felt before. More anxiety, more determination. So, I volunteered more, spoke up about Alzheimer’s more, advocated more, and unbelievably found the greatest satisfaction in my new life-altering position–how lucky am I? Helping you, helps me.
My latest book, Blue.River.Apple. THIRD HARVEST A Caregiver’s Orchard. Alzheimer’s. Letters of Love. Poetry. … is the last of the three-book trilogy. Time doesn’t stop and my poetry changes with each new collection. In this book, there are also fifteen caregiver letters of love leaving the reader with a caregiver solution or resolution making their own personal circumstance easier to bear and work through. Alzheimer’s knowledge is power and my poems are called “reality” and “prescription” poetry that garner parts and pieces of info through my interpretations, insights, others research, and activities of daily dementia living. All in the hopes to make life easier for caregivers, friends, family members, and persons diagnosed. The character throughout is me and the words come from some place higher than myself for you to tuck in your “I got it” pocket.
I’m determined to leave behind grace and dignity for those of us dementia-defined, and I believe we do that by understanding one another for as long as we can. It begins here!
Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles