🎵 "Landslide" – EOA The slide and decline (Fleetwood Mac)
This week...
It was bacon.
Not the diagnosis.
Not another test.
Not a doctor's appointment.
Just...
Bacon
Every single morning I wake up to the smell of burnt bacon.
And honestly?
I'm so tired of smelling burnt bacon.
It's nauseating.
It used to be one of my favorite breakfasts snacks.
Now the smell alone makes my stomach turn.
Funny how Alzheimer's can ruin something as simple as bacon.
And this whole disease is a very slow landslide....
💔 It's Never Really About the Bacon
The bacon isn't the problem.
The problem is what it represents.
For years, Rob could make prepare himself a meal
Coffee.
Eggs.
Toast.
Bacon.
It was automatic.
Now he puts the bacon in the microwave for 4/5 min
(in his head pork is bad and really needs to be cooked)
Then suddenly the whole house smells like smoke and burnt bacon
Again.
🧠 Death by a Thousand Tiny Losses
People think Alzheimer's is made up of big moments.
It's not.
It's hundreds of tiny ones.
Burnt Bacon.
The refrigerator door left open.
The water still running.
Garage door not closed
Front door unlocked
None of them seem life-changing on their own.
But together...
They quietly tell the story of a brain that is changing.
😔 The Hardest Part
The hardest part isn't cleaning up the mess.
It's remembering who used to make his own breakfast.
Who always cooked the bacon just right.
That man is still here.
But those automatic skills are slowly disappearing.
🚫 It's Time to Make Changes
One of the hardest things about caregiving is realizing that sometimes love means changing the routine.
For us, burnt bacon became a reminder that it was time to simplify.
Maybe bacon only gets cooked when I'm home.
Maybe I take over breakfast and make up some prepped ones.
Maybe we switch to foods that don't require alot of thought
These aren't punishments.
They're safety decisions.
❤️ Grieving the Ordinary
Nobody tells you that you'll grieve breakfast.
Or coffee.
Or burnt toast.
Or your favorite Sunday morning routine.
But you do.
Because every little change reminds you of what life used to look like.
🌅 What I've Learned
I've learned to stop asking:
"Why can't he just remember?"
And instead ask:
"How can I make this easier?"
Because Alzheimer's isn't stubbornness.
It's brain disease.
And my job isn't to keep expecting yesterday's abilities.
It's to meet him where he is today.
🎵 Why "Landslide"
Because decline doesn't usually happen all at once.
It comes quietly.
One forgotten step.
One burnt breakfast.
One small moment that almost nobody else would notice.
Until one day you realize...
Those little moments have become your new normal.
And somehow...
You're grieving bacon.
💛 Caregiver Tip
If your loved one is beginning to forget food on the stove, Overusing the micro, leave appliances on, or walk away while cooking, don't wait for a fire to happen.
It's okay to change the routine.
Use the microwave together (or leave specific notes on cook time for bacon :))
Try an air fryer with automatic shutoff.
Prepare meals in advance ( I could do a whole blog on just effective meal prep).
Or simply make breakfast together.
Sometimes the safest change is also the kindest one.
💬 Disclaimer
I’m not a doctor, lawyer, therapist, or expert—just a wife trying to figure this out one day at a time. Everything shared here is based on our experience and things that have helped us along the way. Take what helps, leave what doesn’t, and always check with professionals when needed. I also use AI to help clean up my writing, organize thoughts, and pull together resources because honestly… caregiver brains are tired too. If something here helps another family feel less alone, then it’s worth sharing.
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