I’m a late bloomer. I received my BAS in management and psychology when I was 51, I learned to ride a motorcycle when I was 55, I totaled said motorcycle when I was 57, and I finished my first book after I started collecting Social Security. A LONG AND WINDING ROAD, A Caregivers Tale of Life, Love, and Chaos is the story of the drama and hilarity that ensue when two people who don’t know much about RV travel and two people who don’t know much about anything spend 53 days inside a 400-square-foot box on wheels. It is also the story of my emotional and spiritual road through co-dependence, marriage, divorce, the emotional breakdown of my son, finding love again, surviving a less than stellar economy, retirement, and caregiving and all that entails. Anaiah Press released my book on July 1, 2014. It is available at: B&N // Kobo // iTunes // Amazon // Smashwords // Google Play
I was down-sized out of corporate America in 2007, and I gave up my hands-on caregiving duties in late 2010 when Mom and Dad moved from our home to assisted living after I experienced a major case of caregiver burnout. Dad went home to be with the Lord in May of 2011, and Mom followed him one year and one week later. Now David and I live outside a tiny town 60 miles east of Dallas. We planned to use our Texas place as a home base while we spent as much time on the road as possible, but the price of diesel has put those plans on hold for a while. In the meantime, I write because that’s what writers do, and I post because that’s what modern writers do.
I write a weekly column about my church for the Rains County Leader, our local newspaper, and I contribute articles on country living in a column called City Girl. I am a contributor to Yahoo Voices and Red Letter Christians. I am an occasional contributor to Assisted Living Directory, and my blogs appear regularly on Daily Burnsider. You can contact me at LindaBrendle@yahoo.com, and you can find me on Facebook and Twitter.
I hope you’re amused, encouraged or maybe even inspired by my stories. Stop by any time.
Blessings,
Linda
Linda Brendle's Life After Caregiving 
Comments on: "About Linda" (17)
Linda, I look forward to reading more! I was a full time caregiver for my grandpa and my children and am now writing about our experiences. Thank you for this blog…I am also experiencing life after caregiving. Grandpa passed away last Christmas…2010.
Hi Joy,
Thanks for stopping by and leaving comments, both here and on my post about Mom’s curls. I stopped by your website, cruised around a bit, and followed you. I can certainly relate to how a journal can take on a life of its own. Mine started out as a travelogue and look what happened. I look forward to following your progress. Again, thanks for stopping by. Come back any time.
Blessings,
Linda
Hi Linda! I nominated you for versatile blogger
🙂
Hi Linda! Now you have the Liebster Award! Go here for rules – http://whileitwasfallingapart.wordpress.com/
Hi Linda,
I’m a late bloomer, too. At 55, I have been taking care of my mom for six years and have added the care of my aunt along the way. In my research, I have discovered a need for networking in our town so I started a blog, caregiversunite.org to help inform others like myself of resources available. Congrats on your book and leading the way after the caregiving ends.
Hi Beth,
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. I’m so glad you have not lost yourself in the caregiving duties but have found a way to express yourself and help others along the way. I think my writing was one of the few things other than prayer that kept me sane through my journey. Now that I am on the other side, sharing my experiences with others helps give meaning to what Mom and Dad went through. I will check out your website when the chaos of the weekend settles down. Blessings to you and your family during this difficult time.
Linda
Thank You Linda Your Blog on Rick Phelps and Memory People. Bringing awareness to Alzheimer’s and Dementia related diseases… one person at a time…
Yes ma’am. Gone are the days when we put Granny in the attic. It is time that people knew what this disease is all about so it gets the attention and research that it deserves.
I knew it was no accident that our paths “crossed on the web”. My grandmother had Alzheimer’s but she was in the US at that time (I was in Southeast Asia). Our family decided to bring her back to her birth country after she went missing for an entire day. God safely brought her to my Aunt with whom she was living at that time. My grandmother was a retired elementary school principal. My MIL has vascular dementia, still going strong but living in her own time and space. Relatives care for her in the home my FIL built for her.
I used to see caregiving as a burden, an obligation that needed to be done to honor parents and the elderly. But God showed me that it is a joy and a privilege to serve others and our Lord Jesus through this noble calling.
I’m looking forward to reading your stories here on the blog and in your book. I hope it will be available on Kindle.
Blessings,
Mary
Mary, I’m also glad that God brought us together. I’m sorry for what your family is going through, but as the populations ages, more of us will be experiencing similar situations. I always counted it a privilege to be able to care for Mom and Dad, but there were many times when I railed against it and wanted to run away. I share both sides of caregiving in my book–I think it’s important to give caregivers permission to admit how difficult it is along with the blessings,
The book will be released in digital format first, so you’ll be able to get it on Kindle. If you would be interested in participating in the blog tour during the 30 days surrounding the release on July 1, Anaiah has a sign up page. http://goo.gl/OKO3XO
Thanks again for reaching out. I look forward to getting to know you better.
Blessings,
Linda
Thanks for that Linda. I’ll take a look at the sign up page and let you know. Have a blessed weekend!
Blessings,
Mary
Hi, Linda. I just wanted to say thanks in advance for helping with my Cover Reveal. I really appreciate it!
Sharon King
My pleasure, Sharon! I look forward to reading the book. 🙂
Blessings,
Linda
Thank you for your articles.
You’re quite welcome, Terri. Thank you for stopping by, reading, and leaving a note. Blessings, Linda
[…] Linda Brendle is a writer who has dabbled in fiction and memoirs—the latter discussing her experience caring for parents falling prey to Alzheimer’s disease. It’s always difficult to watch someone slowly become another person at the hands of this degenerative disease, and this is especially the case for those caring for a loved one. She reminds readers that even the smallest things done with love can have a substantial impact. […]
[…] Linda Brendle is a writer who has dabbled in fiction and memoirs—the latter discussing her experience caring for parents falling prey to Alzheimer’s disease. It’s always difficult to watch someone slowly become another person at the hands of this degenerative disease, and this is especially the case for those caring for a loved one. She reminds readers that even the smallest things done with love can have a substantial impact. […]