My father was officially diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease a few years ago.
I visit him often and witness the things he once loved, fishing, painting, woodworking, telling stories and music - all slowly fade away. Telling stories was one of his favorite things to do and I have heard many throughout my lifetime.
Through my observation I realized that though other skills are fading, he could still read quite well. I searched for content for him to read, but everything I found was either too lengthy or too complex, and in some cases too simple.
"Telling Stories". What my father loved to do.
It struck me that a book full of stories like the ones he would tell is exactly the kind book he might want to read.
I set out to write a book of his own stories, those I had heard from him for years and many he and I experienced ourselves..
For the book to work best for him, I knew each story had to be short, two to three pages, with a clear beginning and end.
And so "The Missouri Brotherhood" was created. This is a collection of true stories and adventures my father and his older brother experienced in their youth, as well as some stories that are my own adventures as a youth with my father.
The stories are all true. Though some may be embellished slightly, either by myself writing the book or by my father telling me the original story, but regardless they all really happened.
The names have been changed because I wanted my father to believe this is a book I bought for him at a store, not a book containing his own stories in life.
While I wrote this for my own father, I open it up to others who may be in a similar situation as myself and our family, or anyone who would love to hear adventurous stories about growing up in Missouri. Or, perhaps you just want to smile.
The Missouri Brotherhood
"Growing up in the picturesque countryside of Missouri, Daniel and his older brother Matthew shared a deep love for the great outdoors. Every weekend, they would grab their fishing gear and hunting rifles, setting out on a new adventure, exploring the nearby wood, rivers, and lakes.
Despite their age difference, the two brothers shared a strong bond that grew stronger with every adventure they embarked upon. While Matthew was the more adventurous and daring of the two, brimming with ideas, some good, some seemingly outlandish, Daniel was quieter, preferring to observe and ponder things in his own way.
Together they tackled challenging terrains, caught many fish, explored new areas and ideas, watched a stump and a wheelbarrow fly into the air, nearly burned up a canoe while fishing, found out that wind can be stronger than you think, learned that dogs will eat uncured skin, and that cows can get pink eye.
They were boys, they were brothers, living their lives and adventures in the countryside of Missouri. They had an unbreakable bond, and it remains to this day..."
