A few words about the passing of my wife.

The Kansas Day series is available as a podcast.

Subscribe where you get your podcasts so you don’t miss Season 2. Or click the button below to get it via thedianeproject.com. I’ll send you “What Every New Cognitive Caregiver Should Do.”

Gifts in Diane’s memory can be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association.

Setbacks become sliding doors. History is made. Someone remembers.

This essay was originally posted in three parts on Substack. The audio versions have been combined here for your convenience. Includes an announcement about Season 2 of The Diane Project.

Substack versions:

This is Kansas Day (Part 1)

This is Kansas Day (Part 2)

This is Kansas day (Part 3)

The Substack versions include links, images and videos.

Subscribe to The Diane Project on Substack and you’ll get my free guide, “What Every New Cognitive Caregiver Should Do.”

Years after Diane’s artistic triumph, an unexpected message brings back memories — and tears to her caregiver. Conclusion of a three-part essay on my wife’s midlife reinvention.

Here’s the entire “Kansas Day” story as a single podcast:

This story was originally posted to Substack, where you can get bonus content and discuss with Aaron and other readers. To listen to parts 1 and 2, subscribe to the podcast.

Here are the Substack versions of this series:

This is Kansas Day (Part 1)

This is Kansas Day (Part 2)

This is Kansas day (Part 3)

In sickness and in health, our life takes more unexpected turns. Second in a three-part essay on my wife’s midlife reinvention.

Here’s the entire “Kansas Day” story as a single podcast:

This story was originally posted to Substack, where you can get bonus content and discuss with Aaron and other readers. You can also subscribe to the podcast.

Here are the Substack versions of this series:

This is Kansas Day (Part 1)

This is Kansas Day (Part 2)

This is Kansas day (Part 3)

When Diane’s eyes failed her, she looked forward. First in a three-part essay on my wife’s midlife reinvention.

Here’s the entire “Kansas Day” story as a single podcast:

This story was originally posted to Substack on February 22, 2025. Join our Substack to get bonus content and discuss with Aaron and other readers.

Here are the Substack versions of this series:

This is Kansas Day (Part 1)

This is Kansas Day (Part 2)

This is Kansas day (Part 3)

Caregiving is like learning to float downriver. A story about love in the liminal space where cognition isn’t required.

This story was originally posted to Substack on January 16, 2025. Join our Substack to get bonus content and discuss with Aaron and other readers.

Don’t let doomscrolling ruin a good time with your loved one or with friends. A story about our devices, the pull toward negativity, and the surprisingly good news about positivity. Plus lots and lots of soup.

(AUDIO NOTE: I was still trying to find an optimal environment for recording when I did this podcast. I did it in two takes, with the second take noticeably worse in audio quality. You’ll hear what I mean around the 9-minute mark and toward the end. Each clip of lower-quality audio lasts about a minute. Sorry about that!)

This story was originally posted to Substack on December 25, 2024. It’s been adapted for audio.

What if the person you loved more than anyone else on Earth was permanently changed by dementia? You’d become their caregiver. Your relationship would change. You might change, too.

My name is Aaron and I’m currently full-time caregiver for Diane, my wife of nearly 30 years. In 2020 she was diagnosed with Lewy body disease. I started The Diane Project in order to tell the story of our journey together. Some stories are about the past, some are about the here and now.

Today I’m reading an essay I originally posted October 31, 2024, to my Substack, titled “This is the Diane Project.” It includes an edited interview with Elissa Strauss, author of "When You Care" and the Made With Care Substack. It’s been adapted for audio.

THE DIANE PROJECT:

https://www.thedianeproject.com

WHEN YOU CARE: THE UNEXPECTED MAGIC OF CARING FOR OTHERS

https://bookshop.org/a/23407/9781982169275

What if the person you loved more than anyone else on Earth was permanently changed by dementia? You’d become their caregiver. Your relationship would change. You might change, too.

My name is Aaron and I’m currently full-time caregiver for Diane, my wife of nearly 30 years. In 2020 she was diagnosed with Lewy body disease. I started The Diane Project in order to tell the story of our journey together. Some stories are about the past, some are about the here and now.

Today I’m reading an essay I originally posted October 31, 2024, to my Substack, titled “This is the Diane Project.” It includes an edited interview with Elissa Strauss, author of "When You Care" and the Made With Care Substack. It’s been adapted for audio.

THE DIANE PROJECT:

https://www.thedianeproject.com

WHEN YOU CARE: THE UNEXPECTED MAGIC OF CARING FOR OTHERS

https://bookshop.org/a/23407/9781982169275