Ten Minutes to Midnight – A One-Act Play With 5 Scenes
Adapted from “Shared Conversations - Glimpses Into Alzheimer’s” by Jule Briese & Wayne Briese.
The play takes place over a period of 4 months.
In January 2018, Wayne received his Alzheimer’s diagnosis from the Brain Health Center in Vancouver, BC. Thus began a four-year odyssey ending January 6, 2022 when he embraced a very peaceful death through medically assisted dying. From the time of his diagnosis Wayne expressed his desire for MAiD and never once wavered from this choice. Merlin painted two powerful images when referring to Alzheimer’s. He described Alzheimer’s as a blackboard erasing memories of his life. The emotional distress he felt was captured with the image of a snow globe being shaken. His thoughts scattered in all directions. Each of the 5 scenes in Ten Minutes To Midnight is based on recorded conversations that paint a picture of what living with advancing Alzheimer’s can be like.
For more information about "Ten Minutes to Midnight – A One-Act Play With 5 Scenes", see here.
Shared Conversations – Glimpses into Alzheimer’s
Jule Briese is a poet, songwriter, author and workshop facilitator living in Qualicum Beach, BC. She and Wayne met while teaching in Val Caron, Ontario. They married in Thunder Bay on February 14th, 1970. Moving to Revelstoke, BC and then to Qualicum Beach, BC continued to nurture their passion for the outdoors. They were each other’s best friends for 53 years.
Ron Posno
Here’s what I want to say now...
Most of us have read about living and dying, Wayne and Jule have combined the two in a heart-filling tale of choosing death. Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Wayne has chosen MAiD to enable a better, more fulfilling ending for a life of shared meaning and purpose for himself and his partner – Jule. Together, they explore their last years in making life better – together. Of course, there are tears, but they’re tears of joy – not regrets. Life goes on for Jule. She misses Wayne and is grateful for the time she and her best friend shared together. In reading Shared Conversations – Glimpses Into Alzheimer’s she’s inviting you to participate.
Dr. Ron Posno B.A., M.Ed., Ed.D a person living with Dementia, is well recognized for his advocacy related to Dementia and Advance Requests for MAiD. Both Jule and Wayne have much appreciated his friendship and emotional support.
To purchase, find "Shared Conversation – Glimpses into Alzheimer's" on Amazon.
Shades of Loss, A Memoir in Photography, Poetry and Prose
Shades of Loss, A Memoir in Photography, Poetry and Prose, by Jule Briese, is a personal journal about loss and how shades of loss have shaped her life.
To purchase, find "Shades of Loss, A Memoir in Photography, Poetry and Prose" on Gilmore.
The Hot Chocolate and Decadent Cake Society: Alzheimer’s and the Choice for MAiD
This memoir by Jule Briese offers snapshots of the first year following her husband’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. She supports his right to choose MAiD when the quality of life as he defines it becomes painfully compromised. She advocates for Advance Requests for MAiD for those with dementia who have clearly expressed this choice, and she emphasizes the need for emotional and spiritual nurturing.
To read more about "The Hot Chocolate and Decadent Cake Society: Alzheimer’s and the Choice for MAiD", click here.
To purchase, find the book on Amazon.
Dancing Into Reunion – A Haibun Memoir
Dancing Into Reunion focuses on the intensity of emotions and sharing thoughts and feelings surfacing during those magical days leading up to an adoption reunion. The universal themes of loss, grief and healing are also reflected in this memoir. Namaste.
