Everything Changes

Overtime, everything changes. With FTD the changes can come quickly or slowly, subtly or hit you right in the face. But, no matter, everything changes.. you're personality, you're habits, you're likes& dislikes, you're schedule, you're relationships, roles in life.. it all changes.
With Dad he barely has any personality, likes, or relationships. I suppose food and driving me crazy may still be his likes.

Roles

The roles he played? He used to work as a landscaper and grounds keeper at a local school. He can't do either of those things. My roles used to be student and daughter. I've graduated college and have not acted or been treated like a daughter in years. We all take on new roles to adjust to the new lives we live.
Dad used to be a provider, a decision maker, and a problem solver. As his disease began to take over his decisions were questionable, but mom remained unwavering. She trusted him, no matter what he put us through. When I was 15 we picked up and moved from the town that Dad grew up in, and we had been actively involved in for almost 20 years. He said he wanted to live on a farm& here we are.. the house we bought was a DISASTER to say the least.. 15 acres and a very cheap fixer upper, we spent a pretty penny making this place exactly what my parents wanted. By the end, Dad was no longer working and his new income made paying for the mortgage difficult. Most of the problems he'd fixed when we were building were not done well, therefore became even bigger problems as the years passed.. from leaking ac that caved the rough in to poorly done electric that burnt out plugs. It's been a The roles he used to fill have become vacant and we've tried to fill in as best as possible..

Relationships

This one covers a LOT of difficult subjects, but I'll try to keep it brief.
He certainly changed being the husband that he  used to be. One of the big signs I used to tell mom to acknowledge was his communication. I asked her to go a day without talking to him and see what he did. He didn't start one conversation with her. Now my dad was never an overly communicative man but he was still one to ask how are you, say good morning, talk about his day, and such.
With his friends, he was always someone that was widely known& loved.  He had a BIG gregarious personality that just pulled people in. You couldn't help but notice when Doug came into a room. All of his life was like this, but with the disease he started telling stories from when he was a teenager and bragging about high school years, which was not like him at all. People who didn't understand pulled away, people who knew him told us, "something is not right." And, boy were they right.

Likes& dislikes

Well this a big one too, but again.. briefly, he has lost interest in absolutely everything. Now a days the only thing to excite him is food, which is a pretty normal characteristic, we've been told. 

He keeps busy with coloring in his coloring book and trying to put his puzzle together, normal things for a toddler. He used to like socializing, animals and of course projects ( he was a bit OCD with his projects ) now he stays far away from all of those things..  Pushing away the dogs, shying away from the horses, laying in his room when people come to visit, and unable to do any of the things he used to. This is a man who has BUILT barns and put together whole brick patios beautifully!!
He does however still LOVE ice cream, I gave it to him last night and tried to get a picture of him enjoying it, but he just could not look away long enough..

Changes happen, you may not catch them all, but eventually you realize that nothing is the same.. With FTD, these changes are debilitating, and have completely taken the man I used to call Dad away from me.. 

Change sucks.