As a former Business Editor for The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, Craig McEwen has dedicated his life to shaping and sharing the stories of the people around him.
But when recent memory concerns left him running low on joy and confidence, Craig, affectionately known to friends as Crash, almost lost the energy for shaping and sharing new stories.
Until he discovered Memory Cafe.
‘You’re one smart fella’
Craig’s journey with memory loss began three years ago when the veteran journalist noticed increased confusion and gaps in thinking “that seemed to happen at any time,” he recalled. “No rhyme or reason.”
His first round of neuropsychiatric tests discovered a brain bursting with intelligence, creativity, and problem-solving capabilities—so much so that one doctor told Craig, “You’re one smart fella.”
The good news: it wasn’t dementia.
Unfortunately for Craig and his family, there were still concerning changes that showed up on tests, enough that doctors did diagnose him with Mild Cognitive Impairment, a condition that sometimes leads to progressive types of dementia.
“They told me there are still signs I was probably dealing with mild cognitive impairment,” Craig said, recalling how his doctors explained what happens when a brain begins to age, and how small changes can progress to a type of dementia or Parkinson’s Disease.
“We talked about those more serious types of the disease,” Craig said. Then he, his family, and the rest of his support circle decided as a team to take a wait-and-see approach.
Feeling alone, fearing the worst, life went on.
Another year, another test
For the next several months, Craig couldn’t get out of his head what a diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment could mean for him in the future.
“It wasn’t what I had planned for myself, that’s for sure,” he added.
Still curious and skeptical like all good journalists, Craig immersed himself in books, podcasts, blogs, and other literature about dementia and Alzheimer’s.
It didn’t help his anxiety at all. In fact, “It made it so much worse,” he admitted, and then his second round of tests revealed some changes. Tiny changes, but they were there.
“I was very worried about where my diagnosis might be heading,” Craig added.
But just as he looked at his wife and said, “I need to find support. I need to find people,” the doors of Memory Cafe swung wide open.
For Craig, that’s the moment when everything changed.
The Gathering, renewed purpose, shared experience—all at Memory Cafe
Some people are shy when they first come to Memory Cafe.
Craig jumped right in and has no regrets.
“I just have a hard time explaining what it’s like in my brain, but when I go to a group and everyone is going through the same thing, it changes everything for me,” Craig said. “As soon as I started attending the Memory Cafe meetings, I just felt relief and it just gave me a new perspective on memory issues, and it gives me faith that I still have some time ahead.”
Now, instead of feeling like the stories ahead are set to crash and burn, Craig sees hope ahead.
“For a long time I just wasn’t myself. Mentally, dealing with memory stuff is very bothersome, it’s very demeaning, but with my friends, we all just get it. I’ve made so many friends,” Craig said.
Since joining MCRRV in Spring 2024, Craig has hardly missed an event.
“I did the car show, I never miss a Monday meeting, and I just dropped out of woodcarving to join the choir,” he said. “We talk about our situations, we drink coffee, we eat cookies, and we laugh, and we laugh a lot.”
‘A new attitude on life’
Craig found not only his people and a renewed sense of purpose, but also a supportive community that offers calm where he once only saw uncertainty.
“It’s made me much calmer than I was before. It’s been a blessing,” Craig said. “We all seem to have a new attitude on life.”
Craig’s latest neuropsychiatric exam showed not deterioration, but improvement in his cognitive scores. Now, Craig doesn’t need to have another checkup for two years—and he’s found his people.
Meanwhile, this retired newspaperman can be found singing, dancing, learning, and laughing with his friends at Memory Cafe. He doesn’t want to miss out on a thing.
As Craig said, “We have nothing to lose and everything to give.”
Recommended listening
With his journalistic sense alive and well, Craig recommends the Dementia Alliance’s podcast, “This Dementia Life,” which features people experiencing memory-related concerns and conditions.
Watch a video of The Gathering participants
Join Craig, his friends Ellen and Erwin, as they explain discovering the joy of Memory Cafe. Memory Cafe The Gathering