A little further down the rabbit hole

Always a loaded question - 'How's your mom doing?' So often I have to stop and think, how much do I feel like revealing today.  She's progressing - it's a freakin' progressive disease (sometimes I want to yell). She now gets confused about things that just a few months ago she was good on.  I don't yell, I realize people are asking because they are just as concerned about me.

I still don't know why Alzheimer's is called the Long Goodbye.  The woman I knew as Mom is slipping away, but there is still a person there, someone who has Mom's sense of humor, but wants to laugh more. I say Alzheimer's is A Million Hellos.  I get to tell her about my day multiple times in one conversation.  We talk less about meaningless things and more about the depth of our relationship.  The woman who would make me sit at the table and finish my vegetables before I could go out and play now eats ice cream every night.  Sometimes a couple of times a night.

Something else that's gone is that mechanism in the brain that restrains the tongue.  You know, instead of saying everything that is on the tip of your tongue.  Well, Mom says those things now.  She tells me all the time how much she misses me and wishes I lived closer.  She also tells me all the time how much she loves me and is proud of me.  She says silly crazy things she's thinking about the people around us.  Strangers in the store, neighbors, family members - she's funny, funnier than before, lighter - not so serious.

So in answer to your question, 'How's your mom doing?' She's progressin'...skipping down the path of dementia.  Voyageur and I are in tow.  It's not so bad...if I remember to eat some ice cream while skipping.

Back at ya Voyageur!