I seemed to have forgotten this place to write.
Days, weeks, months and years have passed since I last conveyed my thoughts into words.
Forgetting has become part of our family life in those years that have passed. Dementia has become part of the family. It is more than forgetting, because some memories remain clear and bright. A fish shop in Shawlands, the joy of going out in her Dad's van (which her Mum insisted was parked around the corner, and NOT in front of the house!), her childhood home, her parents, school days.
What are the memories that have gone? Not so much memories but thought processes, the ability to retain information, that turns out is so essential
to living independently.
Remembering that a meal has been consumed, or a switch turned off, or a door locked. The memory that you are an octogenarian and not physically able to move with agility, like a body disconnected from the mind.
Emotional attachments remain, but for how long? The ability to chat and converse is there but the words don't make sense and the world they describe is muddled and confused like a bad dream. For those of us who watch and care, what do we do? Love and protect, like a child who is vulnerable and unable to make their own way in the world, but the child has a future of dreams, plans, and increasing confidence.
This journey is going the opposite direction, we hope for peace, calm and contentment.
Days, weeks, months and years have passed since I last conveyed my thoughts into words.
Forgetting has become part of our family life in those years that have passed. Dementia has become part of the family. It is more than forgetting, because some memories remain clear and bright. A fish shop in Shawlands, the joy of going out in her Dad's van (which her Mum insisted was parked around the corner, and NOT in front of the house!), her childhood home, her parents, school days.
What are the memories that have gone? Not so much memories but thought processes, the ability to retain information, that turns out is so essential
to living independently.
 |
| Family times, memories already fading... |
Remembering that a meal has been consumed, or a switch turned off, or a door locked. The memory that you are an octogenarian and not physically able to move with agility, like a body disconnected from the mind.
Emotional attachments remain, but for how long? The ability to chat and converse is there but the words don't make sense and the world they describe is muddled and confused like a bad dream. For those of us who watch and care, what do we do? Love and protect, like a child who is vulnerable and unable to make their own way in the world, but the child has a future of dreams, plans, and increasing confidence.
This journey is going the opposite direction, we hope for peace, calm and contentment.
Comments
Post a Comment