Although Mac has so many visual perception problems, i.e. putting keys in key holes, finding the handle on the car door, putting on the seat belt, putting on his watch, sometimes has trouble cutting his food at dinner, and now doesn't always know where we live when we're on our street, BUT, we concentrate on the positives - he does up his shoe laces, can put on his clothes, depending on the clothing sometimes needs help, toilets washes brushes his teeth showers , combs his hair and generalliy takes pretty good care of himself. Washes and dries the dishes, and puts them away, mostly in the right place, can sweep the floor, makes sure we have the keys when we go out, checks to see if i have tickets for the bus when i go in town,
But best of all loves to see the sunlight on the trees, coming from behind the clouds - coming up on the lake, going down on the lake or here at home, as it shines on my plants in the back yard...as it shines on the trees when we sit in the sunporch and even tonight as we took our walk in the cool cool cool of the evening...the first word as we go out...'look how bright it is...' i usually say, well it is summr and the sun stays out longer...he never tires of it as it is always new to him...Such delight is contagious it makes us both happy...we are like little children enjoying every part of our day, as we look at everything through mac's eyes as he seems to see it all for the first time.
He just came in to the office right now to ask me - what do we do - where do we go now. i said - come i'll show you our bedroom, you sleep with me right on this bed. What do we do with the cat...well we feed him and then he goes to his bed in the basement. he went back happily to the t.v., but guess what, back he came again to find out o.k. what's the drill, what do we do after the news is over...so i put on another channel the news is obviously not interesting, so had him watch the swimming races at the olympics, he's o.k. now, but i will go and watch with him so he will not feel at loose ends...wondering where and what he is doing...reading this over makes me sad ...but I'll cheer up once we are together on the sofa watching the olympics together, as together we're happy, so g'nite.
Hi Jan,
ReplyDeleteAgain, thank you for sharing this journey with Mac. It is sad, as you say. And my heart breaks for you both when I read some of your posts.
But you are so loving, and so patient and willing to offer whatever reassurance or guidance Mac needs at the moment ... and then enjoying the delight of his rediscovery of the simple joy of sunlight in the trees or on the lake as if for the first time. Ahh... such is the face of love!
Life teaches us so many things along the way ... and in your sharing of this challenging and poignant stage of life you are true to your calling as a teacher - as we journey with you, we learn so much - not only about Alzheimers, but also about love.
Blessed be.
kath