Archive for July, 2009

He watches the news at 5pm so I called my sister. After our conversation, I walked to the living room and asked how he was.

“Not very good, I’ve been left sitting here alone all afternoon.”

The evening has kind of slid downhill from that moment. If I can talk him into going walking, should be able to salvage some of it.

Today we drove by the day care he attends. I mentioned that it was nice that he knew a couple fellows personally.

“Who?”

I described and gave names.

“Don’t remember them.”

Told him it was Ok, I’d point them out next day. His words chilled me and I hope he isn’t uncooperative at drop off, “I don’t intend to go there again.”

How he can remember this and not where rooms or dishes, etc. are does puzzle me. Anyhow, time will tell how the drop off goes. When we’re wheeling and dealing in the parking lot, usually one of the staff comes out and calls him by name and kind of whisks him into the building.

She approached Wayne in the reception area, holding her hand out. He looked bewildered but took her hand, I held his other. “Hi Wayne, I’m *****. I’m Jean’s friend, I’ll clean your teeth today.”

Settled in the dental chair and accepted her offer of a glass of cold water, “But whiskey would be better!”
She agreed several people have requested but not received whiskey.

Appointment went really well.

As she said her goodbye, he moved toward her to hug but then shook her hand instead. It was so sweet. She’s very young and very wise.(What is so interesting to this story is the response of the other patients. Some were perplexed, puzzled, one kind of smiled, most stared. Wayne presents so well that until he has to respond or react, one would probably not catch on that he is ill.

I try to have him groomed and dressed well to present the best image possible.

The receptionists smiled, mostly at our hygienist, knowing what a great lady she is. Once the appointment was over, each receptionist called him by name and wished him a good day,etc. Wonderful place.)

Are we nearing the peak? Maybe. Seems like things are declining – slow and steady, insidiously. Have I told you that I hate you, AD? Oh, yeah, right, many times. Well, here’s another for good measure!

I watched as he tried to help today – we were filling small pails with water for patio plants. I set the pails in a row and handed him the running hose. He would fill a pail, then get the (only one) ice cream bucket and start emptying the full pail into a 3rd pail, using the small ice cream pail.

It was so methodical that I was interested, wondering what and why, what is his brain saying to him at those times. He didn’t appear to be upset, just very methodical.

About 2 am, he scolded me for “serving me that awful food”. I was amused because all I could think of was yams – which I do try to slip into his meals.

Then at about 3 am, he asked me what I was doing. Bit my tongue and answered, “Just sleeping.” Oh, I wish. Finally gave up and surfed for a couple hours, awaking at a decent hour.

Someone emailed and asked about my rose – it’s a Talisman rose.

I carried a bouquet of them when we married.