I took Mum to Katoomba today to pick up her new glasses, that we had ordered last Saturday. They did them express which was awesome, as her old ones had broken. She was very excited to be going out when I picked her up, and made sure to bundle up as she knows Katoomba can be cold. In the car she wanted to know if she could buy some gloves,
"You have gloves Mum, you just forgot them."
"No I don't think so."
I just kept driving lol. As we drove she regaled me of tales of all the new people she has been meeting, tales she has told me a million times before, and I just kept nodding and mmmming every now and then. Once we got to Katoomba, she asked where her gloves were, so I told her she'd forgotten to bring them.
We get to OPSM walk in and she's directed to a seat to try on her new glasses. They fit perfectly, and she was so glad to be able to see properly again. I had decided to treat her to a coffee and some raisin toast while we were out, as I didn't start work till late. Little things like this just make her day, and it's not hard to suffer through eating some raisin toast lol.
"I really like my new glasses," she says. "I'm surprised they knew my prescription."
"We went in on Saturday and they tested your eyes Mum."
"I don't remember that, are you sure."
"Yes Mum, how else would they know your prescription, they aren't magic."
"Oh, well they picked nice frames."
"I picked them out for you on Saturday Mum, I showed them to you then."
"Oh, well I don't remember."
That was pretty clear lol. We naturally had to duck into the supermarket because she always has to get something. She headed for the fruit and veg muttering about needing some potatoes.
"Mum, you don't need any food, the nursing home feeds you."
"Oh, but I should buy something to give them as a donation. I'm sure they have a limited supply."
"No Mum, they have potato farms, they don't need any."
"Oh okay, wait, what?"
"Just joking Mum, come on, you need toothpaste."
Distraction complete lol. She also apparently needed a lot of other things, but I managed to deter her from 90% of them, as she really doesn't need them.
On the way back to the Nursing Home, she again regaled me with the same stories she told me on the way to Katoomba, so again I tuned out, and occasionally offered a remark as if I hadn't heard the story before. When we got to the home, she practically dived out of the car to hurry off to see if she'd missed anything lol. She does that now, she gets fretful if she's gone too long. When we went inside she discovered her French class already under way, so with directions to me to take her shopping and put it away (she practically flung it at me) she sat down to begin her class lol.
On my way home, I was thinking about how to her every single day is packed full of meeting new people, and having new adventures. It's a brand new world every single day. For me it's all same old same old, but for her it's fresh and new. I'm kind of jealous. It's not that I want Alzheimers, I sure as shit don't, but the wonder in her face whenever we go anywhere, or when she shows me around the home is amazing. She is and always has been a very social person, and that hasn't changed. She remembers some names, but not faces so much, and the fact that she can't remember them, does not deter her from sitting down for a chat, or for taking part in French class or a quiz.
She has moments of complete clarity.
"Coles wasn't in Katoomba when you lived here was it?"
I'm usually to amazed she remembered something to answer straight away lol. But she's right it wasn't. It's all different to when I lived there. And like a child, if you distract her she will forget what she was talking about or obsessing over lol. We laugh and crack jokes just like we always have, but now I can use the same old joke and lines over and over again, and she will giggle or bray with laughter as it's all new to her lol.
It's a truly wondrous world we live in, and sometimes it takes someone with Alzheimers to remind us just how truly wonderful it is.
Catch yas
Cathy
