Highlights of an Alzheimer’s Day

06:38 – I awake, kiss Cindy on the cheek and whisper “I love you.” She gives a small, involuntary sigh, the human version of a cat’s purr. I love that sigh of hers. I stay in bed as Cindy continues to sleep. This will be one of the highlights to our day, as always, but I know there will be more. Such as:

07:22 – I return from the bathroom to get Cindy up. She already is awake; I need only to put her in the right frame of mind to get started. I ask her if she wants to use the bathroom or snuggle. She smiles and says she wants to snuggle. We snuggle awhile then I suggest we really should get up, maybe I should pounce on her bladder? She laughs at me being obnoxious, as she always does. Go figure.

07:53 – We are at the top of the stairs, about to go down for breakfast. Garfield, our massive Maine coon cat, waits at the gate as he does every morning, rubbing up against it with hope that we will pet him. We open the gate and Garfield rushes down to the landing. When Cindy catches up he stands on his hind legs to be petted. This delights both of us.

08:32 – “Reasons” by Earth, Wind and Fire plays from our iPod while I feed Cindy scrambled eggs for breakfast, both of us standing to save the effort from coaxing her to sit. I put the dish on the table and we dance, or should I say “sway,” to the music. The way she hugs me lets me know she is in the moment.

08:47 – Cindy holds an empty coffee cup in her hands, a glad symbol of something she mostly can do on her own, drink her coffee.

09:22 – I am practicing one of the American Discovery movements on my guitar when I notice Cindy in the next room, subconsciously responding to the music as her knees rhythmically bend and straighten. At least I have one fan, the most important one.

10:31 – As I set the laundry basket down to close the gate at the top of the stairs, Cindy offers to help me from where she stands on the landing. She is not capable, of course, but she continues to want to help out.

12:30 – The classical guitar of Carlos de la Fuente plays on our iPod during lunch. I inform Cindy we are listening to Carlos; she smiles brightly and says she remembers him. This is comforting because we first met Carlos after Cindy’s brain health issues began.

12:46 – Cindy breaks out in laughter as we watch “Leave it to Beaver.”

13:03 – Cindy is enthused about going for a walk. I am glad she still can be enthused about life.

13: 36 – We stop at the Post Office to get the mail. We take the much longer ramp because Cindy has increasing difficulty with stairs. I joke that we should train for a marathon if we will be taking the long ways to get somewhere. She takes me seriously and eagerly agrees to train for a marathon in the spring. I share her excitement as if this is a real possibility: “Let’s do it!”

14:08 – Gus, the black labrador, saunters over to meet us at the accustomed place during our walks. Cindy is filled with loving affection as we stop to pet the neighborhood’s favorite dog.

14:22 – I coax Cindy to get in the shower, overcoming her fear that the water will be cold and helping her move her legs over the lip of the tub. Once in and feeling the hot water I ask her if she likes the shower now. “Oh, yes!” she replies ecstatically.

15:39 – Cindy instinctively waves back to the people in the show we are watching. Cindy, friend to all.

16:45 – I get the flashlight out of the bottom drawer and lead Garfield on a “wild light” chase all around the kitchen, for our great amusement. Garfield is never the first one tired of this game.

17:05 – “Call Me the Breeze” by Lynyrd Skynyrd plays on our iPod as I prepare supper. This song has my favorite piano jam of all time (the guitar riff ain’t bad, either) and I manically mimic playing the piano. Cindy gives me a look that affectionately expresses: “And I married you?!?!”

17:41 – Cindy successfully swallows her pills without chewing them. I consider these small victories highlights as well.

19:14 – I am reading a chapter from one of the Narnia books. One character tells a fib to another and Cindy blurts out: “No he doesn’t!”

20:17 – There is a sappy “chic flic” moment in the show we are watching. Cindy tightens her grip on the teddy bear she is holding and predictably starts to cry.

22:06 – Cindy crawls into bed and I physically adjust her position. “This is to prevent you from stealing my pillow!” I indignantly exclaim, as I do every night. For good measure there is a teddy bear lying between our pillows, or else her head might be on mine by the time I come back to bed. This ritual always draws a huge smile from her as I tuck her in.

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23:07 – I crawl into bed for the night. Cindy is peacefully asleep, as evidenced by the fact her body is not twitching. I kiss her on the cheek and she gives out a small sigh. I love that sigh of hers.

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4 Responses to Highlights of an Alzheimer’s Day

  1. doris says:

    It’s been a long time since we’ve spoken of written. Just wanted you to know how glad we are that you are enjoying every moment with Cindy. You’re truly is the love of the century. Xxxxxxx

    • admin says:

      Very nice to hear from you. Say “hi” to Jacob. Maybe someday I’ll be hiking in your corner of the world. Be well.

  2. Pingback: An Alzheimer's Day – Part Two | HUMANITY HIKER

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