A Women's RV Forum run by Women RVer's!

..

So, we had company this weekend from Illinois - one of my good friends (Judy), her two children (Kellie = Judy's 15 year-old daughter), and a friend of the daughter (Sonia) ...I've (we've) known Kellie since the day she was born...

Kellie walked by me and G sitting at the kitchen table this morning and I said, "Where's your Mom?".
After she left (went out to the car), George asked, "Who was that?"

I'm sorry - I KNOW it's not funny. But it is...MY BAD.
God is surely going to throw me straight to hell when the time comes.

But George did go on to say that both those girls were sure cuties.

..

It is sad, but funny too. I remember when my mom was in the nursing home and she had a bulletin board next to her bed with photos of friends and family, and there was one of my daughter Naomi. When my mom's alzheimers was getting worse, she said to my brother, "I don't know who that little girl is that Barb keeps talking about, but she sure is cute!"

There were lots of things that she said and did that weren't funny at the time (scary, embarrassing or shocking) but now I laugh about all of it. God gives us a sense of humor to get thru things like this, so I am sure He will understand.

some times that is all you can do is laugh! It's a sad world and one that you can't enter into
at this time...we will hope never....once he quits thinking they are cuties you might need to worrry.
its so sad you have this trial
sheila

Well, Mitch, if you do go there rest assured I'll be there to keep you company. When my dh's brain tumor got worse he lost touch with us but yes, we did laugh at some of the things he said. One time I rearranged his covers and kissed him on the lips but he pulled away. I asked him what was wrong and he said, "Bill, I don't like you like that." Another time his sisters and I had just given him a bath, shaved him, and dressed him in fresh pj's. He was sitting up smiling then looked right at me and exclaimed, "Bobbie Jean, you're the love of my life!" I just hugged him and agreed that he was the same for me. His one sister who was much younger was appalled, but his older sister who was near his age just laughed. I had met Bobbie Jean at one of his high school reunions and she was gorgeous so frankly I was flattered if he thought I looked that good! Take it easy on yourself Mitch and laugh whenever you can. The tears will come soon enough.

At least he didn't think she was Nancy Pelosi.

Ah yes, one must laugh while one can. My aunt had dementia and when my uncle brought her up here for a visit a couple of times it used to get kind of trying sometimes. She always thought tht I was my dad's wife Then she would look at a picture of my mom and dad and ask who that lady was. Some the things she said were downright funny, but on the other hand we did have to watch her too, as she would do some crazy things like almost putting Drano in the dish water instead of soap Ah, such a terrible disease.

Mitch, you are a saint to be able to put up with George and care for him like you do. Nope, you won't go to hell, you will bypass Go and head straight to Heaven.

My MIL is in assisted living just 2 miles from my SIL in Zephyrhills, FL (which is one of the main reasons we continue to winter in FL). Every time we go, Bob goes up to her and gives her a hug and says "Hi Mom, it's me, your son Bob". Once, while in the car, Bob turned to her and asked if she knew who he was. She replied, "I sure the hell hope you're my brother!" You need that sense of humor, Mitch. carold

Both my aunt and my mother had dementia, my aunt first. My aunt lived in a condo complex where she knew everyone. She was also a very friendly person. When the symptoms first showed up, she was happy that so many new people had moved into the complex so she would have new friends. Actually, they were the old ones, but it didn't matter because she like them all. Even to the end, my aunt was friendly and happy.

My mother had a much worse experience because she got paranoid and fearful of some new people. I was her primary visitor, and almost to the very end, she still reccognized me, but not anyone else.

It is a difficult disease, so having a good sense of humor helps. I also found that my learning to lie helped reassure my mother also, so don't hesitate to do that when the time comes.

JudyJB

Yes a sense of humor helps in retrospect... now it is ok to have those thoughts... you need to laugh at yourself sometimes also... smiling at you...
Kathleen
you have had your fill of Illinois people....

dayspring39 wrote:you have had your fill of Illinois people....

Nope - next round arrives in about 45 minutes...barely had time to launder the sheets and towels!!
(actually haven't finished the towels - teenage girls can sure use 'em up fast...)

..

We had a neighbor whose mother was going through dementia and would constantly come over to our house. (in those days we didn't lock the door until nighttime.) She would constantly refer to us as her family and didn't understand why she had to sleep over at "those peoples" house instead of with us.

I expect wherever you do end up, you'll have a lot of company. Linda

Girl friend, if YOU are going to hell, all I can say is that you are going to be in good company!!!!!

Nah, you've done way worse things! Just ask Vickie..... Ya gotta keep laughing, my friend. I'm still trying to figure out what you said or did that was so bad....maybe I'm just partiularily dense today. Trying to get Hope packed and I've got 2 extra dogs here, one a PITA and the other senile...he keeps getting lost out in the yard and I have to keep rescuing him. He can't hear, can't see and doesn't spend enough time here to get used to the yard. So he just stands out there and barks. He forgets where the back door is or something. You're doing great, keep laughing and deal as best as you can. Love ya and a huge hug for you.

Mitch....for the last 2 years I have been my Aunt Ginny.... according to my Mom...her sister.....then things went down hill...but we still find things to take with a sense of humor and laugh....she would.... You are doing the most loving, but difficult thing one can do for love ones...so keep up your sense of humor and know that you are loved.....okay, I'm done...

Sharon beat me to the "just ask Vickie" line.

When I first moved to WI, my ex and I stayed for a month above a store before moving into our house. Kiddie-corner across the street was a couple where the man had alzheimers. She cared for him at home - with the help of the entire town. Realize this was (still is) a small town. So, after he wasn't allowed to drive, she had to hide the car keys. He then started getting in any car on the street and driving off (no one locked doors or took their keys) so everyone had to learn to take their keys. Occasionally someone would forget. The car situation got rectified when no one left keys inside anymore, even for a minute. Then, when he'd disappear, she'd have to walk up and down the street and check - first all the porches. Then the screened in porches (he'd find one with a chair, recliner or rocker he liked and "sit a spell". When those were all exhausted, it meant starting to open the doors and going in (yep, doors weren't locked either) and eventually he'd be found - usually in the wrong house somewhere watching tv, happy as could be. Luckily she, and everyone in that little town, had great senses of humor - which was hard when the cars first were disappearing - until they and he were found safely.

Hugs to you Mitch.