Middle sister called. Mentioned Dad has been reminiscing a lot. I waited for her to say something like I had experienced — how his new sentimentality was a fishhook in the heart. Like Dad cramming for finals or something.
Instead: “It’s an indicator for Alzheimer’s. People get confused in real time, so they retreat to topics in their long term memory, which aren’t as affected.” So, not my dad rending the very fabric his personality to reach out and make a personal bond after all.
She quickly followed up with how one symptom does not a diagnosis make, and how if it is the big A, it’s a slow moving prognosis. It was hard to listen to the rest, with the constellations wobbling in the sky like they did. Stupid stars.
In the real world, he came over a few days ago and fell asleep on my couch. When I woke him up, he startled, four limbs out like a surprise skydiver. “I’m up!” he insisted. It’s awesome payback from all my teenager years when he’d mercilessly wake me up by poking me in the ribs and blaring, “Do you know what time it is?”
And oh, PS. This happened: My middle kid’s little league softball, first practice. Third item on the agenda? Team name. They shouted, The Butterflies! The Sparkle Unicorns! The Princesses! And then one kid: The girls with balls!
Yeah, I wanna be on her team.
My vote is with The Girls With Balls!
I might have to learn a sport, get in shape, and join a league. Just so I
can make use of that name.
Anne
Girls With Balls FTW. I have several suggestions for jersey designs. All of them would get me thrown in jail.
First you break my heart then you heal it.
How can you not be blocked with that train coming at you? You don’t want to sit and write, you want to flee or fix it, neither of which are possible.
Please tell me you’re not watching Grey’s Anatomy. I told Adam that if he starts heading that direction he’ll be put in a home. I cannot imagine the pain of living with that hell. (I’m selfish and he wont remember anyway, right?)
I recommend tweeting all day. It will keep you from brooding too much. Or maybe you need to brood. Gah, I feel like I’m just pissing everywhere but all I get is wet pant legs.
Dude! The little girl that suggested Girls With Balls is my new hero for today
Hilarious baseball team. I want to join…although the question I want to ask is who is that girls mother?
Aside from that, yes your sister could be right, people with the “Big A” often retreat to topics that are safe, BUT it sounds like your dad still has some insight. That insight is part of the reminiscing because not only does he want to bond with you, but it also helps him not feel like he’s forgetting you by having you help him remember. That is why the retreat is safe and that is why you should continue to reminisce. It helps heal you both.
Girls With Balls. That. Yes.
I don’t know much about Alzheimer’s, but I do know about paybacks. They are, as they say, a bitch. I’m not looking forward to being on the receiving end in a few decades. Or next week.
The Girls With Balls! Just made my day. Thanks, I needed that!