Momma: Did you bring that thing?

Me: What thing?

Momma: You know that thing we were talking about when that girl was here.

Staci: What girl?

Momma: You know that girl from town who works at that place over by that road next to the church whose husband graduated with Lesa who was talking about that thing for the lake. 

Me: When?

Momma: The other day.

Staci: Oh that girl.

Me: Her hair looks really cute these days.

Staci: I think so too.

Me: Yeah, I brought it.

Momma: Good.

Do you wonder if you have Alzheimer’s? Early onset? How early is early? When is it regular? Since I read Still Alice, I’m pretty sure my whole family has it. If we have it together, I guess we won’t even realize it.

Our conversations are often a combination of Charades and Taboo. Our most used words are thing and it. It covers everything.

We have a secret family language, finishing each other’s sentences with no proper nouns, very few adjectives and single syllable words and grunts. Like a secret twin language with hand gestures mixed in for emphasis. 

In contrast, my 91 year old mother-in-law can recall details with amazing clarity. She knows the value of each of her stocks to the penny and buys and sells when she sniffs out a good deal. She recommends stock to us along with the best deals at the grocery store. She doles out my father-in-law’s medication like a highly skilled pharmacist…half a pill at 10:00; one pill at lunch; two pills at 2:00; one and a half at supper; one after the first full moon. She never seems to struggle to find a word.

My father-in-law, at 90, has memory problems and repeats his favorite ten stories like an album soundtrack. WWII – when John was born – first driving experience – car wreck – new shoes….repeat….

The mind is an amazing thing.

talya

Musical Pairings:

When I’m Sixty-Four – The Beatles  (ok this is NOT that old….)