She laughed. I can’t believe she actually laughed.
Getting my mom to laugh before her various illnesses and progressing state of vascular dementia was challenging. How odd. Now, she laughs more.
What a gift. Even if it is only once and a while, it is a gift.
Just for a moment her dark house with curtains on every window, lit up.
The other day I was helping her change her socks and shoes, or maybe I was putting on her comfy white slippers?? I don’t remember. Because of her congestive heart failure, sometimes her feet swell up. I looked at her feet and said to her in a straight voice, “your toes look like little cocktail party sausages!’
Well, she howled. Tears, snot, and drool streamed from her face. I was delighted.
This is something that I probably never would have said to her in the past. Maybe because the tone in her house was always so serious and a bit depressing. Or maybe because I never helped her put her shoes on before.
To me it seems that the little bit of dementia that has set in has created a sort of “giddy forgetfulness” in her — as if she has always just had one glass of wine. It appears that she is happier now that she can’t think, or should I say over-think, so much.
I bet we all could use a bit this type of forgetfulness. It seems her illness has brought her more into the present moment.
Who would have thunk it? Dementia = yoga.
Find Your Body, Lose Your Mind 