Entries from December 1, 2006 - January 1, 2007
Christmas Visit
We visited with Mammaw Thursday. For over 25 years we have been coming to her house in Corinth, MS for Christmas. Most of those years we did the big family Christmas thing on Christmas Eve with the big dinner and gift exchange with about 17 people. The years have changed the plans and schedules of the family. The kids have grown up and now have kids of their own. Some get to come home for our traditional yearly pilgrimage to Mammaws, others don't. We would leave there for our home in Tupelo, an hour south, so we could have our Christmas at home with our kids.
Change is inevitable. No one and nothing can remain the same forever. Our Corinth Christmas will not be the same this year. We visited with Mammaw but Mammaw didn't remember us. The daughter, son-in-law, and 3 grandkids (our kids) she loves are strangers in the space in her mind that should house wonderful memories of a life time of doing life together.
It blesses me to see Debbie caring for her even though she doesn't know it is her daughter. The kids are great with her, tending to her, brushing her hair and laughing with her as she makes very little sense in her ramblings of trying to put scattered memories and thoughts together. She is doing well physically and mostly happy trapped inside her new reality. Alzheimer's is our new cruel reality.
It has reminded us that life is fragile. Do what you can for family and friends while you can. Remind them that you love them. Tell them what you appreciate about them. Spend time together. You never know how long the window of opportunity will remain open. Life happens. Things change.
Even though she doesn't know it's Christmas or who we are, it wouldn't be Christmas without our yearly pilgrimage to Mammaw's. It is good to be here. Merry Christmas everyone.
Change is inevitable. No one and nothing can remain the same forever. Our Corinth Christmas will not be the same this year. We visited with Mammaw but Mammaw didn't remember us. The daughter, son-in-law, and 3 grandkids (our kids) she loves are strangers in the space in her mind that should house wonderful memories of a life time of doing life together.
It blesses me to see Debbie caring for her even though she doesn't know it is her daughter. The kids are great with her, tending to her, brushing her hair and laughing with her as she makes very little sense in her ramblings of trying to put scattered memories and thoughts together. She is doing well physically and mostly happy trapped inside her new reality. Alzheimer's is our new cruel reality.
It has reminded us that life is fragile. Do what you can for family and friends while you can. Remind them that you love them. Tell them what you appreciate about them. Spend time together. You never know how long the window of opportunity will remain open. Life happens. Things change.
Even though she doesn't know it's Christmas or who we are, it wouldn't be Christmas without our yearly pilgrimage to Mammaw's. It is good to be here. Merry Christmas everyone.
Terry Hurt
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