HoneyBunch
and I are blessed to still have our parents with us. We are also blessed that they are in good
health for their age. His parents are
extremely active in their church and community and travel quite a bit; my mother
is still sharp in mind and has her sense of humor about her. So many of our
friends cannot say the same about their parents.
HB
attributes his parents’ mental health to their spunk and activity. He thinks this is what has kept them
“youthful” in comparison to everyone else who suffers from dementia or
Alzheimer’s. All three of our parents are in their late 80’s and early 90’s and
do not like to be treated “old.” I have
often been scolded for helping my mother-in-law into my husband’s truck, and my
mom is the same way. As matriarch of the family, my mother rules with a firm
hand and keeps everyone in line.
I have
noticed lately that my mother rambles and repeats a lot of things, but then so
do I, and I am twenty years younger. I have noticed HB’s parents tire easily
and talk about the same things over and over.
I prefer
this to others their age who have been robbed of their lifetime memories
because of some form of dementia.
Though I
agree with HB that it is their activity that has helped keep the three of them
“youthful,” I often wonder if it isn’t the opposite. They continue to be active and spry because
they did not fall prey to dementia. I
have witnessed some with Alzheimer’s who were more physically and mentally
active in their lifetimes than our parents. They were athletes, professors,
scientists, multi-linguists. They cared for their bodies by eating right and
exercising. They had brilliant minds;
yet, they did not escape this cruel disease.
I hope HB
and I inherit our parents good fortune.
I hope one day to be the grandparent who “never aged,” and I pray the
same for my HoneyBunch. I want to swat at people’s hands when they try to help
me climb into trucks. I want to be known as the family matriarch. I want to die of old age with all my memories
tucked inside my heart and mind and soul.
Comments
Post a Comment