Losing Things...

     All of us lose things on a daily basis...keys, important papers, and other things. We worry about ourselves when we lose things, and even think, "maybe I am getting dementia." But, what I noticed in my mom was when she lost things, it was like it was swallowed up in a black hole. When you have Alzheimer's Disease you never make the memory of putting the item somewhere, so it is in a black hole. So, like we recall the memory of putting the keys on top of the refrigerator later when we find them, the person with AD just does NOT! it is always a fun guessing game to find out where Mom put/hid something we are searching for...I try to keep it light so she will help me look and not get mad. She gets mad sometimes now...but, we will save that for another blog!
     This week I was called to swing by Nana A.'s place because she had lost her glasses. They had been missing for three days and the staff at her place had not seen them. I got to her room and found her frantically searching her drawers. But, it was her purse she could not find...which is an ongoing problem for this dear lady. She puts the purse in the oddest places! I have found it under her lingerie, under her towels, behind all her clothes in the closest..she does this because she thinks someone might steal it from her. So, that day, she also said someone stole her glasses, because she thought she had left them at dinner and went right back, and they were gone. I figured they were in the purse if we could find it. Success! I found the purse buried in a drawer after about five minutes but NO glasses. Ugh! So, I began to search her clothes pockets, under cushions, the bathroom, and finally, got on my hands and knees searching. I looked under the bed, but no glasses. I reached my hand way back under it between the nightstand, and SUCCESS, I felt the glasses! Nana was so happy! I had never seen such joy on her face, and she wanted to go right out and join the Bingo game. I guess she had been unable to play for three days...all her friends were there and rejoiced with her. LOL
     In closing, I think about these two women and how frustrated they are when they lose things. They both know, they will never remember. That thought can be pretty depressing. I tell my mom it will be interesting when they move to find so many things that she has stuck places...she justs laughs...I love these times because she can still laugh, and that is a blessing!