Dementia, the great Takerawayer.

My Sweetie Pie, How I miss her.

There is an old song that has a line "You don't know what you got until its gone." Dementia is the great Takerawayer. It keeps taking parts of her away and leaves reminders of what was, and that will never return. By now I know that Sweetie isn't Sweetie anymore. She is just a shell of herself. Not just mentally, physically as well. 

Knowing that she will never get better, only be slipping away bit by bit that makes my job harder. When the pandemic hit, Sweetie was going to daycare 3 days a week, and the freedom for those few hours wasn't appreciated like they will be in the future. 

Living on egg shells doesn't describe my lifestyle. I never know what will change her personality. She can be the sweetest thing, smiling, head knocking, sweet little kisses, and then without notice, I can see, there is a fixed look in her eyes, the joy seems to have been sucked out of her, and it begins. 

Sundowner, that sneaky monster from within, comes to the surface. With a word of the "boys", or "help them", Sundowners sweeps her up and we're off. Like a caged animal, she wants out of her prison. When I stand at the only way out, she cries, screams and heads for the backyard. That is fine, I know she cannot get out into the neighborhood, soon she is back, heading for the door again. 

I used to try and talk to her, calm her down, get some Hemp Oil into her, most of the time I'm successful, and just wait until it works its magic. To up the evil Sundowners back into its bottle. Lately, I've taken her to bed, and she whines as she gets into it, and asleep. Lately, the only things I take off of her are her shoes and glasses. She whines about that too, but I get my way. When she awakes, she is much better. I've learned that a strong firm voice is the key when I want her to do something, she may fight it for a little bit, then gives in. 

"Morning Driver. How long have you been standing there?" Silly question, because I know the answer before I ask the question. He has been waiting quietly as I pour my heart out. He loves to see me write and when I mention Him, He knows I'm on the right path. Well, the right path is what He has for me today, and we better get to it. Hat on, cool sunglasses on, and out the door we go. Into the Shiniest car on the road. Fire up the engine, and move out. Down the Road to Dementia Town we go. Driver, me, and with the Shiny Side Up, I am in good spirits. Come join us, we'll make a caravan, down the Road to Dementia Town, Keeping Our Shiny Sides Up. God Bless.