The flag is up.

Hawaii, 2017

No reason for this picture. Something that reminded me of a good time we had. If I could, I'd pack up right now, put us on a plane and head there again. 

Last time I looked for a place to stay in Hawaii, I found a bungalow on the north side of the island for less then $100 a day. Nothing fancy, but on a lagoon. For something like that, I'd be there for about a month. Just to sit, with Sweetie, on the beach, reading, lounging around, with nothing but time to do. Maybe, I'd plan on something like that, as a memorial. 

Thursday

As they say at the horse racing track, "The flag is up." Meaning the race is about to begin, and so my day with Sweetie is about to begin. 

Years ago, or a lifetime ago, used to go to the horse races. At the beginning of each race, the announcer would say those words, "The flag is up." People would stop whatever they were doing, head over to the rail, or some viewing advantage point, to watch the horses launch from the gate, with the words "And their off." For the next 60 seconds or so, all you could hear were the hooves pounding the track, and as the announcer was calling the race, the cries would soon come up. "Come on so and so," As they rounded the turn heading for the finish line, the crowed would start their cheering, their encouraging, the moaning as the horses cross the finish line. The cheers by the winners, the moans by those whose horse didn't cross the finish line, in the money, and then the wait for the next race. So it would happen all over again. 

That is how I feel sometime. Different day, same stuff. Life is like that with Sweetie. Doing the same thing with her, the difference is does she remember me, the house, the TV show? Any or all of these things. 

I know a routine is best for her, habit is a worn spot on the brain, so that even if she doesn't remember me, or where she is when she gets up, she will remember the routine.

This morning was just like all the others, walk in, give her her wake up dose. Greeting her with my introduction of who I am, and wait to see if there is a twinkle of recognition. My day will go according to that twinkle. 

Most of the time, it is now, pulling the blanket away from her, struggling with her to get out of bed, and when she gets her feet on the ground, she seems to come out of her Dementia slumber, and remember what we are doing. 

For it is same o, same o. And to get the first choir done, cleaned and dressed, and out to the table for her first meal. 

As always, she eats a good meal, and now is watching TV. She is so concentrated on the TV, that she doesn't even know I'm in the room and could care less. 

Knowing this, and also knowing that she will stay there as long as the show keeps going, I'm off. 

Today, I get a cart, just don't want to walk the course. Had a bummer of a round, but still did get a couple of pars, had some "should of been on TV." shots and putts. 

When I get home, she is still frozen in time. Doesn't recognize me, or even responds to my greeting. 

Have to make a run to the bank, and this is where I get Sweetie to move. She doesn't want to do anything, so I persist. Fighting her resistance until she moves, and that is, again, an awaking from her Dementia slumber. 

She smiles at me, like "Where have you been?" smile, and comes with me willingly. 

In the car, the Sweetie of old shines through. At the bank, she is just a face-full of smiles, and so while we were at the bank, which is at the mall, why not take the oppertunity to take a walk about. We do, and it is done. Yea. 

Went to KFC for dinner. Brought it home, and we had chicken, mac-n-cheese, and coleslaw for dinner. Leftovers for later. 

TV, meeting, and home to bed. To tell the truth, I was hoping that she would be in one of her "Loving moods". She wasn't and that is good too, so with a prayer, a kiss, to sleep we went. And the horses crossed the finish line. 

Just another day on the Road to Dementia Town. Driver behind the wheel, Sweetie and me in the back seat along for the ride, watching the other cars go bye, Keeping Our Shiny Side Up. C'ya, Luv Ya, and God Bless. Arthur.