Alzheimer

It's the days after Christmas and I'm visiting my family in Pennsylvania. A bittersweet mix of emotions rises in my throat and threatens to boil over. Time steals away memories for one and drives them deeper for another. I'm spending time with my Mom and Dad hoping that the last thing that Dad remembers will be the times that I could still make him laugh. I joke with him and just for a moment, his eyes sparkle back to life and we lock into the familiar known space between us where teasing each other was fun. I used to set up the jokes, and he would walked right in...and we would laugh and Mom rolled her eyes at us. I still set up the jokes, he walks right in but forgets what the jokes was and wants me to explain it all to him. Mom rolls her eyes but it's out of frustration now, not fun. I have 2 weeks with Mom and Dad. I know it won't make a difference to Dad's recovery and he will soon forget that I was even here. But I will remember and I will carry his memory to my children so that he will not be forgotten.