桑德·史密斯/SandeSmith
Aparentsinceshewasfifteen, .
, shesitsinanursinghome, tappingherfingersonherchairinasyncopatedrhythmthatremindsmeofbebop, talkingtoherselfaboutherfather, whodiedwhenshewaseight.
“Mildred……Mildred.”Isay.
Shelooksupatme, hereyesbrighten, andhersmilerevealssnaggleslikethoseofafive-year-old.“Comehere, babydoll,”shesays.
Irushovertoher, pullcloseachair, andsitdown.
“Hey, Mildred, howareyou?”Idon''tanswertoMommy.
MymotherwasdiagnosedwithAlzheimer'sin1984，, , whenIwouldcallhome, shewouldbeupsetbecauseshe'dlosthermoney.“Mommyneverloseshermoney.”I'dthink.
, diet, andmedicine, andthroughtheadditionofChineseherbs, mymother', despiteprofoundphysicalimprovement, theAlzheimer'scontinuedtounravelhermindoverthenextsixyears.
Ilivedwithmymotherfrom1984to1990，', she'dwalkincirclesaroundhischair, , she', shewouldrundownthestreet, '.
Thisisnotmymother, ;, , silverware, dishes, , she', notshe, hadmovedthesethings.
“Comehere,”she'dsayforcefully, grabbingmyhandandpullingmeintoherroom.“?Theytookit.”
Tolearnmoreaboutthedisease, mysisterandIattendedgroupsforfamiliesofAlzheimer''swastalking, nother.
Asthediseaseprogressed, 'dsay,“What'shappeningtome?Whycan'tIremember?”
BeforeAlzheimer's, , shebecamestrangelyfreewithheremotions, cryingwhenfrightened, expressingangerwhenfurious, , webothbecamecalmer.
, I'dturnonTinaTurnerorJanetJackson, andwewoulddanceanddance.I'dplayherfavoritesongsonthepiano, andshe'dplaceherhandontopoftheolduprightandsingeachnoteandeverywordperfectly.
