The Mind is a Mystery

I am spending time with my mother while my dad is recovering from surgery. She is a delightful woman who lifts her hands and thanks God all the time. She also has Alzheimers Disease. My mother has no short term memory. She has not been able to remember new names and faces or current information since the disease took over her brain. Once in a very great while a new snippet of information will work it's way into her memory bank and she will be able to hold on to it, but not often.

She does not remember why I am here. Every few minutes she turns and looks at me and asks me where her David is. Then she asks if he is okay and if he will be home soon. I answer her and we move on and then she turns and asks again. I don't mind answering her, ever. Each time she asks it is as if she had never heard the answer. I do have alot of appreciation for my daddy who is the one who cares for her and answers her questions over and over each day, all day long. He probably needed this little break in the hospital.

We just took a walk around the facility where they live and she stops and points out the details in the artwork that is on the walls. "Look at that pretty flower. Someone painted everything that you see in that picture. Look, there are three flies in that painting." My momma used to be a painter. She loves to see the brush strokes and a flower with light on the petals. She has always had an eye for color and detail. Even as I type, she has just asked me again about her David. We are off to the hospital where she will sit in the chair by his bed and hold his hand and look sweetly at him and blow him kisses. Then she will ask him why he is there and when he gets to go home. She just told me that she "sure has missed him".

I miss my mother but I have heard so many horror stories from friends who have parents with Alzheimers who have lost all of their true self and kindness. I love that she has still got the love of Jesus smiling through those pretty blue eyes.

I am looking forward to talking to her again in Heaven one day. I have lots of questions stored up for her too.