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Trying this Stream-of-Consciousness Prompt
Begin to write without editing, using the prompt, "May your..."
https://lindaghill.com/2026/05/22/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-may-23-2026/
Like Debbie D., from whom I borrowed this prompt (which originated with Linda G. Hill), I find it hard not to edit as I go along. Maybe doing this will encourage the freewheelin' side of the brain. (Yes, I'm tempted to Google whether that is the right or the left side, but that's a no-no. Ha!)
What I came up with is
May your long-term memory store lots of good stuff, so if you get dementia sometime in the future, all the bad stuff will disappear and be replaced by the good stuff.
Which makes me think about the various people I've known with Alzheimer's and dementia.
Especially my mother-in-law, Deborah, who got Alzheimer's after a bout of flu with a high fever, during which she spoke a lot of nonsense. That went away after a day, but eventually bad signs started to appear: poor judgment, moodiness, forgetfulness about grooming, inability to do buttons and to cut meat.
Eventually, we thought it best to have her doctor tell her it was time to stop driving. She didn't take it well. She had been a doctor herself and was brilliant and very independent. She also had a phenomenal memory. She did all the right things they tell you to do: read a lot, do crossword puzzles, exercise (she walked to work in the good weather). But none of that prevented her from getting the unlucky number.
But getting back to the prompt. Deborah had always been a super-serious person. She just didn't get jokes. Which was quite difficult for M and me, who loved joking. Also Deborah's great memory meant she could indulge her grudge-keeping habit.
Well, once she got Alzheimer's two good things happened:
She got a sense of humour.
And she forgot who she was supposed to be mad at.
Alzheimer's was a tragedy in many ways for her and for those who knew her. But it actually improved her personality!
Nice to know you were inspired by my post, Barb! ☺ And it was interesting to read about your MIL's experience with Alzheimer's. At least there were a couple of positives!
ReplyDeleteAlzheimer's softened her personality. Once, in an attempt to get to say something, I pointed to a store sign and said: "50% off on some items! But it's always on the things you don't want to buy." She replied, "How are they supposed to know what you want and what you don't?"
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DeleteMemory loss is a persnickety thing. I found with my mother that there were days that memories seemingly log gone popped right back in, but then she returned to that "no grudge zone," like your MIL.
ReplyDeleteAs for "may your..."--- "...days be merry and bright" popped into my mind, and we are not even Christmas people❄️
My mother eventually couldn't recognize me. She knew I was someone familiar and nice, but she usually thought I was her cousin. Then we'd show her one of our wedding photos, ask her who the man was. She could always recognize M. "And who is standing next to him?" "Oh, you're Barb!" I was in her short(er) term memory while Phyllis was in her long(er) term memory. :-)
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