As I entered her room, I saw her sitting in her recliner, laying back, napping. 1
...more out of an escape then from fatigue.2
As I stood there observing her, I noticed how frail her body appeared especially with all those pillows tucked around her. The distant sound of me tidying up woke her with a start, and her eyes flutter open. 3
She turns her head and stares in confusion, not knowing if I was a stranger or a family member she had forgotten.4
She reaches out her frail hand to greet me and as I take her hand in mine I notice how translucent her skin has become. 5
She manages a smile and staggers to her feet losing her balance. I reach out to help steady her.6
I say to her “Mother it is dinner time let me help you to the table”. 7
Lost in confusion and memories of her past, not knowing the difference, she looks my way as if seeing right through me. 8
As she slips her frail arm in mine I help her shaky body to the table. She pauses for a silent prayer as tears run down her cheeks she blesses the food we are about to receive and thanks the Lord for providing for her family and the work for her husband.9
She nibbles at her food, eating barely enough to keep a bird alive.10
When she finishes she stands and steadies herself and asks to be helped to her sitting room.11
As she wobbles to the piano, she tells me she has played for years at the neighborhood church.12
She steadies herself on the bench and reaches out her hands over the keyboard. She closes her eyes and her fingers begin to “dance” over the keys with elegance and grace as she loses herself in her memories of hymns she knows so well.13
She turns and looks at me and asked what grade I was in and if I have had any experiences in playing the piano.14
As she sits and explains how to read notes , and the steps to take to learn the notes, her fingers continue to “dance”.15
She stops and takes my notebook and draws out a scale explaining treble and base and the 5 lines and 4 spaces.16
She tells me of stories about her past as a child and how she came to move to California only to find the love of her life.17
With tears in her eyes she turns and stands. I raise and take her frail hand and slowly assist her to her room.18
She smiles at me and asks if I will come again tomorrow. 19
As she sits back down in her chair and closes her eyes a few tears trickle down her cheek as she says “I don’t know why the Lord won’t come take me” 20
then fades away into a light slumber..........21
As I wake in my lounge chair looking around in confusion of who this young woman is that looks so much like me in my youth..I reach out my frail hand and with a shaky voice I introduce myself...22
The young woman smiles and says “Good morning mom, it is time for breakfast, let me help you to the table....23
Author notes
This story is based on one of the Alzheimer's clients That I presently care for..this actually happened..
The last paragraph I added was based on a fear of me in the future..To be in that position..in that nature.. in the end of life when you don't know when or why.
What did you think? Please comment!
Comments
1 - 16 of 16
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wow!! you did such a good job!! I really like this peice!! I put it on random and it went to this story, really well done!!
also that picture was scary, but I still like it, but it would inspire me to write a terrrifying story, but you did a good job -
Oh, so sad. Alzheimers disease -- awful! just awful. This kind of reminds me of the Susan Sarandon part of the movie "Noel" where her mother has Alzheimers disease, and without her she is all alone. I loved that movie. The Susan Sarandon part was my favorite part. I cried many times watching that. Anyway, this is a very good story. Good luck in my contest.
~Andy -
This piece is very short, but I really enjoyed it, In some ways this reminded me of my own mother and my grandmother, but both of them they can not play neither can I. Something that is really weird this morning I had a dream that I was playing piano, learning actually then I woke up. This story is very touchy you done a nice job, continue to write!
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Tragic
So beautiful. I hope that your fears of what the future could bring don't overwhelm you to the point that you can't live the present. Prayers to your mother. I'm sorry both of you have to go through so much. -Amanda -
This is a wonderful story, you did a great job. It's so vivid,so sad, especially the last line. I'm sure most people have known an elderly person like that and been saddened. Terrific write, keep it up!
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i think this is a phenomenal write, you really put us in the shoes of the lady and her mother and their experience with such a difficult illness, the writing style is so good, so descriptive, i have to applaud you. the only critique i have it in formatting-- i think you should choose a different color of text because the light brown meshes too much with the background and it's difficult to read the piece-- i had to highlight it to read it-- keep on writing... keep on being... keep on making art... penumbrapoet
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Wow! Girl, this was an awesome write! You've written about this sad subject with such tenderness, and love! I've often thought the same things; that someday, it will by my turn, and I sometimes hope that I wont live that long, so that I wont ever be in the position of not knowing the people around me. But I think there are things that we are supposed to learn from these, our "elders." They still have so much to teach us! This was just beautiful! You told the story so beautifully, and the ending gave me a chill! An EXCELLENT write! You should be extremely proud!
Paula -
This piece was beyond brilliant and it so completely made me cry. My grandmother is suffering from this and it is exactly as you described it, the pain is still there as i so desperately long for my "grandmother" to know who I am (aren't we egotistical creatures). This was a stunning poem in fact I am going to bookmark it ! Thank you so much!!!
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I have that same fear. My mother suffered from 'senile dementia' for the last ten years of her life. Needless to say, it was a very hard time for both of us.
I like the way you wrote this story. There are a few typos but, otherwise, you did a great job! applause
<3 Maureen
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this was one of the best stories, I have ever read, Keep up the good work. And may the Lord always be with you. But hey you may want to make font a little darker because it's hard to read with the background you have with it.
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Wow! This was so so wonderful. I have never read anything like this before. My gosh! It has me thinking my family never lives to see this age because we have a high risk of diabetes and heart failure but I can just imagine this being me and my mother. This was such a beautiful piece of work. I am not look forward to the day when I lose all my memory of who my family is and what time I'm trapped in but I tell you this I would be grateful if I made it there.
LadyRage
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Mom this is a great story. I couldn't help but read it over and over again. The picture you chose has just made this feeling so much more intense and life like. I have always wondered what it would be like to be in this state of mind; to not know your surroundings or even who your own family is. To be so helpless that you need assistance to even perhaps just turn your head to see something. Alzhiemer's is something that I have taken alot of interest in, and the feeling that I got from this was sort of scary. I have to say, the last paragraph was touching... simply because you put me in that position. This is a wonderful story, and quite breathtaking. I am amazed by the descriptions you used: such as her frailty and helplessness and as soon as she enters the world she knows by years and years of learning and experience.. she becomes fresh and full of life. And to take her out of this world... she becomes weak again.
I can't help but wonder what it will be like when I am 'old' and have no control of what happens to me. This makes my passion for Palliative Care become stronger to help those that need us. You have such a talent to give your audience a feeling that is indescribable. I have enjoyed working with you, as you know how Anna Mae touched me when I too was in a stage of my life that I didn't care if I died or not, but she showed me the quality of life and changed my bitter heart into something that was worth living for.
Love ya,
Ish
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Wow!!! the description is great!
I am wondering, am I seeing the scene in front of me???
It's really great!
One of the pieces that makes me feel really inside!
Nice written... -
A stark reminder that the erosion of time's passage is relentless and no matter how much we strain against the orbiting hand, it's claim on midnight is eternal. You give us a glimpse of a likely future and in such bring greater meaning to this moment. Thank you.
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sigh How beautiful a write this is, my Friend...no Time now (sorry)....I just wanted to say, it is lovely & applaud...Brava!!! Wanda
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oh wow... i love memories... talking to older people that are past their prime... hearing them tell their stories. i think its wonderful.
that's a scary thought, to not remember anyone around you and to go back and forth between the present and the past, never really sure which one you're in. i think the worst thing to lose is memory... there's a lot to lose, its confusing, frustrating, and frightening. you've depicted that well... thank you for reminding me to be thankful for memories
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