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  Sunday, January 25, 2009

Fear of Senility

I've had family members suffer from dementia. It's scary when someone you love no longer recognizes you. It makes you worry about it happening to you. Whenever I forget something, it makes me worry that my mind is starting to go. Then I remember that forgetting things is normal. I've always forgotten things now and then.

The other night we went to the wedding of our friends Tony and Tina. We sat at a table with four people already there: Jane, Carol, Amanda and Clare. I remembered their names instantly from one introduction, and didn't even do my trick of shaking their hand, looking them in the face and saying their name out loud to memorize it.

Then two more people sat down. I thought, "Oh no! Two more names to remember." But I added Denny and Paula to my list of table mates. And I memorized the names of most of the family of Tony and Tina. I guess maybe my mind isn't going. Yet.


Posted by Dave    Blog Tag: Chatter
Comments

7 Comments:

At 1/25/2009 1:47 AM, Blogger Jen F said...

How was the show? I saw it in Portland ages ago...

 
At 1/25/2009 10:10 AM, Blogger Alan said...

Nice post, Bob!

 
At 1/25/2009 10:11 AM, Blogger dkgoodman said...

We enjoyed it. The food was better than at most weddings, the actors were believable in their stereotyped roles, and the show was funny. There were usually two or more things going on at the same time. You'd have characters in the foreground trying to keep the wedding going, but in the background you'd see someone getting drunk, or causing a scene, while the first character continued blithely on.

I was hoping it would be more interactive than it was, but I didn't get a chance to role-play as much as I'd hoped. Connie loved the music and the dancing.

I loved the way "Tina" and other characters would grab someone's camera when they were away from the table and take pictures with it to surprise the owner when they reviewed them. :)

 
At 1/25/2009 10:12 AM, Blogger dkgoodman said...

Thanks, Dave. er, Alan.

 
At 1/30/2009 12:36 AM, Blogger Debra said...

my memory has always been hit and miss. makes me wonder about the meaning of life. your life can have impact on others, and have meaning to you, but if you lose the memories, do you lose your life's meaning even if others still remember?

 
At 1/30/2009 7:12 PM, Blogger Bulldog said...

Dave,

I knokw how you feel. My maternal grandmother, aunt and uncle all died from Alzheimers, as did my paternal Grandfather. Every little memory dropped raises questions.

 
At 2/08/2009 7:51 PM, Blogger Melissa said...

A mind is a terrible thing to lose. I worry daily about losing mine. I hope that brain exercises, diet and exercise can overcome genetics.

 

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