Friday, December 17, 2010

"Where Are We Going?"

She was dressed in her Christmas finery
When I picked her up in my car
“Where are we going?” she asked
To visit friends, someplace not far.

The house was gorgeously Christmas
With cookies and sweets on a platter
She ate several without hesitation
Then listened to all of us chatter.

She tried to keep up with the dialogue
But soon lost interest in that
Her attention drawn elsewhere
Her mind not where we were at.

We returned to the car calling thank you
And headed back into town
“Where are we going?” she asked
Head swiveling and looking around.

“To lunch at my house,” I answered
“To have a bowl of soup
Before our next appointment.
We need to settle, to regroup.”

As soon as we walked in the door
A sack on the counter she turned
Upside down emptying its contents
What’s in it, she wanted to learn.

We needed to eat in a hurry
So we wouldn’t be terribly late
“Where are we going?” she asked
I replied, “on to another date.”

Spotting the candy dish on the counter
Her attention to it was drawn
Soon a piece was selected and eaten
Soup for lunch forgotten and gone

To the bathroom she disappeared for a moment
As I patiently waited outside
The light switch turned on, off, then on again
Something to play with she must have decided

"We need to get ready to leave again,”
I said urging her towards the door
“Where are we going?” she asked.
Back into the car once more.

Her actions childlike in nature
With happiness in her bright eyes
She struggled with the front seatbelt
Then gave up and let me try.

She’d brought along her sunglasses
To protect her from the glare
Of sunlight gracing the sky today
“Too bright,” she said donning the pair.

To the next rendezvous we’re headed
And when we stop in the parking lot
“Where are we going?” she asked
Our weekly appointment, have you forgot?

A litany of continuous questions
Repeated one time after another
I answer as patiently as I’m able
To my sweet forgetful Mother.



7 comments:

  1. My heart goes out to both of you.

    Initially I thought the poem was about a grandchild, but after finishing it I understood.

    My mother-in-law had the same disease. It's very challenging for family; we long for our loved one to be the way they used to be.

    Your mother is fortunate to have you to take her places and to do all the other things you do for her. As hard as it is, you'll never regret doing what you're doing.

    God bless you and your mother this Christmas season.

    Your poem is lovely and even more so when it's revealed at the end that you've written it about you and your mother. I reread it.

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  2. I'm glad you liked it Shaddy. It was written after she and I spent the day together yesterday. It hit me that she was doing things that my grandkids would do, so I wrote it to reveal at the end I was talking about my Mother.

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  3. Great pic, your mom looks very festive :)

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  4. Been there, pw. With my late husband. Except his transition was not gentle in nature. It's a long, lonely road the caregivers walk. Nicely written, revealing at the end. At first I thought, a wife, then a child, and then.

    I'd like to suggest you send this to your local Alzheimer's resource association, or the National Family Caregiver's Association. A lot of people can identify with this.

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  5. Thank you Gully! I remember you wrote of the road you traveled with your husband. I appreciate your suggestion to send this on and will check out the options locally.

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  6. This is such a poignant and lovely tribute to both you and your mother. Thank you for sharing it.

    I lost my mother to Alzheimer's as well and know the painful journey you are on.

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  7. Your words are so gentle and lovely that I found myself dabbing at tears in my eyes. Thanks for sharing.

    My computer finally crashed completely so my opportunities to check in on your blog have been spotty at best. I want to thank you for your Christmas wishes, and to wish you a terrific Christmas season as well. Love and peace to you and your family.

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