Memory with Grandpa

Jared's Grandpa Miller has Alzheimer's.  He no longer lives alone and has trouble remembering most things.  Sometimes it's comical and sometimes it's sad.  For example he has told me many times the owns Chase Bank.  He also told me that he opened the border between Mexico and Arizona and that he personally elected the first woman president of Mexico.

But in the same visit he might tell you that his wife, Grandma Miller, who died in September of 2009 and Jared's Mom, Marlene are still alive.  He says people keep telling him that they are dead but they aren't!  According to him they have been in Hawaii for a time, lost on his childhood ranch and as for now they are visiting the ranch waiting for him to come get them.

We get a few visits from Grandpa and his caretaker, Edith, every week.  Since he sees us frequently he still remembers my name as well as Jared.  He knows who my kids are but doesn't know their names. 

Most of the time when he is here he sleeps while me and Edith visit.  Last week during one of their visits he took on Kimber in a game of Memory.  He got two matches by chance but Kimber was so happy to have someone to play with other than me.

It's such an ugly disease.  It's just devastating to watch someone who was once so wise and a wonderful storyteller lose their mind to Alzheimer's.