Like A Thief In The Night

As most people do, I find myself reminiscing about years past, and the decisions made that I thought were in the best interest of both my wife "Dolly" and me. However, I had no idea at the time that the inflated dollar would become a major problem of survival in my senior years. Also, I am a witness to the changing times of modern-day America in regard to medical technology as well as economics.

Because of modern medicine, I am enjoying a longer life than I ever expected to live. However, my wife of 54 years isn't at home with me. She is now a patient in a nursing home where her life is lived one minute at a time. I have memories of when she and I would enjoy planting flowers, cutting roses, and enjoying the fragrance.

The times that both my wife and I would enjoy talking about our many experiences are only memories now. Sadly, she has been robbed of her past and even a minute of the future. I now recall many of the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease that I did not recognize at first. Looking back, I now see many things that were the beginning of her present condition, such as her being unable to cook the way she had always enjoyed in the past, believing that someone was stealing her money, losing shoes, trying on clothes in the closet in the darkness, or getting lost in our home that she always took pride in keeping clean and neat.

Sadly, Alzheimer's disease has stolen my wife's past and all our dreams for the future. Even her present experiences are not recorded in her consciousness. The conversations we now attempt are senseless, but I continue to make believe that she is as normal as she once was. For all outwardly appearances my wife is still alive, but in reality the most important part of her has died. And that part includes memories of our marriage, our family, and our friends. The strange thing is that she can still remember the words and melodies of songs she knew as a child.

I know that the chances of healing her condition today are nil. Maybe the day will come when older people will be free of this dreaded disease so that they can enjoy their senior years. As they quietly reminisce, the memories of the past will be enjoyed with a smile on their faces rather than a faraway look in their eyes. They will be able to hold onto their most precious possession, which is the ability to think and dream of the past while looking forward to the future.

Yes, Alzheimer's disease can be compared with a thief in the night who steals the thoughts and dreams of the elderly. They cannot put up a fight to protect themselves from the deadly intruder.

Leo J. Ghirardi (recent photo at right with his wife "Dolly") was raised in Doric Lodge No. 205, Morgan City, Louisiana, and became a 32° member of the Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Scottish Rite Bodies in 1960. He has conducted some 76 Masonic memorial services for his Lodge's members, is retired from the paint business, and has applied for patents on several potentially important inventions.