Dementia is a thief.

 

 

                             Dementia                     

Let the words from my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. Psalms 19: 13 

My father had developed dementia.  He had always been strange throughout his fatherhood, but it was developing into a real dive.

I lived 2800 miles from them, came home every 2 or 3 months but I didn't how much it had progressed.

When I came home one time, Dad was unpredictable.  He told us that we wouldn't inherit any thing.  If we wanted to obtain them, Dad said that we would have to come to the auction and bid on them like everyone else.  Yup.

I saw many other elements of dementia in my visit, and could see how worn out Mom was.

I didn't return to visit until Dad was in his bed, with hospice visiting daily. NO ONE of the hospice provided any in home assistance. My frail mother bathed, changed bedding and diapers all on her own. When I called Mom, she was tearful and relieved when I said I would be there the next day.

Nothing else I want to say.  Dementia took everything away from him, and Mom. And dementia took Dad from us.

Parchment and cinnamon

 

The parchment unrolled in Ruth’s hands.  An aroma of cinnamon and incense rose from the ancient document as Ruth deciphered the cryptic writing. 

…Nothing is cast in iron…all burn in a wood fire…

This is a post from back in 2011 from Delores  when she first began the Wednesday Words.  It was fun then, and it is fun now.

 

The bold words are from Wednesday words from that time. 

33 words

A Kind Hand

 

                   

kindness        

 

Patsy shivered in the new home, despite the heat and the friendliness of the other occupants and the happy sounds, despite the good food waiting for her, despite…everything.

She had never, in her whole life, been in a place where she was welcomed and where nothing was expected of her.

Someone approached her and Patsy reflexively ducked her head and curled up, waiting for the first strike and subsequent kick, over and over again.

Instead Patsy found a kind hand and quiet reassurances that she was home, that this was now her home: love, friendship, food, and a warm bed were hers if she wanted them.

If she wanted them?

Patsy licked the offered hand and gazed into the gentle eyes, with her tail wagging for the first time in a long time.

This is a post from 15 years ago, when I started to feel a sense of confidence as a writer. 

 

Culling the herd

The Great Sweep

 

Strangers had made their way to the back corner where Flashlight reclined.

What can we do? They asked him. We can’t understand them, the crackling and snapping?  They complained. How will we ever find our way in this strange land?

Wise and bright Flashlight cleared his batteries a little.  Oh, little ones.  You cannot understand the way of the Sock.  Theirs is a life fraught with danger.  Each one may leave and not return.

WELL.  That rattled them, it rolled them.  What shall we do, Old Wise Flashlight?

He felt their pain and fright.  You must journey through the Socks to the Front of the Sock Drawer.  It is the only way you will be rescued.

They accepted his wise advice.  But, will you show us the way?

Flashlight sadly blinked.  No, my place is here with the Socks.  I must light their way in the darkness.

The sorted odd objects from turned and began their trek across to barren dresser top.. 

Flashlight knew his time would end soon, and then he too would make the trek.

 

P.S.  Here is the first post done about the Land of the Sock Drawer:

 http://thecontemplativecat.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-in-sock-drawer.html

 

The Ants go marching....

 

 Youtube, 2 + minutes.  worth every damn ants perishing..

Ants have invaded our kitchen, and we have been doing battle with them for a week.  I know it is the result of extreme dry heat (100 deg. most days) and lack of water. But we deserve a break. 

My kitchen counters have never been soooo clean. I use Fantastick with bleach.  How long does it last before they regroup? I honestly don't know.

  But, it could be worst.

 YouTube, 45 sec. , from Borneo or rain forest areas.

 

 Youtube, about 3+ minutes.  

I apologize for this lengthy post.  Can you feel my pain?

Ants could take over our houses, woodlands, and just about any where else.  Seriously.  They are dedicated.

Just when you thought I was done, here it is:

about 4 min. long
 Kingdom of the Ants with recognizable actors sometimes

Hopefully, you will take care of invading ants with determination and a sense of revenge.

 

 

 

Thinning out the drawer: what about the Strangers

 

After the  tick-tick of the worn time wrist watch was heaved out the drawer, the Sock Drawer resumed it general pace and rhythm.  Socks left, were worn, sent to the dreaded Laundry Land, and hopefully returned. 

Gossip was still the primary form of entertainment.  The tick-tick had provided a brief break bringing Socks to near unraveling point.  Now, Sock residents resumed chattering about lint, static, and thread snapping.

But what about the Strangers?  The unique and curious objects that had been swept off the Land of Dresser Top, and landed in the Sock Drawer?  Gossip and speculation was the big topic among the resident socks.

The shabby-chic striped nylon/spandex (who managed to stay, despite an obvious hole in the cuff) was the most vitriolic about them.  She shook the hole at the Strangers, bitching in her peculiar way…And look!  Look at the shoddy bright green…thing!..

The other sassy socks of poly/nylon/spandex genre joined with Shabby Sock.  The atmosphere was rife with lint and crackling.  A riot was building, and in a land of static could set off a storm of electric charge. 

Source

Then Wise Argyle stepped in and stopped them with the boldness of his diamond woven in brown/blue/tan woolen and spandex.  He remembered the Electric Charge Storm from the last riot, the one when the new Christmas socks arrived.  Oh, no. 

But what about the Strangers??  Where were they and what were they doing while the riot wound down?

Romance on the Wing

 

This photo prompt was provided by Delores at Under the Porch Light

Flying in this yellow box with wings and engine, Melba smoothed her new silk dress.  It cost her $600, the new purse $400. Dammit! I've saved for this moment, I deserve this!

When her long-time beau, Clarence, decided to take her up in his brother's plane, Melba hesitated.  James was an okay pilot, she had been told.

After a spectacular loop and bank, Clarence turned to her with a giant diamond ring in hand, "Will you marry me, Mel?"

Melba looked at him in a daze.  She opened her $400 handbag.  "Blaaah!" as she threw up in it and all over her dress.

It was a moment to remember.

Re-post, changed and rewritten, September 2015

The thing about photo prompts is the freedom. 

About 100 words or so

 

Three hags

 

 

The decades of living in their chaotic home revealed much about the three sisters. Being kept in confined spaces, their atmosphere was dank, the air was blue with trenchant yelling, turmoil, and cursing. 

Beatrice, Grace, and Marilyn lived far away on the grid that was their village. Even more, the three were blind. Desperate people climbed the rocks to get help. All they needed, just this one thing, was the eye. The all important eye held answers.

At night, villagers shivered as the sisters sang the same dang song:  Cackling, was the big number through the night, harmonizing hag-songs of their past. Grace complained, “We sang that one yesterday”. 

That was when hell broke loose. The cauldron in which the eye floated was kicked over by Beatrice, sending the eye cascading. The three sisters screeched : “When the hurley-burley begins, love ends". Marilyn crooned the sonorous loudest, so she took off with the harmonies.

The village went to bed in silence. thankful for their existence. But was there any peace, quiet, safety?  What to think? Are they safe? 

 The "Clash of the Titans" movie featured three blind hags who had a thing for the magic eye. 1981 was the first movie, and then again in 2010.  Perseus was the "godling" (son of Zeus, being who being himself, had his way with Danae). 1981 was best.  Good memories.

 This was a Wed. Words brilliant writing in 2022. 

 

Set the table

 

 

My Aunt Vada is one of the most precious people in the world.  She has always been my ‘crazy’ aunt—the one who goes places, tells stories well, listens to me, and communicates with others.  Aunt Vada sends me the funniest stories, some of them not repeatable to anyone other than my close family.  

I think this story would be fine.

  

                                              The Good Napkins

My mother taught me to read when I was about four years old, thrilling all who heard me. One day, I was in the bathroom and noticed one of the cabinet doors was ajar.  I read the box in the cabinet. 

I then asked my mother why she was keeping ‘napkins’ in the bathroom.  “Don’t they belong in the kitchen?” 

Not wanting to burden me with unnecessary facts, she told me that those were for ‘special occasions’.

Time passes, memories remain…it’s Christmas Day, and my folks were leaving to pick up my uncle and his wife for dinner.  Mom had assignments for all of us while they were gone.  Mine was to set the table.

When they returned, my uncle came in first, and immediately burst into laughter.  Next came his wife who gasped, then began giggling.  Next came my father, who roared with laughter.  

Then came Mom, who almost died of embarrassment when she saw each place setting on the table with a ‘special occasion’ Kotex napkin at each plate, with the fork carefully arranged on top.  I had even tucked the little tail in so they didn’t hang off the edge!!

My mom asked me why used these and, of course, my response sent the other adults into further fits of laughter.  “But, Mom, you said they were for special occasions!!”

Aunt Vada’s friend added, “life is too short for drama and petty things…so kiss slowly, laugh insanely, love truly, forgive quickly, and for heaven’s sake, use the good napkins whenever you can.”

 There is another story about cloth napkins, around here somewhere.

Original posting was 2016.