20:24 8/25/2001
Karen and I got up really really late today... like, 10:30 it was. Much later than we'd planned.
We were on the road about 12:30 and we had a nice trip down. I was going to do some work on the laptop but the glare was really too much to see the screen... probably any time but high noon would work much better.
We went by to see Betty first, it's on the way and just off of the turnpike. We had to get the code from a nurse to get in the "Special Unit" and we found Betty sitting in her room in a chair. She recognized us immediately, which was gratifying to Karen.
Shortly after we got there, Chuck returned from having lunch. Betty had told us that she was going over to Debbie's for supper, and Chuck confirmed that. Karen and I went out for lunch, winding up at The Good Egg, a place that we'd been to before but that we just lucked onto today... so we had breakfast instead of the sandwiches that we'd thought about.
We got back to the nursing home and loaded up and headed to Debbie and Ric's... Betty was concerned that it was taking so long to get there, but I didn't really think anything about her questions.
We had a nice afternoon... Andy, Karla, Drew and Matt came down and there were several calls because they got lost, but they arrived safely after a coupla long detours. We had tocos for supper... Karen had made some of her famous salsa again, in addition to the two cakes that we'd baked last night. Did I mention that Karen (and I) had made a bundt cake from scratch? The other cake was a cobbler-type thing with cherries and pineapple and apples... it was pretty darned good too. Karen made the frosting for the bundt cake after we got here, figgering it wouldn't transport very well if it wasw frosted.
It was a nice little birthday party with candles and all, and we all sang "happy birthday" to Debbie. She appeared to be properly appreciative...
I did get a buncha pictures, which I will spread out over the next several days, so's not to overburden my wonderful readers...
Anyway, after the activities were over, it was time to take Betty home. I had thought that it would be nice to Karen and Chuck to take her, but Karen can't drive at night and Chuck had consumed several glasses of wine, so I was pressed into service.
Shortly after we got onto the highway, Betty, who was in the front seat with me, started questioning me about how long it was taking, and was I sure that this was the right way. This continued off and on until we got to the nursing home. We went in the back door and really confused Betty. I went to tell the nurse that she was back, but she was busy with another patient right then. Betty did not want to go into her room, insisting that she go tell the nurse that she was back. We finally talked her into going in and sitting down, but that didn't last very long, she appeared to be extremely nervous. Finally she rose out of her chair again and started off to tell the nurse that she was back. Karen finally figgered out what was going on... Betty didn't recognise us at all.
This was really hard on Karen and Chuck. The nurses finally got free and came down, and Karen convinced Betty that she was Karen, but Chuck was unable to establish his identity with her. I had pretty much decided to stay in the background, thinking that I was a big part of the reason for her confusion.
Several things... it was a long day for Betty, and she hadn't had her medication, and she'd had a glass (or two) of wine with her supper....
And, of course, she has Alzheimers.
Chuck said that he hopes that this is a temporary abberation. We all do, of course, but we all know that someday... more likely sooner than later... it will be permanent. But yes, there is hope for tomorrow...