Dementia

On the highway out of Mobile, Alabama, we found ourselves talking about dementia: it’s terrifying affect on those we love, our powerlessness as it robs us, and the patience and courage it takes to confront.

He remembered visiting his father at the hospital, where he found his dad sitting at the edge of his bed, holding an invisible pole – fishing.

“Well, you know I sat right down beside him and joined him. And I can say, at the end of his life, I got to spend the day fishing with my dad.”

I asked him if he caught anything.

“No, but I think my dad did, the way he was reeling it in and pulling.”

“That’s beautiful,” I said, “that’s beautiful.”