I have often noted that Kate does not like to talk about her Alzheimer’s, but that she regularly makes indirect references to it. Here is an example from today. Last Friday her friend, Camille, invited her to lunch at noon today. I had suggested this time as I have Rotary at 12:30 on Monday. I arrived home from the office at 11:00 to make sure Kate would be ready when Camille arrived. I discovered that Kate had already come in from outside and had taken her shower before getting ready. I told her I would get her debit card for her and that I was putting a note indicating to tip $4.00 no matter what the check would be. She took the card and note which were in a small purse.” Knowing she might put it down in her room and not be able to find it later, I suggested she give it to me. She would have no part of that. Then I suggested that we put it in a place that both of us would know. She liked that. I told her I would put it on the corner of the island in the kitchen where I keep her daily calendar. She agreed to that.
Ten to fifteen minutes later she walked into the family room and said, “On the island in the kitchen.” I said, “You got it. Two thumbs up.” Then she said, “Four thumbs up” indicating that she was giving herself a pat on the back. No conversation about Alzheimer’s, just a subtle statement of the situation indicating her own recognition of her own memory problem.
