Tuesday, Kate and I drove to Nashville for a visit with our long-time friends Ann and Jeff Davis. We have had an unusual amount of social contact in the past week. Both of us have enjoyed being with close friends. I wasn’t surprised that this visit was also a good one. Kate was very actively engaged in conversation. That was mostly when she and Ann were talking to each other. It is much harder for her to participate in a conversation with all of us. I suspect part of that is not being able to easily follow what is being said. I also think it’s because we quickly move from one person to another. I know this requires a lot on her part. Despite that, she held her own and enjoyed herself.
Although Kate can carry on a conversation, her memory loss means that she no longer retains many bits of useful information. For example, she loved and admired her mother and talks a lot about her. With her memory loss, she has forgotten most of the specific things about her mother, but retains her feelings and impression of her. Thus, she communicates what a special person her mother was, but the examples she uses are often inaccurate. Of course, these are things that the typical listener would not catch, but I do. This makes me think of fiction writers who have created characters and situations in which they are placed. The facts may be fiction, but they often tell a truth about life. Kate is doing something similar with people and places. It doesn’t tarnish my own satisfaction that she is able to function in a very normal way.
As we drove away, I commented on what a good visit we had. Kate agreed. Then she said, “What is her name again?” I told her, and she said, “And his name?” I told her, and she asked, “Where are we?”
