Adapting to Kate’s sleeping later may be getting more complicated. Yesterday, she was up early. That worked well because she and I had a 1:30 appointment to have our picture taken in connection with the foundation on whose board I served for nine years. Not having to wake her made it less stressful getting her ready so that we could have lunch before then.
Today, however, she slept late again, and it is a day for the sitter. I turned on some music at 10:15. Then at 10:45, I tried to wake her. She wanted to sleep a little longer. At 11:30, I tried again. I sat down beside her on the bed and put my hand on her shoulder. She opened her eyes and looked at me. She looked confused and asked, “Who are you?” When I told her my name and that I am her husband, she looked shocked. Here is my best effort to describe the conversation we had over the next twenty minutes or so.
RICHARD: “Yes, I am your husband, Richard, and we have been married for 55 years.”
KATE: “What is your name?”
RICHARD: “Richard Lee Creighton.”
KATE: “Say it slower.”
RICHARD: “Richard <pause> Lee <pause> Creighton.”
KATE: “What is my name?”
RICHARD: “Kate Franklin Creighton.”
KATE: “Say it again.”
RICHARD: “Kate Franklin Creighton.”
KATE: “Let me say it. . . Kate . . . Wait a minute; say it again slowly.”
RICHARD: “Kate <pause> Franklin <pause> Creighton.”
KATE: “Kate Franklin Creighton.”
RICHARD: “Yes, and we have two children.”
KATE: “We do? <pause> What are their names?
RICHARD: “Jesse Brewer and Kevin Creighton.”
KATE: “What is your name?”
RICHARD: “Richard Lee Creighton, and I am your husband.”
KATE: “You are?” (with a look of disbelief)
RICHARD: “It seems like you feel comfortable with me even though you don’t recognize me as your husband.”
KATE: “Yes.”
RICHARD: “That’s probably because we have been together so long. We have been very happy together.”
KATE: “We have?” (with her first smile of the conversation)
RICHARD: “Yes. I think we are a perfect match (she smiled with approval), and we have two children that we are very proud of.”
KATE: “We do? Why can’t I remember that?”
RICHARD: “Well, sometimes our memory fades as we get older.”
KATE: “I don’t believe you, but it’s nice of you to say that.” (She is still perceptive.)
RICHARD: “I love you, and I’d like to take you to lunch.”
KATE: “Where are my clothes?”
RICHARD: “They’re right here on the chair.”
Then I helped her get up. When she was dressed, she said she wanted to go to the bathroom. She said, ‘Where is it?” There was more than I have quoted above, but I think this captures the essence of the conversation. There was a good bit of repetition, both in her questions and my answers.
From this point on she did not appear to be confused though she was still unable to remember that we have children. That has been common for weeks, perhaps months, now.
