6:45 This Morning. The frying pan was ready, and I was about to put in the eggs. I heard Kate say “Hey.” I went to the bedroom, but she didn’t recall saying anything. I told her I was about to have breakfast and to call me if she needed anything. Just as I reached the kitchen, she called again. I went back to her. She didn’t remember calling me. This happened several times. She would say “Hey” or “Hello,” and I would go to her.
The last time, I asked her if she would like breakfast. She said she would. Before getting up, she didn’t know who I was and was somewhat suspicious of me. When she asked who I was, I told her. That didn’t appear to relieve her, but she didn’t protest when I helped her out of bed and took her to the bathroom. She held my hand all the way, and we went through our normal bathroom routine. Then I helped her dress.
We went to the kitchen where I gave her some juice and a bowl of blueberries while I cooked the scrambled eggs I had intended for myself. Then I cooked another batch for me. She eats very slowly, so I finished long before she did. As it turned out, she never finished. Her aesthetic interest in the meal took precedent over her hunger.
I first noticed that she had poured the blueberries from the bowl to the plate with her eggs. I didn’t think much about that. She often transfers food from one plate or bowl to another. I think I recently commented on her pouring her juice into a bowl with blueberries and strawberries.
She didn’t stop there, however. For the next 30-40 minutes, she arranged and rearranged her food, the locations of the plate, bowl, napkins, as well as her fork and spoon. She very meticulously picked up one or two blueberries at a time and put them in various places on and off her placemat and the table around it. She wasn’t satisfied with moving just the blueberries. She also picked up bits of the scrambled eggs and carefully placed them on the table and on a napkin.
Midway through her creation, I asked if she would like me to take a picture. She did. I thought that would be the end, but she continued to reposition the items. I took two other photos although they did not turn out to be the last arrangement.
When she was finished, I started to pick up the plate with the eggs and blueberries still on it. She stopped me and said, “They will come in with some money and take it.” I didn’t ask her to explain.
We got up from the table and walked into the family room where I picked up The Velveteen Rabbit. I had only read the title before she wanted to rest. I went back to the kitchen and cleaned up the art. Now I am sitting across from her while she sleeps. She really does need the rest.
Off and she has spoken a few sentences as though she might be dreaming and talking with someone. Once or twice, she looked up at the ceiling and appeared to be talking with someone. And, just a moment ago, she asked who I was. Except for a few moments before she got up, she hasn’t seemed disturbed by her confusion. In fact, she has been a little playful with me. After asking who I was, she asked if I was a girl. I told her I was a boy. She asked my name. When I told her, she said, “You’re a girl. Your name is Carol.” Then she chuckled.
