Page 16 - Fall 2024 Newsletter
P. 16
Memories of Gladys, continued...
leading to the front door were framed with bright blue Satisfied with my response, she asked, “Will we be
hydrangeas. going to the lake this weekend? We usually go on
Fridays after work.”
Gladys was in the reading room, sitting quietly
looking at her lap at a game of some sort, maybe a “I explained to her that we would be going to the lake.
crossword. Occupied by the game, she did not see or I was lucky to find parts at Foggs for the drain in the
hear me as I approached. I moved slowly, organizing guest house and have it repaired in case friends stop
my thoughts, searching for the proper greeting while by.” ” This pleased her, she said, “I am so lucky to have a
remembering the face I saw sixty years ago. I was not husband who is also a handyman.”
disappointed. She wore a powder blue cotton skirt,
a white short sleeved blouse with a lace collar, light We chatted amiably for the next ten minutes or so until
blue tennis shoes, and most striking of all a porcelain she looked down at the game on her lap, turned and
bird of paradise hanging gracefully from a braided looked at me and said, “Hello, are you new here?”
silver necklace. Her hair was shorter, but still golden Taken back by her question, I searched through my
as I remember. Like sunshine bouncing off a California mental cue cards again and found the one that told me
beach. we were now in the present.
She turned and smiled at me as I sat in the chair beside “No, I replied, I am Bob Fields the fellow who called
her. I was fourteen again. Her deep blue eyes were you on the telephone a few years ago and we talked
now dimmed as if a sheer gossamer veil guarded about the time you sang Zip-a-dee-doo-dah at the rec
them. I looked past her at the brackets that cupped center.”
her mouth, past the furrowed brow and crinkled
eyes. Looked past all of this and saw only the striking She looked at me with concern and said, “I don’t recall
California beauty who had captured the heart of a that incident nor the telephone call.”
fourteen-year-old boy. My heart raced with a mix of joy
and sadness, seeing her in this state, yet still feeling the She went on to tell me she had been the music teacher
same affection I had for her all those years ago. at the high school for over thirty years but had no
recollection of that particular song. She looked down
She gave the slightest tilt to her head, looked to me at the game on her lap and back at me. I could see
and said, “Hi Ira, did you bring the cats?” in her eyes that she knew she should remember. She
shook her head in frustration and looked away.
I should have been but was not warned that Gladys
was in the early stage of Alzheimer’s disease. Flicking Sensing she was tired I looked at my watch and
through all the cue cards in my brain I searched for told her I must be going. It was time to pick up the
a proper response. I decided to go with the flow, neighborhood boys at baseball practice. I stood,
understanding that any other response would only leaned, and hugged her while muttering I love you.
confuse her already disconnected mind. My patience She gave me the standard I love you too and hugged
and understanding were the only things I could offer me back. I decided to kiss her cheek. She smiled.
her at that moment.
I turned and walked away quietly singing to myself,
I responded, “No, they are both at home. I plan to bring Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay! My, oh my, what a
them tomorrow.” wonderful day. I was fourteen again.
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