My nan

My nan is the most amazing soul, 91 years old!! She has been telling us for years that a gypsy told her she would live to be 100, and I think that keeps her going.  My nan suffers from Alzheimers.  I think we always knew she had memory issues, and was very unconventional in her child caring style.  For example, the time when we stayed with her for two weeks, my twin and I were eight, and my older sisters thirteen and fourteen.  She used to let us out on a school night until midnight, then we tucked into fish fingers and chips on our return.  I also remember the time she cut our fringes with carpet scissors, unfortunately the zig zag fringe never took off.  I think my mum nearly had a heart attack when she saw us.  Her two dolls, whose hair she lovingly plaited and styled asymetrically as to be the mirror image of the other.  Our long satin locks ruined!!

The main comfort I receive from my nan's illness is the fact that it has transformed her into a child.  She has no inhibitions at all, going for a widdle with the door wide open, passing wind like anyones business.   She is having the time of her life.  She does not seem to have a care in the world.  She loves trifle, and she will say she is not hungry because she does not want to finish her greens, but there is always room for trifle.  When she sees her favourite treat, her eyes illuminate, with the widest smile on her face.  She is very happy.  Trifle makes her happy.

The most curious thing about alzheimers, is that while it erases recent memory, it does not erase long term memory.  My nan still tells us about so and so who took her bingo winnings from her in 1964, or the time her uncle shot her in the head (by accident of course) when she was a young girl.  She lived to tell the tale.  The most magical thing is the way my nan tells the story of her one and only true love, my Grandad, who I never got to meet.  He was the most marvellous man, who lived for his family and was a pillar of the community.  The love letters they exchanged during the war are a family treasure.  I think her alzheimers sometimes makes her forget he is gone and some days she relives those loving moments with my grandad, like he was still here.  

The most important thing that I have learned from my nan is to be happy...always.  Embrace life and enjoy it through the eyes of a child.  Nan, I love you with all my heart and soul, you are an amazing woman and God truly blessed us by allowing us to be part of your family.