The top quit working on my little VW convertible (cabriolet) way back in April. We were getting ready to leave for a month, and the top closed just fine, it wouldn't open, so I just ignored it. I have this fantasy that if I ignore problems they will go away, but most are like that molding cheese in the back corner of the refrigerator, they are still there, and get worse over time. When we returned home, I was in a stingy mood after having spent an unimaginable amount on a wonderful trip. And then the weather warmed up, really warmed up, we had an exceedingly hot summer. I had learned the hard way, that diving with the top down when the temperature is in the high 90's f (about 40c) is unpleasant. So I put off doing anything about the top. Then last week to add insult to injury the check engine light came on. Reluctantly I called the local VW dealer and
A dear friend was telling me about a family member who lived with dementia. As sometimes happens, the person experienced hallucinations, she saw things that no one else could see. In her case it was gnomes. And she hated the gnomes staring at her in silence. She would shout at the gnomes trying to get them to go away.
Someone noticed that she stopped complaining about the gnomes when the radio was playing. Hmm, a family member suggested, why don't we play music? Her response was "No, you know I don't like all that noise!"
Someone thought about and rephrased the question:
How about if we play music to scare the gnomes away? She responded that is a great idea. Cue the music, playing Frank Sinatra's Greatest Hits solved the gnome infestation.
I had another post written for today, and decided we really needed something more fun.
That banner was a perfect start! Glad the convertible is back in business. Too bad about the cost. Creative solution for the gnomes!
ReplyDeleteYou can't argue with dementia, you can reason with it.
DeleteYou can’t even reason with it. You just have to go with the flow.
DeleteYes, always say, yes that is interesting, now whats next
DeleteMy apologies in advance for my eye rolls, should I ever see an older gentleman in Washington driving a Vee Dub with its top open.
ReplyDeleteVerbally addressing the gnome, as I've discovered, was useless. As my tenants cleaned and tidied up my shelves, the gnome was put away in a cupboard.
Gnomes are fussy beings.
DeleteThat gnome story is delightful!
ReplyDeleteI will keep the music playing,
DeleteI once saw a gnome with a gnu; the gnu had gnats
ReplyDeleteWas it the gnome or the gnu that was infested with gnats. I can't imagine that a wise gnat would pester a gnome, when a gnu was gnear.
DeleteGlad you got your car fixed. My car has a sunroof that I have rarely used and I've had it since 2009. Just too hot or too noisy or too cold or I just forget I have one! My sister and I had lunch with my brother yesterday who is in the early stages of dementia and came home exhausted. It's stressful but we were able to have a few laughs. It helps.
ReplyDeleteI love letting what is left of my hair blow in the wind. Both cars have sunroofs. We need to live in the reality of a person with dementia, they can't change - even if they really want to remember. They can still find a lot of joy in life.
DeleteI loathe car issues but I imagine you were thrilled that you can put the top down again.
ReplyDeleteI loved the gnome story; what an excellent solution. I always feel like people with dementia KNOW that they've forgotten things and yet cannot remember them and that's where some of the anger arises. It can get stressful. My aunt in Virginia died after years of struggling with dementie; my uncle placed her in a facility that could deal with all that and the facility allowed for him to live on the property so he could spend time with my aunt. She may not have known but it did wonders for him.
The world needs more understanding.
DeleteYour last line in the first paragraph reminded of something a friend told me recently. His home suffered smoke damage from the Pacific Palisades fire and he can't get back to it for about a year. Since he consequently can't use his backyard swimming pool he joined a YMCA so he could still swim. And he said, "So now I'm just another old guy at the pool in a Speedo!"
ReplyDeleteJust one, not the only one.
DeleteShouldn't "and made arranged" have been "and made arrangements"? See - it's so hard being an ex-English teacher. There's always some blip to address.
ReplyDeleteAnd the way my brain is wired, I never noticed that.
DeleteI've hallucinations, it was self induced and I knew I was hallucinationed.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had thought of that.
ReplyDelete