60 seconds

12/15/2014

There is a line in the movie "Leap Year" starring Amy Adams. "If your house was on fire and you had only 60 seconds to grab what is most important to you, what would you take?"

Possessions can be a powerful force. When my parents moved to this house 14 years ago I can remember James asking me why were we packing rusty coffee cans in the moving van. These cans were taken from JW's painting studio and I knew that he washed his paint brushes in the cans. At the time they were very important to me because Mother and JW were moving to a strange house, strange environment and it was a major upheaval in their world. I wanted any and every thing that was familiar to them to be moved. James went so far as to go to a craft store and buy a decorative rooster and put it in the front yard so that when my parents arrived it looked like the country. Can you imagine what the neighbors were thinking to look out their windows and see a rooster in the front yard.

When Alzheimer moved in possessions seemed to take a backseat. What was important then was not so important now. Medical supplies have taken over a large area in the computer room downstairs. Soft towels are something that we search for. Pillows are a big deal. They have to fit in JW's chair just right to relieve pressure points. The "Love Quilt" has to be in the immediate line of sight for JW to see. The new clock that my brother sent us from Florida has been given a place of honor next to JW's chair. It plays a Christmas carol every hour and we sorta run to hold it up to JW's ear so he can hear it. If something goes wrong with the television it is a major crisis. The television puts sound in the air. JW has his favorite programs and Mother, James and I do all we can to make sure that those programs are on at their scheduled times. Magazines have taken a prominent position, they are important for the hours spent sitting with JW. They also serve a dual service. I have a large cardboard box with V.A. printed on the side and when Mother finishes a book she gives it to me and it goes in the donation box. So far in 4 years we have donated 8 X 12 X 4 magazines. Or approximately 384 magazines. I see people waiting for hours in the waiting areas of the V.A. and that is my little way of passing the time for them.

My possessions have also changed. Slippers are #1 on my list. I have to be able to run up and down flights of stairs at a moments notice. I bought a new pair of slippers three months ago and I can not tell you how many times I fell off those slippers. OK, so get rid of those slippers, no good. Now I have another pair that are a little more responsive. If I make it down the stairs, good. Going up the stairs is another story. I usually end up carrying the darn things up the stairs. I don't like to wear shoes in the house so I heavily rely on slippers. I think I may have to get a pair of those slippers that look like ballet shoes. I'll look into those.

If I had 60 seconds I would grab my family, except for Alzheimer. I would leave him in the house.