Alzheimer's Canyon: Sky: Demented Logic

Monday, October 8, 2018

Sky: Demented Logic

A couple of weeks or so ago, I decided to plant some fall spinach in the garden. I had some space and the weather was still good. So, after checking with Jane, I bought some seeds and prepared a place for them. Because I remembered being forgetful lately [ ! ], I carefully followed the planting directions on the packet, including marking the area with good-sized stakes. Then, I waited. And waited some more…and more. These brand-new seeds were just not coming up despite frequent watering (I think) and good wishes. Not a single one! But, I remember…. I was so careful making my rows, laying the seeds in there…just like the package said to do.

Now, THINK, Sky. Rev those neurons up. What exactly do I remember doing?

1. Getting out the seed packet. YES

2. Hoeing out the rows. YES

3. Placing the seed at the proper depth. YES

4. Covering the seeds. Ummm…. NO!!

Now wait…maybe I did plant those seeds. I mean it would make sense if I did. After all, I did the other steps [I think.] But it would also make sense that I didn’t.

After all, there was not a single spinach plant to show for it.

The memory trace for that short activity does not seem to be still available….if it ever was. If I try hard, can I call it up? NO. Well, Maybe.

Perhaps common sense, a cognitive skill now slowly but steadily dwindling away, can help. It used to when I was faced with puzzles and mysteries.

The first step in applying common sense is to gather reliable data, paying particular attention to new or unusual or odd information. In the Case of the Missing Spinach, the fact that not even one of the seeds germinated might be important.

What else?

Well, I seem to “remember” several of the key parts of the story….# 1-3. I have a continuing set of thoughts I will call “remembering” these activities. And #4, a complete blank. (And watering? Not even on the list!)

Again, so what?

It felt like I maybe I could trust my perceptions, my little memory of this little event…or more exactly, my non-memory of a non-event. I sure wanted it all to make sense. Logically, it could make some kind of sense…. maybe… especially in a demented world.

Spanakopita, anyone?

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Tips on Reading Alzheimers Canyon

As of May 2018, there are now over 100 subscribers to our blog. And by "our" we mean not just Sky and Jane, but also everyone who reads and generally follows along with this journey into dementia. We read every single comment you all add with great interest. Please feel free to chime in.

We've learned a lot from your comments and expect to learn more as the journey unfolds. We've found it is too much try to reply individually to each comment on the blog, especially in a timely manner.....remember... some of these words, like the brain behind them, may have "loosed their anchors to time."

For new or bemused readers, this blog has two simultaneous threads going on at the same time. Some written by Sky, who is living with a diagnosis of "Probable Early Alzheimer's Disease." Some are written by Jane, who has been living with Sky for over 30 years. She holds the complicated position of primary care-partner.

The bulk of the posts are reflections on real-life challenges, adventures, surprises and their attendant emotions and changes. When you open the blog you will see a small selection of a small selection of the most recent posts. Most of these lead to a READ MORE button which will get you to the rest of the post. Feel free to jump around.

The other part of the blog is a more fantastical story, called Alzheimer's Canyon, about a regular guy, innocently traveling life's highway, who unexpectedly ends up in an exceedingly bizarre place called Alzheimer's Canyon. It is important to read these episodes in order. Here's how: Scroll down to the list called LABELS, on the right-hand sidebar. Click on the Label called Alzheimer's Canyon and you will see all the episodes. Don't forget to visit them in order, starting with "The Arrival." All the other episodes will be obvious from the number in their titles.

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