It is early morning and our Grace kitty is singing her loud morning song. It is a song that used to wake Mama. The kitty would go into her room until she got a response. It was their morning ritual of sorts. This morning there is no such response except for her even, steady breathing. I gently put water in her mouth as her eyes flicker open. I run my fingers through her hair and hold her hand.
It’s a kind of waiting game now. As I sit at her bedside, I play some of her favorite records, I speak the names of all those who love her, family and friends.
Joe plays John Denver and I sing:
“Country roads take her home to the place where she belongs…mountain Mama, take her home country roads.”
She used to be fond of John D. but recently while we were listening to him, I found that she had put Kleenex in her ears to block the sound. John and Frank Sinatra, both had become rather tinny to her ears and unwelcome. It was the side effect of Alzheimer’s I had not encountered before…
She did love to sing the old hymns. I loved standing beside her in church and singing with her. This hymn began singing itself in me today:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in his wonderful face
And the things of the earth will grow strangely dim
In light of his glory and grace
Tripping with God: Stories of Faith and Inspiration 