My mother adores my tall, dark, and handsome boyfriend Kelly. We first dated in high school, so he is comfortably established in her long term memory. Kelly and I reunited about ten years ago, and mom always looks forward to seeing him. He earns her high regard through regularly sending her postcards with friendly and funny comments. She proudly posts them in her room and chuckles as she rereads them to me. Kelly is also charming and flirts shamelessly with her whenever he sees her. It’s hilarious and a bit disturbing to watch my mother blush and act coy. But it also warms my heart to see how much she enjoys his attention. I think she feels like a teenager when she talks with him. Once we took her out to lunch in his red convertible. Her eyes lit up at the sight of the racy car. She sat in the front seat and smiled happily as we drove in the sunshine. She tells me she knows why I like him, “He’s sort of a rascal.” Yes, he is.
Reckoning With Alzheimer's 