My dearest...
My parents come from the same province (other people might consider it the "countryside). My grandparents have been there since time immemorial, I even was able to meet a set of great grandparents who also lived and breathed there forever.
I was the first grandchild and I stayed such for a little over 3 years so my grandparents and their kids were always there taking care of me, playing with me and making sure I have everything I need.
My grandfather most especially took special attention of me. He was so proud of me as much as he was of all his girls. My mom and his two other sisters were always the town's majorettes (as in with the baton, in short skirts, knee high boots), and beauty pageants' queens. Everyone's eyes are on them whenever there are parades. Naturally, when his first grandchild was a girl, she became the town's new queen... princess in this case.
Believe me, i was on every town parade and beauty pageants, and i was almost everyone's flower girl on their wedding! I would've given 27 dresses' Katherine Heigle a run for her money only I had dresses for a 3-7 year old.
Yesterday, we went to the province for one of my cousins' birthday. Of course my grandparents are there, and so were my other aunts and uncles and a great handful of cousins. My grandfather was sitting on a table with members of the town council and I can hear him doting on us, his grandchildren.
Later on he called me and asked me how old I was, I obliged. Then he exclaimed "but... how can that be??" I took a hint from the people on the table who asked if I was the eldest grandchild or the eldest child. I had to explain to my dearest grandfather that I'm his eldest grandchild, not my mom (who happens to be the eldest child ... and we do look alike, if not for the height).
I then patted him on the back while he tried to understand himself and what I just told him. My heart sank. My dearest grandfather, that doting grandfather who made sure I was part of every competition and parade in town is now having signs of slight Alzheimers (if there is such a thing as slight Alzheimers). Or maybe just getting forgetful due to age... then again he's only entering his 70's.
My parents and uncles/aunties have been telling me he's getting forgetful. Of course, then we all thought forgetting things is just a sign of age, nowadays with all the research and articles, it's a sign of Alzheimers. He still does his daily duties, but my grandmother says, he usually forgets what's happening. He can't remember that my parents are in Australia until the end of May, and is wondering why we left them home yesterday. He sometimes forgets what I just told him when we arrived and would ask me over and over the same questions until we're about to go home.
What I do love about him is that he's still sweet and doting. He'd never fail to hug and kiss us and show his affection when we go home to the province. He loves joining us in pictures and is still a very good looking gentleman.
I wish I can spend more time talking to him, or just spending time with him. For the past few months, my sisters and I have been going there more often as we usually do and he never fails to get us something -- to something as simple as an ice filled dessert for the hot hot weather, or something to bring home and cook (for the chef in me).
I love my dearest grandpa. I just lost my paternal grandfather a year ago, and I'm sure not ready for this one. He's more doting than my parents are and I know he will always be! I cannot imagine him leaving us so soon -- even through Alzheimers.
Yesterday got me thinking about how much time's past us and how little time we may have left with our dearest grandfather.
Here's that handsome grandfather of mine with my cousins after a dance presentation on our last family reunion
I was the first grandchild and I stayed such for a little over 3 years so my grandparents and their kids were always there taking care of me, playing with me and making sure I have everything I need.
My grandfather most especially took special attention of me. He was so proud of me as much as he was of all his girls. My mom and his two other sisters were always the town's majorettes (as in with the baton, in short skirts, knee high boots), and beauty pageants' queens. Everyone's eyes are on them whenever there are parades. Naturally, when his first grandchild was a girl, she became the town's new queen... princess in this case.
Believe me, i was on every town parade and beauty pageants, and i was almost everyone's flower girl on their wedding! I would've given 27 dresses' Katherine Heigle a run for her money only I had dresses for a 3-7 year old.
Yesterday, we went to the province for one of my cousins' birthday. Of course my grandparents are there, and so were my other aunts and uncles and a great handful of cousins. My grandfather was sitting on a table with members of the town council and I can hear him doting on us, his grandchildren.
Later on he called me and asked me how old I was, I obliged. Then he exclaimed "but... how can that be??" I took a hint from the people on the table who asked if I was the eldest grandchild or the eldest child. I had to explain to my dearest grandfather that I'm his eldest grandchild, not my mom (who happens to be the eldest child ... and we do look alike, if not for the height).
I then patted him on the back while he tried to understand himself and what I just told him. My heart sank. My dearest grandfather, that doting grandfather who made sure I was part of every competition and parade in town is now having signs of slight Alzheimers (if there is such a thing as slight Alzheimers). Or maybe just getting forgetful due to age... then again he's only entering his 70's.
My parents and uncles/aunties have been telling me he's getting forgetful. Of course, then we all thought forgetting things is just a sign of age, nowadays with all the research and articles, it's a sign of Alzheimers. He still does his daily duties, but my grandmother says, he usually forgets what's happening. He can't remember that my parents are in Australia until the end of May, and is wondering why we left them home yesterday. He sometimes forgets what I just told him when we arrived and would ask me over and over the same questions until we're about to go home.
What I do love about him is that he's still sweet and doting. He'd never fail to hug and kiss us and show his affection when we go home to the province. He loves joining us in pictures and is still a very good looking gentleman.
I wish I can spend more time talking to him, or just spending time with him. For the past few months, my sisters and I have been going there more often as we usually do and he never fails to get us something -- to something as simple as an ice filled dessert for the hot hot weather, or something to bring home and cook (for the chef in me
).I love my dearest grandpa. I just lost my paternal grandfather a year ago, and I'm sure not ready for this one. He's more doting than my parents are and I know he will always be! I cannot imagine him leaving us so soon -- even through Alzheimers.
Yesterday got me thinking about how much time's past us and how little time we may have left with our dearest grandfather.
Here's that handsome grandfather of mine with my cousins after a dance presentation on our last family reunion
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and a touching story . . . it must be strange when your close ones dont recognise you anymore . . . thanks for sharing!
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It does break your heart when someone who's been sort of your number one fan starts to not remember you as vividly as before...