I truly believe that life opens doors when they are meant to be opened....and this is where I was meant to be. 

I have shared my story with many and I don't believe that there is any reason to hide my history .... my parents, Barb and Ken, both lived with dementia. Their paths with dementia were different from one another and I have learned that no two stories are the same. My grandmother had dementia as well back in the day when she was referred to as 'senile'. I believe that heredity is a factor and where I fall with regards to that factor...who knows when or if that shoe will drop? Times have changed and things have evolved. We now have a better understanding and know how to improve quality of life for those living with dementia. I have learned more in my years here at ASDR. If only I could turn back time....

I would spend more time sitting at Tim's or Second Cup with my mom with her large black coffee talking about nothing and everything and then nothing again. I will always say hi when I see a train travelling over an elevated bridge. I will think of her every time I bake shortbread cookies at Christmas and am thankful I didn't switch to that new recipe ;) I will always remember my childhood phone number because I called it so frequently once I moved away from home just to talk to Mom. 

When she became immobile and unable to speak, I wish I had known to play music she loved - Elvis, Paul Anka, Glenn Miller - knowing now that she may have found it soothing. I wish I had known to announce myself by name looking her directly in the eye so even if she didn't know me she would know I was there and that I cared. 

With my father, we will save that for next year's walk. All I know is that 'what are you guys doing here" on that September day were the sweetest words I had heard in a very, very long time and will never hear again.