(no subject)

I went round to see Molly last night, and she described for me a conversation she had with her husband Tony a few days ago, one of those where you have to laugh or you'll cry. Just to set the scene: Tony is a chronic, incurable alcoholic, and lives in a residential care home because Moll just couldn't cope with him at home any more. He lives in a little bubble inside his own head, completely oblivious to the outside world much of the time - nothing touches him. And he recently had a minor stroke, which has left him even more confused and befuddled than ever.

This week's conversation went thus:

Tony: "How old am I?"
Molly: "You're 72."
Tony: "No, I'm not."
Molly: "Yes, you were born in 1933. You're seven years older than me, and I'll be 65 in December. You're 72."
Tony: "I don't think I'm that old."
Molly: "Well, I feel that old."

The conversation then switched to the subject of Tony's teeth - he lost three front teeth when he was rescusitated after his stroke recently. Molly asked if he wanted to have them replaced.
Tony: "Well, it hardly seems worth bothering if I'm that old."

Gah.

Spoke to Mum yesterday as well, after Little Sis had been for her hearing check up at the hospital. She had her ears vaccuumed and probed to remove wax (her ear canals are so tiny that any wax bungs them up completely) but they said that she's got fluid in her middle ear again that can't be drained, so her hearing is back down to borderline. We could have told them that ourselves!

(no subject)

I went round to see Molly last night, and she described for me a conversation she had with her husband Tony a few days ago, one of those where you have to laugh or you'll cry. Just to set the scene: Tony is a chronic, incurable alcoholic, and lives in a residential care home because Moll just couldn't cope with him at home any more. He lives in a little bubble inside his own head, completely oblivious to the outside world much of the time - nothing touches him. And he recently had a minor stroke, which has left him even more confused and befuddled than ever.

This week's conversation went thus:

Tony: "How old am I?"
Molly: "You're 72."
Tony: "No, I'm not."
Molly: "Yes, you were born in 1933. You're seven years older than me, and I'll be 65 in December. You're 72."
Tony: "I don't think I'm that old."
Molly: "Well, I feel that old."

The conversation then switched to the subject of Tony's teeth - he lost three front teeth when he was rescusitated after his stroke recently. Molly asked if he wanted to have them replaced.
Tony: "Well, it hardly seems worth bothering if I'm that old."

Gah.

Spoke to Mum yesterday as well, after Little Sis had been for her hearing check up at the hospital. She had her ears vaccuumed and probed to remove wax (her ear canals are so tiny that any wax bungs them up completely) but they said that she's got fluid in her middle ear again that can't be drained, so her hearing is back down to borderline. We could have told them that ourselves!

in mourning

My mum has just phoned to say that a really good friend of the family has died very suddenly this morning.

Bless his heart, I just saw him on Sunday and he was really bright and bubbly, just the loveliest bloke you could ever hope to meet. I gave him a huge hug and kiss because he was meant to be going into hospital tomorrow to have his hip replaced. And now he's gone and collapsed and died in his wife's arms...

Poor Joyce. And their poor kids and grandkids.

RIP Mike.

in mourning

My mum has just phoned to say that a really good friend of the family has died very suddenly this morning.

Bless his heart, I just saw him on Sunday and he was really bright and bubbly, just the loveliest bloke you could ever hope to meet. I gave him a huge hug and kiss because he was meant to be going into hospital tomorrow to have his hip replaced. And now he's gone and collapsed and died in his wife's arms...

Poor Joyce. And their poor kids and grandkids.

RIP Mike.