How Bad is Bad? How Hard is Hard? How Difficult is Difficult?

I find that knowing it's only going to get harder used to upset me but now, like so many other understandings, I have come to expect it. This means that it is not quite as difficult to deal with.


I met a neighbor on the elevator who asked after Gregory, I told her a little about how he is doing and ended with the usual "but we cope." She succinctly replied, "Well life is like a card game, isn't it? After you are dealt a hand you have to fold or keep playing. The choice seems obvious!"

Lately Gregory is answering questions but the answers are wrong. Or maybe the questions are wrong? Either way it is getting harder and harder to communicate using language, his or mine. M-"Did you do the waters for bedtime?" G-"Yes." But they were not done. M-"Do you need to take your pills?" G-"No." But they were still in the pill box. G-"Auntie Elaine is in." M-"Did she call or is she in town?" G-"I don't know." M-"Then what told you that Elaine is in?" G-"I can't remember."


After having lost his keys a few times, I purchased a key chain for him that gets attached to a belt loop and is long enough so the keys can be tucked in a pocket but also be taken out to open the door without having to detach the chain. He hasn't figured out how to attach the chain to his pants or how to use it yet. Just the fact that the keys are on a new chain has, in his mind, caused the keys to become something different.