Dénouement

The dénouement (pronounced /deɪnuːˈmɑ̃ː/, /deɪnuːˈmɒn/) comprises events between the falling action and the actual end of the drama or narrative and thus serves as the conclusion of the story. Conflicts are resolved, creating normality for the characters and a sense of catharsis, or release of tension and anxiety, for the reader. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dénouement)

Simply stated, the dénouement is that part between the ending and the end. In some ways I could compare it to the ending of many a famous opera in which the heroine or hero is stabbed, shot, poisoned, dies of TB, or all of the above and are able to continue singing for another 20 or so minutes until the final breath is taken. Sometimes it seems like the final breath but they regroup and continue on for another 10 minutes until the final final breath.

What will be the dénouement of Gregory and my story? We know that we are in the heat of the dénouement in this, our adventure with Alzheimer's. We know what the end will be. It is the dénouement that causes me fear, especially with so many spinning possibilities in the GYROSCOPE that has become our life.

I try not to spend too much time thinking about the details of this dénouement but let me rewrite the definition of a "Literary Dénouement" as it would read for an "Alzheimer's Dénouement." 

The dénouement (pronounced /deɪnuːˈmɑ̃ː/, /deɪnuːˈmɒn/) comprises events between the falling action and the actual end of the drama or narrative and thus serves as the conclusion of the story. Conflicts continue to be more complex and remain unresolved, eventually creating a sense of normality for the afflicted person but a spinning out of control sense for the caregiver and a feeling of never ending, unpredictable "craziness," or multifold increase of tension and anxiety for the caregiver. 

(With thanks to Pat Anderson for the "prompt" for this BLOG."