Yesterday I paid a visit to Mom, age 84, whose mental capacity is fading rapidly as a consequence of Alzheimer's. It's really a tragic disease. I picked her up at the assisted living home where we placed her, unwillingly, last December, and took her out to Friendly's for ice cream sundaes. My visit followed its typical course - I escorted her to my car (which she did not recognize), and I had to explain every detail of what we needed to do when I parked the car, such as how to find the door of the restaurant. I had to pick out her selection - making a choice of dessert is far beyond her ability now. After leaving, I took her on a short drive through the streets of Dover, Delaware, pointing out notable sites such as the hospital where she gave birth to several of my sibs. She remembers not a single detail from her past.
As we returned to her residence, she launched into her usual refrain: "What is this place? Why are you taking me here? I don't want to be here!"
As I used to play acoustic guitar and perform, the thought occurred to me that someday soon I might check with the facility management and, if it's OK, bring along my guitar and sing some songs for Mom and the other residents, many of whom typically sit in the dining room during the day. But what to sing? I think I'd like to do a couple dozen simple, folk-type songs that are widely familiar, or fun, or both. So far I've come up with: This Land is Your Land; Puff the Magic Dragon; Red River Valley; and Blowin' in the Wind. There may be many better ones than these, but help me out here - or share your own Alzheimer's stories.