The Cruelly Savage Curse of Early Dementia: Mornings Bewildered But Always Loved

The Cruelly Savage Curse of Early Dementia:
Mornings Bewildered But Always Loved
Written by Marvin Thomas Cox-Flynn de Graham

Early Dementia seems like a cruel and merciless judgment -- whatever God (Religion?) one chooses to believe in -- to be wrought upon any devoted and faithful wife, especially when that wife was you, as my wife -- the only light and love of my life.


Every morning the same, except in progressing intensity of mornings where you awoke to sit on the side of the bed with this horrid look of sheer and utter bewilderment upon your face, and as such for what seemed like an eternity, as you sought to gather your diminishing and receding wits about you, remember who you were, where you were at, and who the hell was that man on the other side of the bed?  Oh yes, your husband!


And then would come that beautiful smile of you suddenly knowing, your face glowing, your eyes radiant as you recognized me, perhaps for the last time, as who knew when that wonderful memory would fail to lend itself to you once again.


But then came COVID, and put that question to an end, and me left without that devoted faithful wife and friend.
I was so sad to see you go, to know I would never see you, kiss you, hold you, ever, again.


But COVID served you as a better friend than that of watching your memories fade away, seeing that look of bewilderment each and every morning of each and every day, and knowing the day was coming when I would not see that smile of recognition with your loving eyes glowing at me so bright, a day when your mind would not return from Early Dementia's all consuming night.


For there was fast coming an assured morning when you would sit on your side of the bed, forever bewildered, but always loved.

Could a been your wife, his wife, anybody's wife, but in my life, in her life, it was my wife: Irma Gomez Cox -- truly, the finest woman I have ever known.


My advice? Treasure the time you have with your wife, or your husband. Savor every moment. Archive every memory, while you can. Never take a moment with her, or him, for granted, for Early Dementia is a thief, stealing away precious moments and memories like a thief in the night. Merciless and Cruel is its nature, and Death is its only culmination.