Visit from Margaret K.

It is a cold, grey Saturday. Dennis was at Marylhurst and I was at my computer, so Marcie answered the doorbell. I heard voices and came out after they had continued long enough for it to seem as if Mother had received a visit. This rarely happens, so I was curious.

Margaret Koski was sitting at the dining room table with Mother and Marcie. She did not know Mother had Alzheimers, and was visibly saddened to see that Mother did not recognize her. She sat and talked with us. She said she and Leroy still live on 23rd, and that they both still sing. She still gets around by herself, but complained that bus drivers were impatient with her, and that she didn't like it when children came up to her asking for money. She said she had just been signed up for Meal On Wheels, and liked them very much.

We asked her about her fitness walks with Mother and she reminisced about them. She told Mother that she loved her, and that she was her best friend. She was a little hard of hearing, but cheerful and outgoing. She was persistent in getting Mother to speak to her.

She had absolutely no interest in hearing about any of Mother's kids. I guess that's not what they talked about on their walks!