Alzheimer's Disease-Dotty

I Wonder If There is a Smorgasbord in Heaven?

Later that night I wonder to myself, I wonder if their is a smorgasbord in Heaven?
By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room
This is what Jim had to eat
Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans,
and macaroni and cheese.Last week, I took Jim, Ruth, and Dotty out to dinner at Cracker Barrel Restaurant. This proved to be a very enlightening experience.
When we were leaving home both Ruth and Jim encouraged me to take the wheelchair. I said, don't worry, I'll get Dotty into the restaurant.
As it turned out, it was a real struggle to get Dotty into the restaurant and seated. This was a real eye opener for me. It is getting more and more difficult to move Dotty around while on her feet.
Note to self. Listen to other people.
Perhaps I should have just asked Ruth and Jim, why, don't you think Dotty can make it?  Get some insight and opinion from others when you can.
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I want to tell you, Dotty is amazing. She does not complain about the difficulty walking. She might say, my knees hurt. Or, we might have to stop so I can remind her to start breathing. Occasionally, Dotty might say, I don't know what is wrong with my legs. Dotty does say often now, I can't move.
As we arrived at the hostess area I said 4 for dinner.
Ruth then moved in front and quietly leaned in and said to the hostess, we need a nearby table. As it turns out there was a table right near the front, in the first section.
Observation. Isn't it amazing how some people are just "so plugged in"? Ruth is the one plugged in. I was so focused on Dotty that I would not have thought to ask for the nearest table.
It only gets better. Jim and Ruth immediately took the two inside chairs against the wall. This left the two outside chairs, the easiest to reach, for Dotty and me. As a result, it was very easy to get Dotty seated. Thank goodness.
At this point, I am seated right across from Dotty and it is easy for me to see her, and to communicate with her.
We began discussing the menu. Jim narrowed it down to three potential meals. While Jim was deciding I had my usual conversation with Dotty. I usually ask her what would you like, how about this, how about that.
In the end, Dotty always says the same thing, I'll eat whatever you order. Dotty can no longer pick and choose, or decide. For me, it is still interesting to hold this discussion with her. Dotty doesn't get frustrated, and neither do I.
When the food arrived, Dotty had two fried catfish fillets, mashed potatoes, and green beans. Jim decided to go for broke and ordered the meat loaf. Ruth went for the chicken pot pie. Me? Country fried steak.
Dotty as usual took one look at her plate and more or less said, "look at all this food, I'll never be able to eat it". Uh huh.
Soon enough the waiter, John, put down a plate full of cornbread and biscuits. Dotty grabbed a cornbread before you could say, well, anything. I asked her, would you like me to put the butter on the cornbread? She answered yes. Then we got to the tricky part.
They have those little miniature tubs of butter, you know those tiny things where you have to peel off the exact right corner of the little tub to get at the butter. I butter up the cornbread for Dotty, and she was already on the attack.
Watching Dotty eat is fun. She really enjoys her food. She looks like a woman on a mission, a happy mission.
Soon enough, Dotty goes for another cornbread. This time I just watch. Dotty tries to get the little miniature tub of butter open. She could not do it. Not to be deterred, she grabs her knife and tries to stab the butter tub right in the heart to get it open.  It looks to me like she is trying to murder the butter.
At this point, I reach over, stick my hand out, and say, let me do it for you. Dotty hands me the butter. All of this happens seamlessly, neit read more..

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