Quote:
Originally Posted by vett boy
Sounds like a real neat guy and a real American ,Lost my Father to the same dreaded disease.
May he rest in peace forever .
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I am posting The Train Ride ~ for you and your family~ as well as for anyone else who has or may be caring for a loved one who dealing with this horrible disease.
(I know ("MMC5")Tom is out of town!)
THE TRAIN RIDE
Imagine that the experience of having Alzheimer's disease might be similar to a journey by train with an unknown destination:
I am going on a long journey by train. As I begin, the city skyscrapers and country landscape look familiar. As I continue my journey, the view reminds me of times gone by and I feel relaxed and comfortable. The other passengers on the train appear to be feeling the same way and I engage in pleasant conversation with them.
As the journey progresses, things begin to look different. The buildings have odd shapes and the trees don’t look quite the way I remember them. I know they are buildings and trees, but something about them is not quite right. Maybe I’m in a different country with different architecture and plant life. It feels a bit strange, even unnerving.
I decide to ask the other passengers about the strangeness. I feel, but more importantly, I notice they seem unperturbed. They are barely taking notice of the passing scenery. Maybe they have been here before. I ask some questions but nothing seems different to them. I wonder if my mind is playing tricks with me. I decide to act as if everything looks alright, but because it does not, I have to be on my guard. This places some tension on me, but I believe I can tolerate it for the remainder of the trip. I do, however find myself becoming so preoccupied with appearing all right, that my attention is diverted from the passing scenery.
After some time, I look out the window again and this time, I know that something is wrong! Everything looks strange and unfamiliar! There is no similarity to anything I can recall from the past. I must do something!
I talk to the other passengers about the strangeness I feel. They look dumfounded and when they answer and they talk in a new language. Why won’t they speak English? They just look at me knowingly and with sympathy.
I’ve got to get to the bottom of this, so I keep after them to tell me where the train is, and where it is going. The only answers I get are in their strange language and when I talk, my words seem strange, even to me.
Now I am truly frightened!
I had not bargained for this when I started! At this point, I figure that I have to get off this train and find my way home. I get up to leave and bid a pleasant good-bye. I don’t get very far though, as the other passengers stop me and take me back to my seat. It seems they want me to stay on the train whether I want to or not. I try to explain but they just talk in that strange language.
Outside the window, the scenery is getting even more frightening. Strange, inhuman-looking beings peer into the window at me. I decide to run for it!
The other passengers are not paying much attention to me, so I slip out of my seat and quietly walk toward the back of the car. There’s a door. It is difficult to push, but I must! It begins to open and I push harder. Maybe now I will get away!
Even though it looks pretty strange out there, I know I will never find my way home if I do not get off this train.
I am ready to jump, when hands suddenly appear from nowhere and grab me from behind. I try to get away. I try to fight them off, but I can feel them pulling me back... back onto the train. I hear the door shut! They take me back to my seat and I realize now that I will never get off this train... I will never get home!
How sad I feel. I did not say good-bye to my children, wife, or friends. As far as I know, they do not know where I am.
The passengers look worried. They force me to eat. It is difficult because I am too sad to be hungry.
I fervently wish that I had never started out on this journey, but I know I cannot go back.
I have no choice now.
I have to go along with the passengers because they seem to know where the journey will end.
Maybe they will get me there safely.
Rest in Peace..........Elmer E. Anderson
Another one of "The Greatest Generation" members is gone
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