Something I have come to enjoy is listening to the life stories of elderly people. When you start to lose your elders you wish you had just one more day, just one more conversation or just one last time to hear their voice. Listening to them tell their story in their own voice and with their own expressions makes the story that much more real. When you are related to the story in any way, it adds value to the story. That story is the reason you are where you are today.
When you start to lose your cognitive abilities and especially your memory, the stories will get lost forever. Even if someone tries there is no guarantee that the story will be retold accurately. Some times the dementia mind (DM) will enthusiastically interject and tell a story. Instead of the usual repetitiveness, this time there is something different that has been spoken. It’s not new as it has occasionally been heard but it’s not part of the everyday conversation.
One such moment happened and I realized it’s a part of the DM’s life story. It wasn’t far fetched and the facts seem real and believable therefore it’s worth documenting as a part of her life story. Most of the time we casually brush off conversations as small talk. This morning I read a dementia blog about life stories and I realized that that moment was just that. The DM was having a real moment where the memory was back and the recollection was happy and meaningful.
So let me tell you a story…
The drone was showing a bird’s eye view of the cricket stadium and then a 360 degree view of the stands which were full with spectators cheering on. The DM is amused and questions, “there must be an entry ticket to go watch the match?” I reply yes to which there is a pleasantly shocking reaction to the number of spectators present in the stadium. There are thirty-five runs left to make in seventy-seven balls and the batsman at the crease slams the incoming ball out the stadium for a six. The DM claps in enthusiasm as she exclaims “chhakka” meaning “it’s a six!” Then comes the story. The DM goes on to tell how her younger years were spent watching cricket in the stadium. They would carry picnic baskets full of food and spend the day at the stadium cheering on their favorite team. Whether it was with her own family or later with her husband and friends, picnicking in the stadium was their favorite activity. She explains how the fun of watching the match live is unmatched to the experience of watching on TV.
Years later when they were to have their own children, the love of the game continued. Maybe they didn’t picnic in the stadium anymore but the love of the game carried forward into their children. They are a family of cricket enthusiasts. Today cricket fever continues down to the third generation. Have you ever wondered about your personal interests and why you find certain things interesting? You just might have inherited it!
You are so right , hobbies ,interests, preferences could be coming from some family member/s .Yes it would be interesting to explore this possibility