My mother, my new friend

"If you love me, please remind me to forget you." my mother said.

 "I don't understated what you mean." I replied.

Mom held my hand and said, "This dementia I have is going to get worse.

I want you to remind me to forget you and free my mind from the struggle.

Sometimes not remembering is easier than trying to sort through the maze.

It may sound cold but I'm asking you to understand the dementia and accept

that we will be strangers. As new friends, we will come to know each other in

ways that we never were able to. The bad times between us will be erased from

my mind. The good times we've had will never be taken from us. Though I will

not remember the good times, we did have them. And so, my precious child,

if you love me, please remind me to forget you. Come to me as a wonderful

new person in my life. Don't make the day harder with your tears. Laugh

with me and walk with me. Sing with me and play B.I.N.G.O. 

    I ask you to love me enough to remind me to forget you. Darling, I ask this

of all my children. I do not want it this way. Dementia is unkind. Let's prepare

for it now and seal it in cement. Your "old" Mom is going away but your "new"

Mom is really looking forward to meeting you.  (This story is dedicated to my

"new" Mom).