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I've been spending a lot more time with my father, but it is very late in the game.
For the past few years he's become more and more "disoriented", and went through a bunch of tests for vascular dimensia and/or alzheimers.
Previously he had trouble sleeping with related depression/motivational symptoms and was taking pharmasuticals which often have side effects.
Typical of our family communication, I denied the signs and he wouldn't discuss it. When his drivers licence was taken away it was just glossed over: Just a change in program.
My epiphany came when he began to struggle to put on his seat belt, and began asking me how to write the date. He just couldn't do it. So far, there are worst days and better days.
The last couple of days we have been going through old photographs while I videotape him. Some of the memories are remarkable("nothing is taboo"), and I'm learning a few things about our family history.
Wish I had more than just a few memories of my grandfather.
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