Hello? Is Anybody Here?

We're in the kitchen, sitting at the table. I'm on my laptop, trying to transact a little business online, and he's looking at a travel brochure. It would be inaccurate to say he's reading it. He's looking at the pictures of Alaska.

He gets up suddenly, leaves the room, and starts going down the hallway.

"Hello? Is anybody here?" he asks.

"I'm right here!" I respond, bewildered. I'm still sitting at the table. How can he turn around and forget that I'm right there?

But he doesn't hear me or doesn't comprehend what I've said. He is now farther down the hallway.

"Is anybody home?! Where did everybody go?" He sounds anxious now.

"I'm in the kitchen, honey," I reassure him. "I haven't gone anywhere," I add as I get up from the table and head for the hallway. But he is already making his way back to where I am. He seems relieved to see me. I notice that he has turned on all the lights. The outside lights, the hallway lights, the lights in all the bedrooms and bathrooms.

"Would you like me to turn on the television for you?" I suggest.

"Yes, please," he says. He heads downstairs to the Man Cave, where he likes to watch television. But only if I sit with him. He doesn't watch by himself anymore as he used to do not that long ago.

I go back upstairs for a moment to get my laptop and to turn off the lights. I come back to the Man Cave. He is watching Blue Bloods. Sort of. He has fallen asleep. But it will only be for a moment. He will doze on and off until bedtime. And then he will sleep for a little while, get up and wander around, come back to bed, sleep for a little while, get up and wander around. Eventually, I will fall asleep, too. But not for long.

I Can't Believe My Good Luck!

My husband has been very disoriented since we returned from vacation several weeks ago. I don't know if this is because we changed venues so many times on our trip or if it is just because.

For instance, so far this week, he's claimed to have owned our car (the one I drive) longer than he's known me. He says it is "his" car. This is fascinating, as I bought the car myself. And he was with me. He said at the time that he wanted me to have the experience of doing the selecting and haggling, so I'd know what to do.

He's asked me if I've ever been to what most people would consider to be our home town. The place where we went to high school. The place where we met. The place where we were married. The place where we lived after he left the service. The place where our oldest son was born.

He became indignant and combative when I reminded him that we co-own our house ("I've lived here a lot longer than I've known you!") and have lived in it for 32 years ("Well, oh, yeah? If that's so, then where have you been?!"). We've had this conversation off and on for the past few days, and it generally culminates with, "Well, I guess I'll have to take your word for it." Is this painful? You bet.

Today, he didn't remember (for a brief moment, I am assuring myself) that I'm the mother of his children. Or that he had children. Or that the darlings whose mugs are on the coffee mug are our grandchildren (his grandchildren, yes).

A few minutes after eating a large (and tasty, if I say so myself) dinner this evening, he rather demanding asked, "No food?!" "We just ate." "Oh, yeah."

But the good news is that he thinks he won our house as a prize for something. He said so the other day. He couldn't believe his great good luck. I couldn't believe my ears. And he also can't believe his great good luck that I'm staying over again tonight. Silver linings. Always look for the silver linings.