Posted early 2/17/19
Memory units are like….uhh…errr… lots of things.
Yesterday, if you caught my post, you may remember that I was bragging about how sweet everyone was acting and that mom was doing just grand. I hung out several hours and even sat with the often docile Ms. W and talked all things teaching. They were all emotionally synced up so much so the unit was almost like a rowing team, or bobsled team. All was happy and quiet. All worked together, in a way, emotionally, to affect a pleasant vibe.
Today, my poor sis happened by and the Sweet 17 sync was transformed into a chain gang. All was in disarray. People normally kind and hushed were bitter, hyper-vocal and wrathful. Fights erupt over purses filled with cracker wrappers and wadded papers. Anger. Snipping. They were synced, alright…synced in angst and anger.
Never one to mind mixing my metaphors, the last two days the Sweet 17+2 were more like swarms of starlings or perhaps bats. When all is good, they sway sweetly and gently in the sky. Throw in an obstacle like strong winds and the gentle motion turns violent.
Another analogy, perhaps the best, is how a group of mountaineers (a rope team) treks up the mountain with a safety rope connecting each of them. Going upward, it stands to reason that if one became weary, the others could be strong for the rest and kind of help pull them along. Encouragement would abound knowing you were tethered with the strong. However, if one or two fell at once, the others would be yanked and have to hold on for dear life. The same rope that helps going up, hurts going down. That is like the emotional tug-o-war of the memory unit.
Little kids in a preschool get this. Have a few kids come into the preschool jungle mad or hyperactive and everyone gets thrown off routine and becomes synced with their disorder. Memory units certainly roll with the punches that way too. Today was that way.
Mom, perhaps mirroring the rest and/or successfully dodging meds or sleep was hyper-stressed, indignant and wasn’t going to consider lunch. Yesterday’s smiles gave way to the chain gang growl. She emotionally chameleons the rest of the ladies, and today was no exception. Pam did a yeoman’s job misdirecting mom to get her chilled out and, ultimately, talking, playing tunes and eating. Her speech was a mess, but she tried to share her angst with Pam as best she could. It has to be frustrating because the cadence, pausing and tone of her voice begged cogent sentences, but the words that came out were supersad brain bandit babble. 🙁
To and fro. To and fro.
Stinkin’ disease.
#EndALZ