Do you know me?

It’s been long I haven’t been on a Valentine’s date 🙂 A feeling of senior moment or a feeling of longing? Whatever it is, I.. for sure would like to experience it sooner. Alright, I heard you (my hand on my ear…(smiling) I am nearly on retirement age and sooner than you thought I’ll be tossing my shoes up in the air with my Valentino hahaha.

However, this post is not about me , not about Valentines but about “Love”.

My father has an Alzheimer and he is 95 yrs old. My mom is 91 ys old and she is in the early stage of dementia. My father can’t handle her mood swings or maybe.. we, the children can not tolerate the drama scene so we decided to separate them physically.

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Recently, my mom had a fall accident and got into wheelchair like my dad. When I came home, She asked about my dad, to bring him to her side.

Me: mom are you sure?

mom: yes, if you like, let him sleep here too (smiling shyly)

I was hesitant for a while, because I knew the ‘drama’ that leads to their separation but I complied to her wish anyway. I asked my dad if he is willing to see my mom, obviously he forgot the scenario that he has a wife too!

When my mom saw him, her eyes opened widely with joy and asked my dad.

Do you know me? my dad smiled and looked at her.

Do you know me? (mom repeated her question)

Me: papa si mama yan! (dad that’s mom!)

My dad, lovingly smiled at her and repeated the word “mama”.

We carried dad to mom’s bed and both are now besides each other, my mom kept asking him, do you know me? How are you? My dad embraced her and my mom knew that in spite of Alzheimer, dad still knew her by heart.

I left them for a while, my heart is pounding with joy and my eyes were welling up.

When I came back, my mom shyly but proudly announced that my dad gave her a kiss. Wow! how romantic!

I decided to give it a try, let dad sleep tonight besides mom. I missed them so much so I invited myself to joined them in one bed, dad was in the middle.

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After a few hours, I heard dad murmuring, ” I will buy a big bed”

“I will buy a big bed” he repeated it many times and eventually my mom said, Mimi, get out of bed!

Hahaha who got an Alzheimer? me ? or my dad? stupid me! The bed is too small for us.

So, I slept in the sofa and  them.. together in one bed.

Though I did not sleep well, worried that dad or my mom might fall out of bed, the night went quietly with a happiness and love in our heart.

When I woke up, dad and mom were holding hands. Do I need to say more?

The wonder of ‘Love’ it speaks in different ways!

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Dr. Exequiel and Dra. Emma Mariano married in 1950

“Love is not a memory – it’s a feeling that resides in our heart and soul”

Do you know me?

when I look into your eyes..

I may not recognized you..

I may not call your name or even say it..

I may hear but may not understand you..

Do you know me?

I may not know you..like I don’t even know me..

but I feel you.. I feel me..

when you touch my hand and I touch yours..

I know..you know..we belong to each other..

I love you papa and mama, Happy Valentines!

Cheers,

jamilamimi@beautybeyondfifty

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