Confusion in the midst of Reality

Some days Mom is more confused than others, and some days I have more patience with the confusion than others.  Wouldn't it be nice if I had more patience on the days that she was more confused.  Today I didn't.  I feel so bad when I lose patience with her.  It makes her feel bad too.  It would be so helpful to be able to see into that mind and see how it works.  She is confused in the midst of reality.  She doesn't remember hardly anything , but she knows when I am frustrated with her and she tries really hard to not be a bother.  At dinner time this evening I asked her if she wanted milk or water with her meal.  She said she would take water because I didn't have to buy it.  I told her that it was OK if she wanted milk, but she didn't want to cost us anything.  She was trying to do whatever she could to not be a bother.

she's petting Delilah

 As bad as her dementia is, there is one good thing....she has forgotten that she doesn't like animals in the house.  This is good because I HAVE cats.  I really like my cats and I was worried about how she would do with them.   

"Cookie Monster"

 They like to sleep on the top of her chair because it is close to the fireplace and therefore warm.  She let's them do this.  She will even let them sleep on her lap.  This is not normal for her.  Thankfully this is part of her "new Normal".   I have two cats that are in the house most of the time and a lot that live outside.  

George and Cowboy

Ollie

 I guess I have been rescuing cats for as long as I could remember.  Growing up , we always had cats and I always took care of them.  They were never allowed in the house.  We lived outside of town on an acreage.  At the back of the woods was an old country road and along this road people would dump kittens.  I would rescue them.  Mom didn't want them all at the house so I would find an old hollow tree and make them a little house, bring them food and water, and keep them as long as they would stay.

I didn't limit myself to cats.  Whatever animal needed help, I was there for them.  I had a one legged chicken named "Crip".  and she had a friend that I named "Biddy".   We always had dogs.  We had one named "Browser" and he would kill snakes.   One afternoon Mom and I was out walking in the woods, Browser was with us.  He found a snake and he picked it up about half way down its body and started shaking it.  Mom wound up with snake guts all over her dress.  It was pretty funny.  She was all dressed to go to a meeting.
I wish I could get my dog that I have now to kill snakes.  Instead my cats either kill them (the little ones) or they will in some way point them out to me.    One day I looked out my bathroom window to see a circle of about 10 cats.  Inside the circle was this large snake.  The cats were just playing with him.  They kinda took turns slapping at him.  It turned out to be a water moccasin .  I was going to kill it, but at the time I didn't know what kind it was,  so I let it go.  He lived to die another time.  I try not to kill every snake that comes my way, but the water moccasins can't live if they come up to the house. 
Back to the subject of Mom and my animals.  I 
am glad that she does not remember a few
things that will help her stay here easier for me
and for  her.  

Murphy

As for as the confusion in the midst of reality: 
I am thankful that she still has some reality.  Whenever it comes.