When we first got Okami and Uluru we didn’t know that, underneath all that wool, they were quite little!
Once they had been shorn (earlier this year), we got rather a shock and had to retrain our brains to see them the way they are now instead of the way they were.
I don’t like to be overtly symbolic but this is very similar to the way Husband/Anthony, Son and I have had to retrain our brains in order to tune into the ‘now’ of Anthony’s Parkinson’s disease and its associated dementia.
In many ways, this creeping dementia is okay but in other ways its evidence always gives me an alpaca-shock!
“You were pretty crazy on the phone last night,” I say to Anthony. “Are you normal again?”
“Jules, I was at this party at Kingley Park.”
“Okay, so where are you now?”
“I’m at this place, you know, the old age home. When are you coming in?”
“Tomorrow morning – is that okay?”
“Bring me some of that chocolate I like, you know the one?”
“Yes. I’ll ring you to say goodnight.”
“Well don’t make it too late because I might be in bed.”
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
There is something extremely comforting about these phone conversations, but also discomforting (or is the word ‘discomfiting’?). On the one hand Anthony seems comfortable and content, though lonely. On the other hand, he often sounds confused but when I see him (every couple of days now), he is always perfectly lucid and the friends and relatives who visit him say the same.
I am about to go out and feed Okami and Uluru so I will ask them. Their huge eyes are always full of gentle wisdom.
jmgoyder 
My dogs are that skinny when wet.
Ha! I just put all of the gang away and leaving Son to feed alpacas when he gets home from milking – you are right about wet – Okami and Uluru are even skinnier now – ha!
They are so lovely looking… Loved them, Thank you dear Julie, love you, have a nice day, nia
You too, beautiful nia!
You have really good insight Julie into what is going on with your husband and with the animals. I love the pictures, so to the point. Changes can be startling.
Thank you so much DD!Jxx
The changes are scary too.
And here I thought you only had birds!
I have zebras too (just kidding!)
your animal friends look like kids again; dementia sometimes makes us kids again; you certainly are living in a roller coaster world
Yes and yes!
I like that description… its exactly the way it is.
Thanks RD and yes!
What pretty animals! I hope one day to see them live and not just through pictures.
You are welcome any time!
Maybe he’s able to make a conscious effort to “get it together” for a while but just can’t maintain it. Who knows?
Yes – not sure!
Hoe that Okami and Uluru can bring you some wisdom and comfort in all of this Julie. I do think we find answers in our natural world if we can get real quiet in our miss and just be present. Very heartbreaking to see someone we love who has always been strong, witty and sharp to loose cognitive function …scary too. I have read dementia can be akin to releasing resistance and ‘letting go’ – not sure and I’d imagine you have theories given your medical career history. I’m thinking of you Julie…. sending hope and prayers …
What a beautiful comment Robyn – thank you so much. Juliexxx
You have some adorable company, eh?
They look pretty bouncer-ish in the ‘before’ pic 😛
I love the lean look!
Love 🙂
And I thought they were fat before!!!
With Parkinson’s and dementia, the only status quo is you’re on the roller coaster with fluctuation and shift. Yes to thehomefrontandbeyond. I feel your pain, dear Julie.
Question: Do Okami and Uluru seem embarrassed when they are sheared? My neighbor’s dog goes into hiding when she gets clipped. 🙂
Thanks Wisdom! Yes the alpacas did seem embarrassed!
Hi,
There is a huge difference once they are shorn, they look like two completely different animals, it is just amazing, but they are gorgeous. 🙂
They’re so cute naked 🙂
Anthony is lucky to have you, it would be so sad to be in a home and not have any visitors.
Have you ever watched McLeod’s Daughters? It’s an Australian TV show that ran for 7 seasons…up to 2008 (I think). Anyway, I’m watching it on Netflix and I’m completely addicted. Your alpacas remind me of that show.
Every day is different for you, isn’t it? Hang in there. You’re doing a fabulous job caring for and loving everybody.
~Fringegirl
I never watched the series – I’ll have to get it out on dvd now!
http://photographyofnia.com/2012/06/13/time-to-say-thank-you-2/
Thank you once again dear Julie, it was the first time I used your “Hot Potato Award”. Love, nia
Yeeha!
This is a very good description of one of the many forms of dementia. I am sure that by sharing you are helping others who are going through similar situations I worked with people in a nursing home and saw many people in various states; the experience was a real eye-opener both humorous and tragic..And the photos-rather amusing-they look naked.I wonder if they act bigger than they are when they have all the hair and if they feel diminished without. I swear when my friend’s dog came from the groomer he looked humiliated and the first thing he did was get rid of the bows then rolled in the dirt.
Re the dementia yes I know – I wrote a book called “We’ll be Married in Fremantle” but at the time I didn’t anticipate what is happening now with Husband.
Yes, I think the alpacas were just as embarrassed as you friend’s dog!
Onthehomefront really nailed it with that comment, I think!
They look so fragile, like they need to be handled with care. That definitely is a stark change.
I’m glad Anthony’s lucid more times than not. It’s so much better. My mother’s flipped in the other direction. We never quite know what she’ll be like or “where” she’ll be.
It’s weird but quite interesting.
I had no idea alpacas were that skinny under all their hair. I wonder if they look at each other thinking how weird looking they seem!
Interesting description of dementia, and I’m sure every case is different. I’ve heard people tell me stories of their grandparents suffering from it, thinking they were living in their own world, 50 years ago. Yikes!
In many ways dementia can be a blessing.
The alpacas are both so cute – with and without all the hair! I’ve always wanted to pet one.
The dementia…wow. That must be such a strange reality to adjust to.
It’s Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD) so not quite like Alzheimer’s disease, and so, far it is only in evidence some of the time.
Perhaps the part of Anthony’s brain that processes hearing is impaired by PDD, but the other areas that process sight and touch are not and compensate for when he is physically present with people – these brain diseases are so terribly cruel
Yes, cruel is right. There are many more interventions now but not for someone Anthony’s age. Thanks bluebee. Jxx
We would certainly rely on the wisdom that Okami and Uluru can offer.
Those two are soo sweet. And those big eyes look so soulful. Hope they had some answers for you.