Me: You know these conversations that we’re having?
Anthony: Yes, I do.
Me: They’re rather wonderful aren’t they.
Anthony: They certainly help to pass the time of day.
Me: Master of the understatement aren’t you.
Anthony: I try.
Me: What I like best is that you don’t have dementia anymore.
Anthony: What are you talking about? I never had dementia.
Me: Well, okay, you must have forgotten.
Anthony: You talk a lot of rubbish sometimes.
Me: That’s what I used to say to you – kindly.
Anthony: What’s your point?
Me: It almost feels like we are time travelling backwards and a bit forwards but mostly backwards. In a good way. I’m remembering all sorts of things – conversations and your wit.
Anthony: I like to have my wits turned on.
Me: You never really lost that did you.
Anthony: I never really lost anything actually.
Me: Sometimes, when you said really crazy things, I used to think maybe you were pulling my leg.
Anthony: I was.
Me: No you weren’t.
Anthony: Have it your way.
Me: No need to get huffy.
Anthony: I’m not but I don’t like you saying I had dementia. Horrible word.
Me: But you did have it. I just never told you.
Anthony: Well maybe a little bit.
Me: No, a lot.
Anthony: Bull.
Me: I thought heavenly creatures like you basked in the truth.
Anthony: I’d rather do a dare.
Me: Okay, I dare you to acknowledge that you had dementia.
Anthony: Entrapped. Okay, okay, you got me.
Me: I thought it was fantastic that you didn’t know.
Anthony: A blessing in disguise?
Me: Exactly.
Anthony: It must have been hard on you.
Me: I guess so, to begin with, but I got used to it. I got used to you with dementia. It didn’t scare me at all but it probably would have scared you if you knew.
Anthony: It was bloody beautiful of you not to tell me.
Me: Remember how you would get confused and I would reassure you that it was just the Parkinson’s disease?
Anthony: Yes.
Me: Well that was instead of telling you it was dementia.
Anthony: I heard you tell someone the other day that we made friends with dementia. Clever.
Me: That’s what it felt like. It was sort of whimsical and we even had fun with it.
Anthony: With what?
Me: With the dementia. In retrospect.
Anthony: If you say so.
Me: Come on. Admit it.
Anthony: Okay. Yes, you’re right. I’m so sorry, Jules. It must have been ghastly.
Me: No, it wasn’t. It was still you.
Anthony: It’s good what we have isn’t it.
Me: It’s the best thing on earth.
Anthony: And in heaven.
Me: Bloody hell! Okay, Amen.
Anthony: Amen.
jmgoyder 