Constant Memories
Yesterday Riley and I drove to my mother in law's house to visit. On the almost hour long drive, Riley was pensive. Normally, she would pass out in the back seat and I would be left with my radio sounds and my thoughts, but this time, she began talking. "I miss Grandad." It always starts this way. "He is in my heart. Do you miss him, Mommy?" "Yes, I miss him all the time. You guys spent a lot of time together. Remember what you used to do?" "We used to watch Mickey videos together! And Daddy Finger, and Baby shark..." It occurred to me that her 3 years of memories of this vibrant, active, wonderful man were limited to him being tied to an oxygen machine and sitting in a chair and watching videos together. Granted, there were many more that I have of the two of them, but her capacity to remember is limited to those. The most significant part of this conversation for me is the realization that for her, these memories are sa...