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Go Nigel, Go!
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Would You Like To Buy My Monkeys?
Sep
26
My Gift
by Leslie
I’ve been working on a project this week. For my grandfather. And for me.
My grandpa’s birthday is coming up. We are celebrating with a party on Saturday. This party will be a little different because it will take place at the nursing home.
My grandfather has Alzheimer’s.
I am making him a scrapbook for his birthday.
The last time we’d been to visit grandpa, one of the nurses mentioned how much he adores the calendar I made for him last year with photos of Julia. She said he looks through it, many times a day, like it’s a book. She told me, “He really enjoys reading the captions you included. It helps him make sense of the pictures. I know he has a lot of photographs here, but I really think he could benefit from a scrapbook.”
At first I thought I’d do it for Christmas. That would give me plenty of time. But, time is something my grandfather does not have. He has been losing ground rather quickly. And so I began working on the scrapbook for his birthday.
My house is the storage place for our oldest family photos. I’ve been digging and sorting through them, choosing those that will be included, scanning, restoring, editing and printing them. Today, I finally began putting pages together. I’ve worked hard to keep them large and simple, so they are easy to see and follow. This is my first page.
It has been quite a task to try and piece together my grandfather’s memories. I remember sitting on my great-grandmother’s knee, looking at the photo albums I now call my own. She knew the name of every face and most of the dates. I regret that she took that knowledge with her when she passed away. I should have listened closer. I should have written it down.
I can’t tell you how many times I wish I’d recorded so many of the stories my grandpa told me growing up. I close my eyes and reach with all I’ve got, back, way back, to try and grab his words, so I can include them with the picture, to help him remember. I want him to remember the places he loved to go, the people he loved to be with, the things that made him proud and the happiness that has surrounded him most of his life.
And then there are the memories that have no photograph. And I wonder what treasures have been lost.
Suddenly, I am grateful for this pesky habit I have for recording things. For taking pictures and writing stuff down. Because it’s important to remember.
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Ooooooh. Aaaaah.
Small world. My mom should be in a home too, but my dad is in denial. He believes my kids will make my mom snap out of it, which will never happen.
Leslie, you are such a sweet granddaughter. And that first page is gorgeous. I’m sure your grandpa will love your book.
That is a marvelous gift. It is for similar reasons that I started blogging. If we don’t record the memories of our families, who will?
That first page is amazing! It will be such a gift to Julia and #2 that you are keeping such close track of everything. While in the moment it always seems that you will remember the details forever but we quickly forget as life moves on.
I always ask my grandmother to tell me stories of her childhood and of raising her family. I think that she has written some down but I should recording her and then saving the stories.
Just when I think you couldn;t possibly get any sweeter……you are giving me cavities girl!:)
That is awesome & what a gift from the heart….those are my favorite kind of gifts.
We watched “The Notebook” last night. Your post brought as many tears to my eyes as that movie did.
The first page is gorgeous!! Share the rest when it’s done? And photos of him enjoying his gift? I’d love to see them.
My Dad is suffering as well. We make light of his failing memory right now but at some point, it will make a turn to tragic.
You are a lovely and wonderful Granddaughter and you are also teaching Julia the valuable lesson of respecting elders and cherishing their wisdom.
Well done
Awww that is just so special mate, I totally admire you for doing it for your Grandfather. *BIG HUGS TO YOU*
That is such a fantastic gift!! You are so sweet to take the time to something like that. I am jealous that you have those photos as well. My mom’s family lost just about everything between moving and a big fire.
Your page looks AMAZING by the way
Alziehmer’s is a strange disease. You might ask you grandfather if he remembers any of the photos you can’t identify. Some of the older memories are sometimes untouched, especially ones from childhood, while the newer ones and those that involve skills like tying shoes, etc. are completely destroyed.
In any case I am sure he will love your gift and your are a treasure for thinking of it!
Oh my goodness. I can see this man, his highe rself, so unable to communicate what he is feeling — but feeling it. So loving, so kind, so appreciative. Lovely work.
That’s a very awesome thing you’re doing for him and I agree it gives you a great perspective on how good it is that you take lots of photos and note everything down.
Everytime I visit your blog your writing and the topics you choose and the way you write reminds me why you’re one of my favorite blogs.
You have a way of writing that touches me and makes me truly think about things, thank you for that.
What a great gift… I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wished that I would have written down stories that my grandmother told me. Now she is gone. I wish, wish, wish that they were down on paper.
Oh, Leslie, my heart goes out to you in terms of your grandfather. My MIL has alzheimer’s and it’s just a hateful disease. I’m sure he’ll greatly enjoy his present. There’s nothing finer than good memories, and yes, remembering to write things down, keeping photos, etc. is a wonderful gift. Keep it going…
I remember visiting my gramma, who had alzheimers as well. We always looked at her pics and talked about all the stories that I remembered. That page is absolutely wonderful, you are very talented and it is a great gift that you can give to him!!
Have I mentioned recently how very awesomely wonderfully cool I think you are?
I do. Think that. A lot.