Dementia ate my dad and swallowed him whole

As some of you may know my dad passed away this week.  Traumatic does not describe watching someone you love disappear. His dementia overtook him in the race some years ago. You think of dementia as a condition where relatives are unrecognised. You forget the day etc, but the end stages are gruesome. Especially forgetting to swallow.

It was sad to see the progress. He will never see his architect, economist, neurosciencist and yet to be decided career grandchildren fulfill their destinies. But I hope he will be proud to know he played a part in each of their careers. He has a strong family and even stronger friends, who have made made the process easier, unlike authorities. 

I have listened in to phone call after phone call (only because my mums phone is stuck in speaker phone mode) where people have made my mum laugh recalling stories of my dad, my funny, comedic dad. He loved to dance, to party, to holiday. He loved to build, could tell the type and age of wood from a discarded splinter, and was a master of creativity. But most of all he loved his family, until the end he tried to protect us all. 

The hours he spent planning, building and performing for "impromptu" gigs at a moments notice cannot be calculated. He love of entertainment was legendary, he could perform like a stand up comedian and make it look effortless. 

And what have I done in return. Make him proud.... I hope so. Look after mum....am trying. But I try to be the best ....without compromise. Honest... there is no other way.  Never settling for less than perfection ( a nightmare for most people who meet me, I accept) Be happy with my life and so happy that he was my dad.......always. He made a lot of lives happier just by knowing him.

I had to admit today that he had been born and spent three months in Yorkshire as a child, this was not a thing I am proud of. I think of my dad as a Wiganer. He was. In fact one thing that may me smile in a later years and the last few months was my leaving him at the end of every visit I would say

I'm going to the shops do you want anything........his answer was always 

"A pie"

If you have been a regular reader of my blog and want to stop this cruel condition in years to come please donate to alztheimers research.  Just search Clem Turton on just giving. Together we can stop this happening to you!