My Auntie

Tough but shy. She lost her husband and then her best friend, my Mom. She persevered through the loneliness. Having spent many years fending for herself, she was reluctant to allow anyone too close. Such closeness might call for commitments, decisions, affirmations of affection. In the end, her care came into my hands, my mind, my heart.

Her realizations, slowly came into her mind that her mind was betraying her in unpredictable ways. Dementia played tricks. Here, in the photograph, I intruded upon her concealed frustrations. She had, yet again, earnestly believed in one ‘reality’ only to discover it wasn’t there. Frustration. Do you ever notice in yourself or others when things spin out of control how the hands go to the face, the head?

Gentle reassurances given to the sweet girl, who was slowly losing the way.