what is dememtia? it’s a combination of several symptoms that are associated with the declining abilities of the brain. symptoms include decline if thinking, memory, understanding, and judgement. dementia usually occurs in people at the age of 65 or over. by age 80, one if five are affected. more common in woman than men.
i received an email asking me on how i feel about dementia a while back. here is what i think. as you get older, you will forget things. and when you get more older, you will forget more. it’s just part of the cycle of life. try to fight it? can’t. so the best thing is just to deal with it. my Grandpa Osaki started to get dementia at around 85. as years went by, it got worst and worst. sometime he would even forget who i was. would i get sad? absolutely not. aging is a part of life. we will all get old someday and return to the child we were once born. i actually thought it was cute. my Grandpa Osaki was the #1 mentor of my life. i had the upmost respect for him as he never doubted me, never scolded me, and never got angry at me. his facial expressions showed his feelings, and his actions spoke louder than words. so as he gotten older and older and started forgetting more and more, i use to be ok with it. i’d sit down and say “hey grandpa, it’s me Kirby.” then he would turn his head and smile like a little child trying to place who i was. then i’d say “hey grandpa, it’s me Kirby the vaccuum cleaner!” then he would laugh. then i would laugh, then we would laugh. my Grandpa Osaki taught me how to live, and my Grandpa Osaki taught me how to die. i will never forget the lessons in life he has taught me as i try to live my life like his. he passed away at 97 years old and his soul still lives inside of me. when ever i’m confused or lost in life, i ask myself “what would my grandpa have done?” then i follow what he believed in. my Grandpa was my true samurai who influenced my life the most. and till this day, i think about him all the time.
i will probably have dementia someday and when that day comes, make me laugh, not cry. thank you.
