Storytelling

Dementia was familiar to us. My grandfather, my dad’s dad, suffered from Alzheimer’s later in life. We called him Pop. Pop would stay at our house a lot. I was young during this time, so he’s hard to remember, but his memory lives on through stories my dad and extended family shares. My dad always reminds us that Pop loved to cook and loved to grocery shop. Through these stories I feel like I have a true memory of him. 

Storytelling is so important and that is exactly the tool I will use to help my son and two nieces know their grandmother. Through my stories, my mom will forever be a homecoming queen, a romance novel reader and a navy blue lover. I will paint a picture of her wearing a crisp, white button down oxford with chunky glasses and of course, a loafer. They will be able to envision her just like I remember my pop wearing a flat cap and khakis.