Clichés and Kindness

Mr R, one of my first driving companions back in 2013, was told he couldn’t drive anymore, not because he couldn’t drive physically, but because he was forgetting where places were and could possibly get lost.  So, I was asked to take him to an appointment. 

 

I mentioned how cold it was, to which he responded “yes, many are cold, but few are frozen” – a great play on that wonderful piece of scripture.  As we were driving out of the driveway, he commented in his usual quick witty way that his family felt he was getting 'feeble' but he felt he was more in a CRAFT state – that is he “Couldn’t remember a f’n thing”.  We both laughed.  Whenever he gets out of the van he always says that he “can get to the curb from here”.

Mr R does not use my service often now that his family is nearby but he never fails to ask me "if he could remember what he needed at the Superstore would I take him" to which I always say I could but he better think about it.  He never returns of course.

 

What is amazing about this gentleman is his kindness and superb manners for his advanced age (91).  He had many years in the medical field and when I asked about issues around my own son's health he was extremely helpful and obviously well versed in dealing with the issue.  Thanks Mr R.

 

As he would say, "as I said once to a girlfriend, 'it has been a business doing pleasure with you'".

[I have learned through the study of dementia that many intelligent people diagnosed with the symptoms cover it up very well with clichés or repeated jokes – a normal response to a forgetful disease.. there are many expressions repeated over and over by Mr R, but always enjoyed by this chauffeur]