"GOODNESS GRACIOUS ALIVE"

My daddy's favorite saying, liberally used his entire life.

It was one of those all purpose sayings called up to communicate

miraculous happenings, utter disbelief, displays of rank stupidity, horrors beyond understanding, impending doom, or fury that was bigger than a Buick. No doubt, that anger was usually directed to one of us kids. His tone and inflection gave a clue as to how we should interpret. We were experts in this regard, and, could pretty much determine who needed to run and who could stay. But, that particular saying covered all the basic issues and was a prelude to any action on his part. Bystanders beware.....

At almost 91 years, with advanced dementia, he lives here at our home. Even with a weakened body and diminished reasoning, his presence is huge! Our job here is to entertain, manage, manipulate, and care for him the best way we can. Sure, he gets irritated with us but understands that we love him.       

Recently his condition deteriorated with agitation and discontent escalating. He would start his day (or middle of the night) as if ready to subdue a couple of grizzlybears. Clearly, irrational and uncooperative; angry and a danger to himself. I could also add, mean and hateful! I begged his doctors to change medication, add something new to the mix...something experimental maybe. If not for him, perhaps for me? Meanwhile, he was a relentless terror. One of his doctors casually asked if we had tried melatonin. I could barely suppress a chortle of contempt. Imagine, joking around with simplistic remedies when we had a full blown crisis living La Vida Loca over here. And, things worsened; medication was totally ineffective. On a less than stellar day, with a smirk for the clerk, I bought melatonin. Mixed it with ice cream and gave it to daddy. No expectations.

Within a few days, his entire demeanor changed. He relaxed. Used his inside voice. Refrained from biting. Laughed. Gave us all hugs. Who could imagine the improvement. Now, I am not recommending this for anyone. Why this worked when nothing else did...who knows. We are just grateful that it did. And, thank God for this profound blessing via GNC!

GOODNESS GRACIOUS ALIVE!

LOOKING GOOD, DADDY