DEMENTIA AND HOPE

For much of our lives we dream of things to come. As children we long for Christmas, or an expected birthday present. As adults we dream of the day when we are to get married. or the next holiday, or a better job.So much of our time and effort is aimed into the future and yet  often if we did but know it, we already have our hearts desire.
We have a number of animals who we love dearly, especially our dogs. We also have a parrot and a we had a cockatoo, but sadly he escaped yesterday and after testing his freedom in the bushes and then the trees in the garden he flew away.
Although we were very fond of this little chap who had his own funny personality, we didn't realise that we actually loved him until he was gone.
I suppose that for all living things the urge to be free is basic and overwhelming and I have often thought how sad it must be to be kept in a gilded cage. However, he was a very happy chirpy bird, well fed and like the parrot spent his days outside weather permitting and in the evenings the cages were brought in and the two birds would watch our evening television. Above all they liked the Classical Music channel and made appropriate noises at appropriate times.
When Sandy had gone I worried about him. His greatest danger would come from other birds, but also he had no knowledge of food gathering and certainly wouldn't enjoy the fruit treats that we fed them both with. In addition, I thought sadly how he would be cold at night, if he was still alive.
I felt that there was a lesson in all of this. Sometimes in our search for freedom we can lose everything else that we might hold dear.
As a dementia victim I am very aware of the possibilities to come, although I am fighting hard to stop the advance of the disease. However, these things can make one stronger and we must treasure every single day and enjoy our hope for the future.
David Barnato.
Paarl.
South Africa.