Guess!
‘I think I’ll get two,’ he said, apropos of nothing.
There are times when I listen carefully to any following remarks in the hope that I can disentangle what he means. Now, frequently short of patience, I am more inclined to ask, ‘What are you talking about?’
Following a butterfly mind as it flits from topic to topic, subjects often only loosely associated with each other, can be exhausting. It’s not sufficient that I note what he’s carrying so that I can tell him later where he’s left his keys, wallet, pen, notebook, coat, tablet, or any number of other items of greater or lesser importance that migrate from room to room, and occasionally to the car. No, I have to work out which of the many subjects he’s researching to understand where his mind has taken him. It could be anything from camera lenses to history to specialised wire to reading glasses.
This time, it was insulin for Jellicoe. We like to ensure that we have plenty in reserve in case we drop a bottle, which then breaks – this has happened only once, but could happen again. Each time he goes to the animal hospital, Barry takes insulin, syringes, needles, and a supply of diabetic food in case Jellicoe has to stay there. So, he decided to get two bottles of insulin from the chemist, but, as it turns out, there was only one available, and he has to go back tomorrow. Let’s hope we don’t drop any bottles tonight.
It’s a grand life if you don’t weaken!
Sounds more like me, hubby is always saying tell me the whole subject, don't start in the middle.
ReplyDeleteI like it!
DeleteYou are not alone there. I have to play a guessing game in conversations with my dear one as he starts each one in his mind then carries on aloud, leaving me to try to guess what he is talking about. Of course, I get blamed for not listening properly. 😉
ReplyDeleteIt's when he changes subject half-way through that I tend to lose the thread . . .
DeleteOh boy does that flittering sound familiar. Like JC I too get blamed for not paying attention or having Alzheimers and forgetting.
ReplyDeleteKeep those hands steady!
Busy minds!
DeleteThis does sound so familiar. my husband, two grandsons and niece are all diabetics.. dropping a bottle happens more often than needed to.
ReplyDeleteIt's worrying if there are no reserves!
DeleteI think this must be a quite common snippet of conversation of many couples who have long lived together. I can confirm it is one, with variations, that is often repeated in our household.
ReplyDeleteI didn't think I could be alone in this!
DeleteI'm the other party in this scenario. Usually being asked what, wait, how did you get there, I'm not a mind reader!
ReplyDeleteSo you swap horses midstream, too?
DeleteMen must just have something in their DNA that causes all of them to expect us to read their mind. Or piece together 1/2 sentences into something whole.
ReplyDeleteIt's a game, I think . . . 😟
ReplyDeleteOh my, that gave me a good chuckle because I’ve heard that sort of “I’ll get two” more times than I can count. It’s funny how the mind can wander off ahead while the rest of us are still trying to catch up. Still, better to have a spare on hand, especially when it comes to something important like that.
ReplyDeleteI can degenerate into procuring more and more 'just in case' and then we enter the world of the hoarder! 😉
DeleteI think Hubby and I are both guilty of this.
ReplyDeleteIt's sometimes known as 'thinking aloud.' 😉😀
DeleteOh my, I hear you. This happens daily in our home, mystery comments by both of us, either a floating idea or a misheard statement. And, yeah, I lose my temper big time, sometimes, last evening being one. It is frightening, though, because it is for sure going to get worse and spell an end to independent living. Far in the future is the hope, and I think the temper is really hidden fear.
ReplyDeleteA wandering mind is fine if kept under control . . .
Deletemy husband also says tell me the whole story, I don't know what you are talking about. now the tables are turned and he is the one that talks in the middle of whatever is in his mind and I have to figure out what he is talking about, the addition of dementia has caused a huge problem for both of us... now I have to guess what he is trying to say and come up with what the word is he wants to use..
ReplyDeleteThat is difficult. My mother-in-law went back into her childhood and it was difficult for her to retain any sense of the present.
ReplyDeleteAt least he expresses what is on his mind even if it takes some ferreting out. :)
ReplyDeleteThat is very true! I'm the idiot for not immediately understanding . . . 😟
DeleteKeep your hands steady!
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
I'll do my best!
DeleteWhen my husband was alive he used to always claim he had no idea what I was talking about and I didn't make any sense. I think he just didn't want to listen to what I was saying
ReplyDeleteThere is always that explanation . . .
DeleteWhat does the name Barry mean? Derived from Gaelic names like Fionnbharr or Bairrfhionn, it has historically been associated with strength.
ReplyDeleteIt also means "fair-haired," which is appropriate since he was reddish-fair.
DeleteThings can get tense.
ReplyDeleteThey can, but not usually, thankfully.
DeleteA spare is always wise.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely!
DeleteI started chuckling when I first started reading this post as it brought to mind conversations with my late husband....and then, as I read a bit further, I went "Wait...that's me...on the other side of the conversation." LOL Sad but true. It's always been an issue lurking there...but, the older I get, the more pronounced it is becoming...especially so since living alone.
ReplyDeleteWhen you spend a lot of time talking to yourself, as I do, although I don't live alone, it's much easier to follow a train of thought!
DeleteMental out-sourcing (Barry using you to remember what he has done with stuff he alone should be responsible for). Mr B does it too.
ReplyDeleteI love that expression and will use it henceforth! Thank you, F.
DeleteI don’t think we do this. Are we abnormal?
ReplyDeleteNo, you're pleasingly well-balanced and mature.
DeleteA delightful read. I get asked quite often when my head is wandering, are you listening to me? I am usually thinking of the previous thing he said. Is that what they call ‘head in the clouds’?
ReplyDeleteOne person's daydreaming is another's inattention!
DeleteHa! I ramble and sometimes suddenly move onto a subject that is totally logical in my own mind!
ReplyDeleteIt's like following a maze.
DeleteYou do look after Jellicoe so well.
ReplyDeleteIt's usually me who is thinking something and then starts talking to husband as if I'm mid-conversation.
Busy mind!
ReplyDelete