Good Old Days

Ed and I spent a lot of time yesterday on a verbal trip down memory lane.  I talked about trips we’d taken, and focused on those moments I thought were most vivid and might have the strongest emotional context for him.  Ed seemed to truly remember some of the experiences I described. After the conversation, he thanked me for talking about “the good old days.”   Sometimes I’m so focused on today—and wanting to share my day with Ed—that I overlook what’s important to him now.   And what’s important to him is recalling those few memories he still retains.

I enjoy telling, and retelling, these stories to him—I also enjoy the challenge of trying to figure out which experiences he’s most likely to remember.  It’s a way of keeping the old new and interesting for me, too.

What strategies do you use to keep your conversations alive and fresh when you’re talking to someone with AD?