Editor’s note: Nina is responding to her husband’s column, “Coming to Terms With my Dementia,” available here.
Upon arriving home from my office at The Jewish Link several days ago I found the above article waiting for me on the computer. I gulped and cried as I read it. That an individual can be as honest and forthright as my beloved Mordechai about something that is difficult and painful to deal with is typical of the man I married and the way we have chosen to live our lives together. We notice the sun, the trees and the beauty of the clouds most days. We are grateful for every facet of our lives and feel good for what we have accomplished together.
As we have said many times in the past, no one has any guarantees of what life will bring them. At this moment in our lives we are grateful for everything that we have. We are able to enjoy and share the things that I think many make no notice of. We giggle and chuckle at things that only the two of us would appreciate after having shared so many experiences. We are looking forward to continuing this routine for a very long time. So far so good. Other than the fact that my Mordechai might by chance put the keys in the refrigerator, which, by the way, only happened once last year, and might not feel comfortable publicly speaking any longer, as well as doing many other activities that were part of his everyday life, we should all learn from his example of being totally satisfied with his lot. It has definitely been a challenge to live with such a positive, sincere and loving person for the past 52 years. It is hard to complain to someone who always sees the bright and light in every situation. Yet, I would never change anything. We joke about his total loss of hearing in one ear and partial loss of hearing in the other ear. I always tell him that it is a shame that he doesn’t hear at least half of the times that I tell him that I love him. Are we not the most fortunate couple that you know? I wish all of you for the coming year just an ounce of the wondrousness of the relationship that we have had in our marriage. Shana Tova U’metuka to all.
An Addendum by Nina Glick
