Remember Me?

We just got back from the Lake of the Ozarks for our yearly family weekend with all my aunts, uncles and cousins. This year we had 19 adults and 6 kids, sadly were missing several family members who could not make it this year. It's a fun weekend, everyone plans a game to play, this year we did a timed noodle water gun game where you had to knock over empty bottles. Shannon did a "where did you go to high school" game, we all had to guess who went where. There is lots of swimming, boating, water skiing and card playing.

The photo is from this weekend... my grand parents, Jeannine and John. Grandma will be 80 this September and Grandpa will be 84 in two days. They started this family tradition at the lake years ago and sadly Grandpa can not remember the past years or many of us. He has Alzheimer's and can't remember me, my mother and some days he is even confused about his own wife. Grandma takes very good care of him as she always has but it's getting harder. He needs to be looked after all day and night and can't be left alone for fear of him walking off and getting lost or hurt.

I feel for Grandpa, lost in a world he doesn't remember and I really feel for Grandma who stands by and watch her husband of 60 years slowly forget the life and family they had together. It must be scary, it must break her heart and it must be lonely.

I hope they both realize the wonderful family memories that they made for so many of us and we will remember... we will remember for him.