Hi All,
I think I figured out something else today. I know you all see lightbulbs a lot faster than me, so bear with me if you figured this out lightyears ago...
I have never been able to understand how my mother could answer questions for Jeopardy or Trivial Pursuit that are complex and difficult and yet was unable to remember even how to drive into town or what an old homestead looked like. But it must be that facts are facts to her (i.e. e=mc2) but other memories are so clouded by emotional "memories" that she can't recognize them.
For example, my husband and I moved to the same base where I had lived with my parents when I was 8 and 9. Even though it had been 20 years, I knew where our house was located and which house it was. When my mother visited, she pretended to know, but we had to lead her right up to it, and she was immensely puzzled. I think in her mind, it had become a palace... and the tiny house we lived in did not match her memory. I have seen so many instances of memory "rewrite" with her, that this can be the only explanation.
I guess the only one I cannot get a grasp on is why after 30 years she still cannot navigate around a tiny town. Any ideas on that???????
Love, Beth
