Save the Memories
photo from all movie photo
So glad you guys liked the peach baked oatmeal. Seriously—it’s good. I’m going to bet it’d be even better with whipped cream, but—thank heavens—I don’t have any. That could get dangerous.
So the other day, as I was reading through some medical news, I came across two studies about Alzheimer’s and dementia and general mental decline that I thought were interesting. The first found that even a small amount of exercise—walking for 40 minutes three times a week—can prevent mental decline in couch potatoes. The other showed that drinking wine is linked to better brain function on mental tests.
Bottom line: Keep active and drink some wine. Your brain cells will thank you.
I always find Alzheimer’s and dementia really sad. (It might have something to do with The Notebook and how I want to curl up into the fetal position and bawl every time I see it.) But there’s another reason. About four years ago, I saw a Notebook-type scene play out when I was vacationing with my family in Cape Cod.
photo by all movie photo
We were in Chatham, a small town with rows of shops lining the main street. It’s one of those towns you see in the movies, where the boy and girl hold hands and drink milkshakes and maybe kiss in the gazebo under some twinkling lights. Only it was daytime and the gazebo was a stretch of grass across the street from a candy shop and a store that sells Life Is Good T-shirts. From the sidewalk, I could see an old man with khaki pants and sneakers talking to a police officer.
The old man was frantic, tears snaking down his cheeks, hands flailing in the hot air. “She was gone. Just gone,” the old man said.
“Well she’s okay now,” said the police officer. His voice was calm but sad. He turned toward the lawn and nodded at another officer. Waved. An old woman shuffled beside the officer, eyes fixed on the street. Unaware of the tearful old man.
The old man held her gaze, then ran to her. He wrapped his arms around her neck and buried his face in her neck.
“I thought I lost you,” he said. The tears slowed, salty remnants still streaking his cheeks. “I didn’t know where you went. And I looked everywhere but you were gone.” The old man’s voice was shaky, like rocks in a tin can.
“I went for a walk,” she said, confused.
The old man grabbed her hand. He guided her to the sidewalk, mouthed “thanks” to the officers, and walked toward town. His hand clamped hers like a vice. He’d never part with her again.
Do you ever think about keeping your mind strong to prevent future mental decline?
22 comments
That story about the old man and woman nearly made me cry. Memory loss is so heartbreaking.
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Tracey Reply:
September 8th, 2010 at 8:38 am
Watching the old man made me tear up. You could tell he loved her so much and she was just–gone.
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Ahhh, The Notebook…. that movie tugs at my heart every time I see it….
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Tracey Reply:
September 8th, 2010 at 8:38 am
Yeah, it costs me a box of tissues per viewing.
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Jeez, Tracey…so deep for my morning eggs
Just kidding, super sweet 
The Notebook is sad, but so happy, too. A marriage like that…wow. Just amazing. Love conquers all. Cheeeese!!! (I know!)
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Tracey Reply:
September 8th, 2010 at 8:39 am
Ha ha…I should have put a warning label, huh? Caution: May Cause Spontaneous Whimpering. Or, Caution: Ryan Gossling Ahead.
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That story is so sad and endearing. Alzheimer’s is a dreary disease…that sparked an incredible movie.
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This is something near and dear to my heart. My grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s early this year. We were lucky to catch it early and start him on medication, and he lived 88 disease free years. But we’re all holding our breath knowing what the future could hold. My mom and I have talked about what we can do but genetics will prevail in this case.
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The Notebook killed me. And that story is so sad! I think it’s something I rarely think about because it seems like something that would be so far away… but I guess it’s yet another thing that you can better prepare yourself for now when you’re younger.
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Y’know, I’ve never seen that movie! Don’t hate…a friend lent it to me on DVD so I’ll get up the go to watch it sometime.
Such a good post! God. Too true. It’s really really sad andworrisome. We spend so much time on the “physical” and God, without our minds and our memories…who are we? I think it’s terrible to watch families to have to go through it, to see parents decline.
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Breaking. My. Heart. with the elderly couple!! And yes, my nana has alzheimer’s so I do think about this a lot. It is a miserable disease and one I’d like to avoid at all costs!
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Same wavelength today, but I wasn’t thinking that far off.
Fantastic movie reference, haa.
I think being mentally strong is much like how they tell women to be good to our bones now with vitamins and such, help prevent the disease as much as possible.
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I think about this A LOT. TOO MUCH, actually. Anyone reading my blog knows that I have two sick parents. My mom is 3rd generation dementia (my grandma and great-grandma both suffered with it in their late 70s). But, my mom got sick at 58 years old. Now she is 62 years old and weighs 62 pounds, can’t walk or speak, all due to a form of dimentia. It can very seriously effect the body, not just the mind. Also, everyone thinks that this disease can only hit you when you’re old. Think again! Lots of love goes out to anyone else dealing with this issue in their family. I do everything I can to keep myself as healthy as possible so that I am not generation #4.
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This is particularly close to my heart. My mom’s mom died of Alzheimers and it is my mom’s biggest fear (and mine) that she will do the same. It can be hereditary and she says she can’t think of anything worse than not knowing her loved ones and I can’t think of anything worse than her not knowing me, my dad, or my brother.
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The notebook makes me cry every single time. It’s such a sweet love story and really hit home My grandma lived with my family for 11 years before she passed away last winter. She was diagnosed with Alzheimers about 6-7 years ago and it was a challenge for my family to care for her (although rewarding). We relied on a senior day care center, other local services, and a some in home nurses to aid with her care.
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I love the notebook-yet I’ve yet to conquer that movie without a box of tissues! It reminds me of my grandma, I lost her earlier this year due to alzheimers. Its an awful disease!
I’ve read so many articles that talk about how exercise prevents it, which is a great motivator to get on the treadmill every day!
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Alzheimer’s is one of my greatest fears. Awareness is super important to me, and the idea of forgetting things… that’s scary.
I’ll drink my wine and go for walks
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The thought of losing my mind and ability to function makes me frightened, and I want to do all I can to stay healthy for a long time.
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This is so sad. It is deifnitely something I think about. I do truly believe that exercise, nutrition and exercising your mind in youth can pay off in the future, and ven though I have no idea what will happen to me, I hope that’s true. I like to do little mind games or exercises (like using my non-dominant hand for thigs, etc) to try to work my brainpower a little harder
who knows if it helps…
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The notebook is one of my favorites, and I’m not really a chick-flick kind of girl.
It breaks my heart whenever I watch that movie.
I would hate to do that to a loved one, so I better keep my mind nice and strong. For me AND for them.
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Wow- this post made me stop in my tracks and REALLY think. Both Alzheimers and dementia are prevalent in my family, so my move towards becoming healthier was definitely impacted by this. That movie makes me bawl every single time, because I am so fearful that one day my husband will be reading me “our” story. Now I’m all teary!
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Awww i love Nicolas Sparks
This movie i could watch over and over again, cry for hours and not get sick of it. Loveee it! <3
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