Is this typical?

ElCy

My DH will talk at length to any stranger. He rolls down the window and stop to speak to neighbors walking dogs and always days the same thing “I don’t trust people who don’t like dogs.”

In restaurants he always tell the waiter he wants to be smarter and  taller. He tips cashiers at Cracker Barrel and can talk for ages about anything. He stops every mother and tells them their child is a TV star.

But DH has completely stopped talking to his friends.

Lills

What stage is your DH in?

I may be way off base here...but my DH also used to go up to strangers and tell people I was a German teacher, etc. He was an introvert so it was really out of character for him to be so outgoing.  Fast forward:  He was diagnosed as having Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD).  Yes, he would shy away from his friends too.  I think he was at the stage in which he was aware he didn't remember their names, etc.  Also, he didn't care; his empathy for others was totally lost.    FTD is often confused with Alzheimer's Disease.  Physician's assume it's Alz. 

Two years before my DH was officially diagnosed with FTD, I bought a book from Amazon, "What If It's NOT Alzheimer's".  Some of his behaviors just did not seem like Alz.  

M1

ElCy, I think there are certain speech patterns that get played like a broken record.  They are familiar circuits that don't require any thought.  My partner cannot interact in most social situations any more--she finds them confusing and can't follow conversations--but there are few things that get repeated and repeated and repeated.   That's probably what you're seeing.

A. Marie

What M1 said. Plus which, it's probably easier on him to do this with strangers now, since his friends may be flaking off or may be giving off "You're weird" vibes even if they haven't flaked off. He's doing the best he can with what little he has left, in other words.

Ed1937

ElCy, if you're worried about that, don't be. If it isn't hurtful, let it go. That's one of the rules for making it through the pits this disease throws at us.

SATX

Yep... same thing here with my DW.  Grocery store strangers, convenience store staff and customers but won't talk to friends when they call or call them.

piozam13

DH liked talking to 'strangers' too.   I think it was easier for him - he didn't have to rely on his memory or the past.  He made up answers and stories.  

I didn't mind it because he seemed to enjoy these chats.  Poor guys - they didn't have to know the truth and his tales didn't hurt.

Battlebuddy

   My husband had a phase like that. For me it was very hard. He would stop men and say hi like he knew them in Target, out walking , gas station etc. I would have to jump in and say we don’t know this person and try and get us moving again. It was very stressful for me. I tried to explain that people are out exercising or shopping or what ever and they need to go but he always wanted to go with them.  

   He had his own catch phrases too. One was when walking the small dog “ he thinks he’s a German Shepard” He told everyone that. The mailman, repair man etc. I think it was a safe phrase which would make people laugh if they saw the 15 pound fluff ball. But then he would be asked what his name was and wouldn’t remember. Sad 

NylaBlue

My husband used to be very talkative with strangers, using a variety of stock phrases and friendly observations about their children, dogs, jewelry, clothing, the weather. At the same time he was unable to participate in a real conversation with people he knew.