NYT Magazine: Racing to Retake a Beloved Trip, Before Dementia Takes Everything

Thank you for this precious gift. A wonderful read. Very encouraging. I sure needed this tonight😊

Not to piss in anybody's cornflakes, but am I the only person here who questioned the author's choice to have dad fly cross-country solo?

HB

Awww , very sweet.

I liked the phrasing of "memories of memories" and "reconciled memories" .. that resonated with me.

But yeah — as I read the article, I was worried that he was going to get lost going to the airport, at the airport — essentially all of the things that could go wrong. They were very lucky.

I understand the need/desire to take that one last trip - I did it myself with Peggy, also to Italy! The only difference was that I never left her alone.. I still applaud the author for getting in that one last trip. He seemed so happy in that moment.

That part! I kind of assumed that maybe she embellished or edited a tad — journalistic license — and/or had a little bit of background, back up support along with her/him that just wasn't mentioned, as I always do when traveling with DH. I would have booked an adjoining room with him or a suite if it wasn't my hubby, but only before I knew better.

My guy went walkabout one time inside a strange hotel late at night looking for a vending machine (found it only to realize he had no money…hmm), we were also in a strange city while I slept too soundly to hear him leave the room. He took the key and room number (on the keycard sleeve) thank goodness and we were really, really lucky he found his way back to the room rather than out the lobby door onto the street. Stage 4.

So, I found her story believable because I made some of the same mistakes she did, and we were VERY, VERY lucky until I learned better. Just as this author and her dad appear to have been.

The point some of you are making here though, (I think, and I agree!) is that this might give false security or paint another too-rosy picture of dementia to the general public, which is harmful and dangerous in reality. Point taken. Who is going to send our expert review to the author? Hopefully it would be well-received. A platform such as that should not be wasted.