‘You sound like a pastor.’
Well, that’s a new accusation. I must have been trying to impart some unconvincing good news – like – ‘everything’s going very well.’
‘You’re horrible.’
Ah well. Actually its not quite true to say it’s an new accusation. Anna used to say, when we first met, I had a vicar valency, meaning that I attracted the ladies of the parish enthused by the thought of an unattached male.
But it’s curious that she calls me that now.
She wants to visit Dan’s church, and we will be meeting the vicar for real. Why has she suddenly had this thought? For days she has talked of little else.
Before she was diagnosed, one of the questions I was asked was, has she become more religious? as if this was a possible symptom of the onset of dementia.
I visited a day centre with a ‘cognitive impairment unit’, and the staff were playing videos of middle aged men with long hair and vacant grins belting out religious songs. Why?
It seemed to be the equivalent of a mild sedative or a teddy bear.
Actually I hope it is more than that for Anna. She is frightened and she needs to be with people who are not frightened.
Not of death.