Alan Bennett wrote about his mother’s depression.
‘Nothing excuses us from the obligation to divert our fellow creatures. We must not be boring. And since for the specialist most illnesses soon cease to intrigue, if you have to suffer choose a condition that is rare. Should you want to catch the doctor’s eye, the trick is to not to see no light at the end of the tunnel.; anybody can do that. Rather mistake your wife for a hat and the doctor will never be away from your bedside.’ (Untold Stories, p. 34)
The professor was very interested in Anna, while there was a possibility she had anything but Alzheimers. With the diagnosis confirmed, he lost interest. Early onset dementia made her interesting in a way, and unusual, but with each year passing even that originality is blunted.
I worry now that we are boring. That this is boring. Who would want to know about the everyday life of demented folk? Remember Mrs Dale’s Diary? ‘I’m worried about Jim.’
Anna cries out to be ordinary. She does not want the drama of losing her mind.