Did You Know ? ? ?

    There is so much information in this world? We can access more information, more quickly than we ever have been able to before.
     When I was about eight years old, my appetite for reading became insatiable. I read everything I could get my hands on. I was convinced that I needed to know so much more.
     I read the cereal box in the morning. I read the newspaper. I read every magazine I came into contact with. At night, when I was sent to my room, I read encyclopedias.
     Yes. I layed on my top bunk bed and read encyclopedias. I made fantastic grades on my writing assignments because my imagination was aflame every single day. I clearly remember writing a story about the "creatures of the universe" after reading the "M" encyclopedia.
     My tiny brain used the information about the Moon and about Mars to create an imaginary cast of creatures that could survive in such conditions. To this day, the story still makes me smile with the adaptations of my creatures. Eyes on the ends of stalks with breathing tubes externally.
      I can only imagine what I would have done if I had been given access to the internet.
       I absorbed everything in my path. I was reading Asimov, Poe and Austin in the third grade. My teachers seemed to indicate that I was odd. I wasn't attracted to the happy go lucky characters of my peers. I was attracted to things that made me ask more questions.
      My poor mother. My poor poor mother. I asked her "Why?" so many times. Why would people act that way? Why would someone do that?
     I have found that many answers create many more questions.
     For instance, did you know that certain vitamin deficiencies can cause the same symptoms as the early stages of dementia? Did you know that some medications have side effects that can also mimic dementia?
     Do you know how many times I have wondered if there is a tiny glimmer of hope that one of these things, one of these tidbits will help? Maybe just a B12 shot will give me more time with her.
     Maybe if we just adjust her diet a little more.....
      We are fortunate. This has been going on for years. It has been so steady. It has been so gradual. There are families who see a marked change from one holiday to the next. 
     We are so fortunate that we only see mild changes. She is floating every so gently.
      I remind myself of this when I wake up in the middle of the night, wanting to see her face. I just want to check on her. I just want to be sure that I see the recognition wash across her face when she sees me.
     I am so grateful every day that I get to see her. I still get to see her eyes twinkle when I tell her something funny. She still knows me. She still knows who I am. She still knows that I am a little goofy.
     I love the internet. I love asking questions and getting thousands of answers right at my fingertips. I love that I get distracted by an answer, open another tab and ask another question, only to be filled with more answers.
     I love her more.