Things have been a little tougher lately on this journey. After a recent illness, Mitzi has become increasingly more anxious and fearful at times. Sometimes, the best medicine is just to take her on a Hug Parade. I tell her that we have a job to do and it’s to go spread Mitzi Sunshine all over town to cheer people up. Generally, it works to help keep her focused on a purpose. And we’ve done it many times over the years. Sometimes, lately, even that purpose doesn’t help so much. Regardless, we’ve just been driving around and visiting friends for short chunks of time. I know there will come a day, perhaps in the not-so-distant future, when it won’t be so easy to get her out and about, so these Hug Parades, even if they seem silly, are so important. Plus, Mitzi still gives the best hugs around…that is one thing Alzheimer’s isn’t allowed to steal!
On one of our parade routes, we got into a conversation about whether they have hugs in Heaven. The topic has come up before and Mitzi always says, “There has to be.” I jokingly told her that whenever she gets there and she hands the guy at the Gate her resume, I hope it says Expert Hugger at the top of her skills. I’m pretty sure that she could get the job as Heaven’s Head Hugger someday. She smiled and reached over to squeeze my hand with some happy tears in her eyes. I told her that until she gets to interview for that position, she will just have to stay down here and practice, practice, practice…????????
