嵌嗝聰不緞『ⅰ５蔽易約罕浠匾桓魴『⑹保�沂悄敲聰Ｍ�芟蚰蓋濁闥叻襯眨�蓋自蚪艚艫刈プ∥業氖幀⑴吶奈業耐罰�嫠呶乙磺卸薊岷悶鵠吹模�揖突岣械椒淺Ｐ牢俊�
當我把這些告訴別人的時候，人們就會感慨道： “可憐的人。”臉上的表情變得沉重下來。他們或許會告訴我，人得了阿爾茨海默病後，大腦就會退化，甚至無法認出自己的親人。
然而，那些同情我的人卻不瞭解整個故事。我學會了接受現在的母親，並願意接受這個新米爾德蕾德的愛撫，她是我的母親，這個事實並未改變。我與母親之間的彼此瞭解已經深入到了骨髓，即使是阿爾茨海默病，也無法改變。
本文的女兒可能是不幸的，可是跟其他人比起來，她又是那麼幸運，因為她的母親還在她的身邊，她還可以愛她的母親。“樹欲靜而風不止，子欲孝而親不待”是人生最大的悲哀，讓我們從現在做起，說一聲：“媽媽，我愛你！”
To Love a Stranger
Sande Smith
A parent since she was fifteen； my seventy…six…year…old mother used to long for the day when she could just sit and do nothing。 No more taking care of the children。 No more worrying about whether there was enough money to pay the bills。 No more responsi bilities。
She got her wish。 Every day now； she sits in a nursing home； tapping her fingers on her chair in a syncopated rhythm that reminds me of bebop； talking to herself about her father； who died when she was eight。
“Mildred。。。 Mildred。 ” I say。
She looks up at me； her eyes brighten； and her smile reveals snaggles like those of a five…year…old。 “e here； baby doll； ”she says。
I rush over to her； pull close a chair； and sit down。
“Hey； Mildred； how are you？” I don’t call her Mommy anymore。 She doesn’t answer to Mommy。
My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 1984； right after I graduated from college。 While in school。 saw signs that something was wrong。 Often； when I would call home； she would be upset because she’d lost her money。 “Mommy never loses her money。” I’d think。
I fought the disease。 Through changes in doctors； diet； and medicine； and through the addition of Chinese herbs； my mother’s health improved。 She lost seventy…five pounds and regained her ability to converse with other people。 Yet； despite profound physical improvement；th