Some of the issues folks with FTD have are compulsions or paranoia. The following is the still ongoing account of one of the issues we're facing with Daddy.
To put things in context let me begin with a backstory. At the end of school awards ceremony, Daddy was sitting with my brother & me waiting for the event to start. As we were in a school cafeteria, I suppose his mind wondered back to his school days. One of his favorite stories to tell is when as a high school Junior; his agriculture class built the school's greenhouse. The following year, according to legend, a non-legal herb was grown in that greenhouse. Back to the present day cafeteria, as a lull fell over the crowd, Daddy leaned over to my brother & me and said, "Hey, do you think they still grow.... " He was interrupted by my brother's shhh and me saying, "Daddy, we can't talk about that here." This all ended with Daddy chuckling and the ceremony beginning.
My Daddy loves to read the paper. He devours the whole thing from front page to the last. Any given week he can be counted on to tell you a recipe to try, if there is a house near you in foreclosure, but he delights in advising the who's who from the Arrest Log. To protect the innocent & not so innocent, going forward some names will be changed.
A few weeks ago I went to pick up Daddy from the adult facility; he's been attending pretty much daily. It was a bit apparent that he was slightly aggitated, so I had the dilemma: should I try to figure out what's going on or just ride it out. Well I chose the latter. That didn't last long, because once we were in the car, he opened up. Daddy: I just don't know what Ms. Suzy is going to do.
Me: About what?
Daddy: Uwilda (a worker at the adult facility), I read in the paper she was arrested, they searched her car and found pot!
Me: Really?
Daddy: Yup, she's got to be out on bond, I'm sure they're gonna come & pick her up soon and take her to jail.
Once I dropped Daddy off at home I called Mama. She informed me that Daddy is convinced that Uwilda at the facility is the same Uwilda from the paper - she's not. No amount of clarification, suggesting that there is more than one Uwilda (a common name), or assurance that the facility wouldn't hire a drug addict changed his mind.
Now we know why Daddy sometimes chooses to hang out on the front porch of the facility. He doesn't like the noise nor does he like Uwilda. Still what can we do about this? Mama and I brainstormed and we thought we came up with a great solution.
The next morning on the way to the facility, Mama and Daddy stopped by the store where they get a biscuit. Every day there has been a sheriff's car parked out front. Well the sheriff wasn't there. Mama went in and made inquiries, the waitress said it was the sheriff's day off, but what luck - he pulled up right then. Mama explained our situation, Daddy's disease and how we need to clear the facility's Uwilda's good name.
Sheriff: Hey Daddy, Uwilda at the facility is not the same that was arrested.
Daddy: She's not? No, she definitely is!
Sheriff: No, that facility is a good place. They wouldn't hire a drug addict. They have background checks.
Daddy: She's out on bond and it's just a matter of time til they come and get her.
After that Daddy calmed down a bit, but still was waiting on the police to come & haul Uwilda away.
A few weeks later, after no word about Uwilda, I picked up Daddy from the facility.
We're pulling out and he says:
Daddy: I just don't know what Ms. Suzy is going to do.
Me: About what?
Daddy: Uwilda, she's got arrested for pot and is out on bond, they're gonna come get her any day.
Me: No Daddy, that's not the same Uwilda. I read the newspaper and it's a totally different Uwilda.
Daddy: Really? Hmm, the Sheriff told me it was a different Uwilda.
Me: That's right.
Victory! Maybe we've moved past Uwilda. Last week I picked him up. Uwilda was there, Daddy was nice to her, made small talk - very polite.
Daddy loves to bake cakes, though he can no longer make them by himself. Daddy and Mama made a pound cake and took it up to the facility. Uwilda loved it and Daddy was happy. Finally it seemed we could move past the Uwilda issue.
Then Friday, Daddy's reading the paper again. Opened up to the Arrest Log & he gets upset.
Daddy: She's done it again. A Uwonda was arrested on disorderly conduct!
Mama: (she looks at the paper) Daddy, that Uwonda not Uwilda! It's a complete different name.
And the beat goes on...
