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My father was locked in on an Alzheimer’s unit of a nursing home.
I asked my mother “how will I know when to leave?”
“You’ll know,” she told me.
So I went. Dad was playing cards with a woman and a man.

I said “Hi Dad!” and the woman jumped up, gave a loud screech and ran off.
I found out later that it is his girlfriend there, he thinks they get married sometimes.
He has told my mother this more than once.
Bob stayed with my Dad.

I could tell that Dad knew that he knew me, but he was not sure how.
There was a flicker of recognition. He gave me a half smile.
He had my Daddy’s face, but he was not totally my Daddy now.
Bob said “Hey, Dick, can I get you a sweater?” Dad nodded.

Bob wandered off, and a guy in a weird walker scooted behind me.
“Duh! Duh! Duh! Duh! Duh! Duh!” He chanted in my ear.
A woman in a house dress came over and said “What’s wrong with you?”
She proceeded to lambast him “Are you retarded? Stop that!”

“Duh! Duh! Duh! Duh! Duh! Duh!” Dad and I smiled at each other.
A nurse wheeled the guy away, and the woman left.
I asked Dad if he wanted to go outside. He loves the outdoors.
“I want to go home,” he said. “Take me home.”

I was there for two hours. He asked me to take him home twenty-six times.
I felt sad, but knew he could not go home. He was a danger to Mom now.
He had threatened to kill her. And he had many guns. One was missing.
Mom was right. I knew when to leave. When he no longer responded to me.

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