I Love You

“I love you,” Brian said for the first time in August 1969. They are the sweetest words he has ever said to me, other than “I do.” Not a day has passed since that first time that Brian hasn’t said those sweet words to me. Now, with his Alzheimer’s he says them at least ten times a day. I get him his breakfast and he tells me “thank you, I love you.” I help him with his shower and he tells me “thank you, I love you.” I help him with his clothes and he thanks me and tells me he loves me. I help him in the bathroom and he tells me thank you and he loves me. I get him a drink and he thanks me and tells me he loves me. I never tire of hearing those words, “I love you.” It is the last thing we say to each other at night. Almost daily we see signs of Brian’s Alzheimer’s progressing....I dread the day I don’t hear those sweet words any more.