1 . When my grandmother, who had Alzheimer’s disease, went to live in the nurses station 5 years ago, I tried many things to keep her occupied. But it was only her word search book that kept her ______. Gradually, she began to think of it as her job and it kept her from ______.

Last night, when I came to her and said hello, she just looked at me ______. I introduced myself and told her I was her granddaughter. She seemed ______ about who I was. Obviously, she tried to find this word in her ______. So I helped her find it with fingers and ______ it for her with a pencil.

Later, I suggested we go outside, and she agreed. Then she was just staring at me as if trying to figure me out. I told her ______ I was her granddaughter. “Oh, okay” she said ______ but still didn’t really know. She just wanted to be kind.

And after we went ______ and I got her ready for and into bed, she told me to come ______ and we kissed and hugged real tight ______ we did for the first time. It wasn’t the first time though and sooner or later there would be a ______ time.

For now, I feel the blessing of the ______ although I have a sinking feeling that our days are numbered. It doesn’t ______ if the word “granddaughter” holds no ______ anymore — we are bound by love not labels.