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It is just the nutty things that go with the disease. Like, why did my father in law go into the neighbor's yard and beat a lawn decoration with a hoe? He was also VERY scared of the children's checkers game. Why did he start the tractor? You just don't know, but the problem is "What will he do next?"
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It's the gremlins, I tell you. They do all kinds of mischief here.
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Chicago, Oh my goodness! You have made me LOL! I have been rolling on the floor with the mental image of your dad trying to kill the little troll in the neighbors yard (I hate them too) or whatever it was. I'm sure it had it coming too! Every time I think of it again I start giggling & laughing again! Hee hee that is hysterical. Thank you for that! Your dad is too cute! Like Jesse said, "gremlins".l See? It all makes sense now. They're helping out by taking a hoe to those pesky little troll-gremlins! Always up to no good! And then, we blame our dads for stuff the gremlins did! Go on dad, get 'em! Hee hee. BTW, about the checkered board. Chicago, you say he looks frightened by it? I noticed that it can cause or invoke agitation in folks w /ALZ- type dementias. If you put a checker board on a table in front of them, you'll notice them looking very intently at it. Head starts to shake from side to side. Then, they will become more & more agitated by just looking at it, but will NOT seem to be able to look away from it. However, if you quickly remove the board, from sight, the anxiety will immediately begin to subside & then finally disappear within minutes. I learned that if the clothes I was wearing had lots of busy patterns, it seemed to have a lot of the same effect. I started wearing solid colors like cool blue which actually seemed to have a soothing effect. Very interesting, huh? blou
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The lawn ornament was a raccoon. So, he sort of knew it shouldn't just be sitting there.

And he was afraid of the checkers. The checker board wasn't there, but that is interesting that you say that. I didn't know it.

My mother in law kept him at home, way too long. She finally relented and let him go to day care. I don't know how long he lived, maybe 5 years. Good luck.
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bloujeanbaby, I'm sure it makes perfect sense in context. You may just never know the context.

My husband kept taking a lamp switch adapter off a lamp. This required him to get on his hands and knees and reach under the bed. It was no casual walk-by task. About the 4th time he did it I saw him at it.
me: "I thought you liked that new light switch"
him: "Oh yes, it is great! I don't have to reach way up into the lamp shade. I love it."
me: "Why are you taking it off?"
him: "Didn't you tell me you bought it for me?"
me: "That's right."
him: "Well, I sure don't want to leave it behind when we leave this motel!"

Ah, see? That made perfect within the context of his this-building-is-a-motel delusion. I assume other odd things he did make equal sense, but I just never knew the context.

No point in getting mad or making accusations. I think I would try something like, "Do you think we should put these handles back on the dresser, or would you like to pick out some new ones at the hardware store?" Who knows? The shadows of those handles might look like gophers in dim light! :)
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Chicago LOL! What a visual! Really the things they do make perfect sense to them, we just have to figure it out like a riddle.
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But, The handles never resurfaced I did find a pile of plastic do-hickeys that keep box fans from tumping over "Bam!" There it goes again! (So, that's why they keep falling over....) One day I came home from an errand & snuck in the back door & actually hid behind the door of my son's room, just to see what goes on when no one's around. Dad shuffled in & out of the bedroom. He placed some things on the dresser & took some things. Made about 5 or 6 trips from his room to my son's. I looked on the dresser & saw some patches for jeans.l went out & came in the front & I noticed his jeans had a hole in the back near the crotch & right leg. I asked told him he had a hole in the pants in the back. "I know", he said," I need to get some patches for that." I said, "Dad, I know where one is that would fit perfectly." I told him I saw one on Gabe's dresser and he said, " Good, now I don't have to by one." I figured it was one of those times when you walk into a room & forget what you went there for. I read that happens because of the doors separating the rooms is like switching to another file completely. Without having the previous file for reference, ( the previous room), walking into a new room is like a different file and there is a lack of continuity that causes us to forget once we've opened a new door. I guess it kind of makes sense. But, sometimes I get so tired of looking for things I will never, ever find. If he does remember stuff, he doesn't admit it. Where are the handles? He just says, "I don't know. Were they there before? When did you see them last?" I said, "Right before I went to work, Dad." Then, he just starts w/ the usual, " Well, I don't know! Why would I take your handles.....?" Same old thing. If I had a dime for the every hour I search in vain, I'd be filthy, stinkin' RICH by now!
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I FOUND THE HANDLES! Yay! They were in each of the drawers way in the back with what's left of my sanity....Hee hee heeeee
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