How the Aged Become Demanding

My parents suggest all seniors become demanding as they age; I disagree. The matriarch is demanding and her views are hardly unique, however, I prefer to think there are seniors different from her, who enjoy life and still see the world and share it. I would like to think the matriarch could choose not to continue to live this way. She could be happier.

In two days, we go to see the eye specialist and he is not a very nice man; he does not have a way with people, let alone very old seniors. The eye looks good to me; it doesn't weep, the matriarch gets her drops, and whenever we drive with the window down a bit, she puts on sun glasses. I doubt very much he'll tell us good news. I know the matriarch's sight has further declined and we now play a game of guessing what she can see and pretending when she cannot. I cut up her food most nights and she has her own set of salt and pepper shakers so she always knows where they are. The table is always set the same way so she can manoeuvre her setting pieces and know where things are. Although, despite my habits, I also suspect the mother-in-law of having an autonomic memory; even my husband finds it hard to believe she can find her way around the house, the grocery store and the doctor's office with her sight. She must remember every place to which she has been. I think we are both dreading Thursday's visit. When the doctor confirms the reality of blindness, the truth is going to be hard to swallow.