Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: CLOWN (02/13/20)
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TITLE: Love, Laughter and Heartache | Previous Challenge Entry
By Barbara Culler
02/18/20 -
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A few months later, husband Johnny joined the group. He appeared more serious-minded, yet uttered poker-faced wise cracks. Comparatively, he was Oliver Hardy to CindyLou’s Stan Laurel of the old-time comedy duo. Now in their 40th year of marriage, the couple engaged in good-natured bickering during the meeting, all the while holding hands.
The two were high school sweethearts, marrying the day after graduation. Being young and naive, CindyLou anticipated a fairy-tale life; therefore, the wedding took place alongside Snow White’s Wishing Well at Disneyland. She wore a long white gauzy dress and knee-high purple boots, coordinating with Johnny’s white pants and long sleeved purple striped shirt.
Recounting a funny memory from the wedding, she had us in stitches.
“When the preacher said that Johnny could kiss his bride, I declared that I wanted him to kiss me over the wishing well. He climbed up one side of the structure, and I climbed up the opposite side.”
Pausing from her narrative, CindyLou gulped from her water bottle. Buuuuurpp! She let out a long, loud belch. We chuckled as Johnny picked up the story.
“So yeah, I was concerned about getting my pants dirty, but thought why not, this was the best day of my life, and man, was that kiss amazing!”
We laughed as Johnny waggled his eyebrows, planting a kiss on CindyLou’s cheek. Grabbing his right hand, she continued her tale.
“When I could no longer breeeeaaaathe, I pulled away, but my boot got caught up in my dress, and I started to fall.”
Gasping, we listened in rapt attention to what happened next.
“Well, you see, the well’s not that wide—like I am now, so we didn’t fall in. Johnny’s mom helped me get down, but my purple daisy headpiece took a dive!”
Johnny piped up: “Yeah, well I lost my sunglasses, so wore pink Mickey Mouse shades that clashed with my shirt.”
We loved hearing stories from the fun-loving couple, and over the next few months, learned more about their life. They raised three children, and at age 50, Johnny survived a serious heart attack. Two years later, CindyLou was diagnosed with diabetes. Adding to their stress levels, Johnny’s mother lived with them following her diagnoses of Alzheimers, dying shortly after placement in a nursing home.
Not long after her mother-in-law’s death, CindyLou began exhibiting her own symptoms of confusion: having minor car accidents because she forgot how to get home, and not remembering how to accomplish simple tasks. She gave up her volunteer work feeding the homeless, and often missed church due to melt downs while getting dressed. At age 58, medical tests indicated early onset Alzheimers.
As CindyLou’s condition worsened, Johnny took care of her physical needs, bringing her to our group when possible, but the crazy lady we knew and loved was no more. Instead of clowning around, she was often combative, inappropriately speaking, or asleep in her wheelchair. Her once-expressive hair style now limp gray strands, and she wore easy-to-use muumuus.
The year CindyLou turned 63, aggressive behaviors associated with dementia and uncontrolled diabetes demanded her placement in a locked care facility. She lost weight and blood sugar levels evened out, but she stopped recognizing her husband and adult children. Broken-hearted, Johnny watched his cherished bride deteriorate to the point she forgot how to swallow. One morning, she choked on food and her life slipped away.
That was three years ago; the wedding ring remains on Johnny’s finger. He presses on with life, attending our meetings, cracking jokes and recalling stories of his wife. Yet his eyes hint at deep sadness.
CindyLou’s hilarious outlook on life drew us all a bit closer as we laughed at her shenanigans, while appreciating the sweet interaction between her and Johnny. Needless to say, we miss the fun-loving woman with purple hair, who loved Disneyland, and had a heart of gold. And we will never forget her.
Based on a true story
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