Haven’t seen my grandmother for almost a week and as I came around the corner she saw me and grinned so big. "Hello!!" She said with a laugh and reached for a hug. "Let’s go to dinner," I said. "Okay, where’s my coat?!" She laughed again. So did I. It’s not that anything is funny exactly, we laugh because we are happy together. Her roommate Mrs. Owens had been in the hospital and was temporarily replaced by a woman who would scream through the night keeping my grandmother awake. Today Mrs. Owens was back thank goodness. I went to her and said, “Welcome back, Mrs. Owens!” She reached out and gave me such a big hug and laughed too. Can’t have too much laughter or too many hugs in this place. The days when Mrs. Owens sat with vacant eyes seem a distant memory. Amazing what a little love and attention can do for a body. Then, my grandmother and I went to one of our favorite Japanese restaurants. I asked her what she would want though we always get the same thing – “Anything you want, I want. I am happy with anything.” She’s not just being nice, she really is one of the happiest most grateful people I know. Someone today told me that I was lucky to still have my grandmother – I do feel blessed for sure. When we got back from dinner, I gave her a shower and throughout she said in Japanese – “oh that feels so good”, over and over from wash to dry. And, at the end, she hugged me so tightly and said, “I don’t ever want to lose you, I love you so much. Don’t forget me." “Not in a million years,” I responded. After putting her to bed and as I left her room, she told me to "be good" and blew me a kiss. “Sweet dreams,” I said. “You too and be careful.” Still the Grandma. Dementia or no.