Ｓｔｅｅｐｅｄ ｉｎ Ｃｈｅｒｉｓｈｅｄ Ｍｅｍｏｒｉｅｓ

Not long ago， I went to visit myelderly Aunt Mary who lives in anursing home. Alzheimer’sdisease had taken its toll. As I sat besideher， my aunt stared vacantly into space， her once vibrant features frozen into anunhappy frown. She hardly glanced at thebouquet of daisies I had brought， and when I tried to take her hand， she pulled awayfrom me in fright. I felt a terrible sense ofloss， remembering how close we had beenand the confidences we had shared throughthe years， usually over a cup of tea in hercozy kitchen.