My grandmother's last sane words.
This might actually be a reversal to the question, because it could be interpreted as - at least momentarily - de-messing with someone's mind.

Over the course of the final couple of years of her life, my grandmother demented quite quickly. (We think that she had a series of small strokes, each of which left her that bit more vulnerable to another, and each of which made her mind evaporate that bit more.) Eventually, she had to go into secure accommodation, where she lost touch with reality almost completely. Oddly, while she couldn't remember who my brother was, she did always recognise his fiancée, whom I don't think she'd met while compos mentis.

Anyway: it was Christmas day, and my parents and I paid the dutiful visit to her. It being Christmas, there was going to be a big lunch for the residents; this would involve them going into the larger dining area in the non-secure, downstairs, part of the home. We tried to explain to my grandmother what was going to happen; none of it was going in.

Aware that nothing we were saying was going to make much difference to her, I tried again. Only this time, I explained - with great patience and in great detail - how the first floor of the building was built as a sort of concertina, and would be lowered down to ground level, thereby minimising the risk to the residents.

My grandmother looked at me.
"Oh, you are a daft bugger," she said.

It was the most clear-headed thing she'd said in months, and possibly the last clear-headed thing she ever would say.
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Fri 13 Jan 2012, 10:46, 4 replies)

My father in law
Only ever said 3 things to me. He was pretty much on his way out with cancer and ailzheimers when I met my wife, and he lasted about 6 months. You can see how our relationship blossomed, then deteriorated;

- First thing he ever said: "Thanks for coming to visit"

- Second thing, as GF at time said I was her boyfriend: "where's my gun?"

- Last thing, after I had gone over to his house at 3am, bodily lifted him into my car and taken him to the hospital, unfortunately involving quite a lot of pain. He was settling into his bed at the hopspital, I had parked and went back into his room; "Get out of here you mother fucker".

He was dead 2 weeks later. Grumpy old bastard. (Apparently he wasn't, and of course I understood . . . )
(username failed moderation, Fri 13 Jan 2012, 11:08, closed)

Awww...

Great post, and great reply above ^^^^

*Clicks all round*
( Pooflake braces for an onslaught..., Fri 13 Jan 2012, 11:43, closed)

Got my click
As my gran went the same way.
(Spill, Fri 13 Jan 2012, 14:00, closed)

My gran
Is exactly the same as this. I went to see her over christmas a few times but all she can do is make singing noises. Still she smiles to see me and when i talk to her i always try to talk about the happier times in the past. Its a dreadful state for anyone to be in. I just hope that there isn't a part of her brain that realises how bad she is and is screaming to get out.
Have a click
(andythepieman Is surfing the waves of indifference on, Fri 13 Jan 2012, 16:00, closed)