My mother-in-law has been in a benignly demented state for about seven years now. She probably doesn't have Alzheimer's but the label doesn't really matter any more. Her mind, lodged inside an amazingly nifty 94 year old body, is away with the fairies. Sometimes literally. Last time we were with her she said she had little people dancing on her hand. She's cared for in a nursing home that's as pleasant as such a place can be, and Mr F's two sisters pick up the slack.

So last weekend one of my sisters-in-law was on Mom Duty. She took along her iPod, to listen to while Mom slept and when Mom woke up she gave her the earphones and played her a little Elvis. And goshdarnit if Mom didn't start singing along, Can't Help Falling In Love With You . Word perfect. Now I don't know whether to welcome this news or worry about it. I mean, if she can recall Elvis lyrics, what else may be in there trying to find a way out?

And en passant, have you noticed that in novel blurbs there's always a character who gets more than they bargained for? Also that the only time people bid farewell to a place is in travel brochures?
Just an observation.