Mum doesn't remember many things. If I'm lucky, some days she might remember my name.

She looked at me this morning and said "Once you were a little boy, but now you're grown up. The time went so quickly."

Then she added, "When you start out, life is nice. Then it gets hard. And now... it's beautiful."

I was surprised and asked "why is it beautiful?"

She said "Because I have this beautiful man, and I have so many people who love me. It's just beautiful!"

I was gobsmacked. How can someone who has lost large parts of her cognitive ability still have such a large ocean of meaning in her life?

I teared up. So did Dad. I know Mum has lived a good life because even though she has lost a lot, and has been through a lot, what remains is simply... love.

We're so fortunate to have her in our lives.