Nicole Robichaud, a lawyer and caregiver from Ottawa, reflects on the sentimental value of a folk art calendar that has been a consistent Christmas gift for her mother for almost three decades. Despite the progression of Alzheimer’s disease affecting her mother’s ability to engage with the calendar, Robichaud continues the tradition each year.
Robichaud recalls the joy the calendar brought her family during her childhood in Toronto, especially her mother’s fondness for the colorful paintings, particularly those depicting snowy December scenes. In 2015, her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at the age of 68, a condition she had witnessed in her own father years before.
Over time, as the disease advanced, Robichaud’s mother’s cognitive abilities declined, leading to her relocation to a retirement home and eventually to a memory care floor in Ottawa. Despite her mother’s diminishing capacity to interact with the calendar or even acknowledge the images, Robichaud persists in purchasing it annually.
The calendar serves as a meaningful connection for Robichaud during her visits to her mother, who now spends much of her time in a state of unconsciousness or confusion. Turning the pages of the calendar and describing the artwork to her mother provides a sense of purpose and continuity in their relationship, even when verbal communication is no longer possible.
For Robichaud, the act of gifting the calendar goes beyond a simple tradition; it symbolizes her love, dedication, and desire to maintain a sense of normalcy and comfort for her mother amid the challenges of Alzheimer’s. Despite the heartbreaking realities of the disease, the calendar remains a source of solace, hope, and a tangible expression of Robichaud’s spiritual beliefs in the enduring connection between loved ones beyond physical limitations.