For those of you who do not know Angelina (aka: Angie-pants), she is a strong-willed, feisty, loving, funny, and sometimes hugely challenging woman of 88 years. I know… God bless.

She has been telling Alzheimer’s Disease where to go for about 15 years now, and amazing me on a daily basis.

Well, Angie-pants and I had an appointment today. We get to the appointment, I transfer Angie to her wheelchair, and a man walking into the building holds the outer door, then the inner one. We get to the office door, and again… the door is held open.

Same kindness as we leave our appointment. This time, as I’m getting Angie into the car, a man asks if I need help. I don’t, as Angie and I have our dance well memorized, and carry it out numerous times during the day. He hovers a few feet away until she is in the car.

I decide to treat us to lunch; our favorite joint – Pamela’s Java Hut (in Fishkill, NY). I wheel her over to an available table, and as usual I exchange niceties with the folks at the next table. The woman sitting there says hello to Angie, and I inform her Angie has a very hard time hearing. She doesn’t give up, and leans in. I suggest she touch Angie’s arm to let her know she’s there. Angie smiles. The woman leans in closer to speak (Italian) to her, and Angie leans back with a kiss!

For those few moments, the kindness of this stranger brought Angie joy, and brought her out of the sometimes isolating world in which she lives. The most amazing part: she thanked ME for giving her that time with Angie.