I am the only one who hears about the money I've stolen or the fires that my boyfriend flies in from out of town and the assault that I inflict on her. The neighbors and few friends that venture over just see this sweet, quiet,maybe a little confused invalid. The never experience the insanity that for me is becoming more frequent. They never are told to turn on the heat when it's 80 degrees and then 5 minutes later be told to put the AC on 5 minutes later and then again with the heat and she actually gets mad at me when I tell her I can't run the furnace and the AC at the same time.
As to the heat and a/c. Just like our husbands often learn, "Yes, dear," is the best reply? So it was with a senile parent. I'll often jump up (if I'm not dog tired) to one of mom's off-the-wall requests and say, "I CAN DO THAT!!" with a happy face and a big smile. Then, I "go do it." Not. She's happy. I'm getting more trim and fit every day. ;) ;)