This week, in class, we discussed the importance of telling stories. My great aunt tells stories with such vivid details that it makes you feel like you are in the story. My aunt, Ruthie, has always lived with her best friend, Mary, for many years. Though Mary is not my real aunt, I consider her one. Both Mary and Ruthie have always been there for me.
   A few years back, Auntie Mary was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. She lived with Ruthie for a majority of the disease, until she could not. Now, Mary is living in a nursing home and Ruthie has moved from her house in Randolph, MA to Halifax, MA near my family. This was a whole lifestyle change for everyone involved.
  Ruthie was no longer spending every single day with her very best friend. Instead, she would go visit Mary when she could. Visiting Mary became her new life. My family and I were busier than Ruthie, as we had school and work. It was harder for us to see Mary, however Ruthie made it feel like we saw her every time she did.
   Every night, Ruthie comes to our house for dinner. While we eat, she goes over her visit with Mary that day. She will literally tell us every single thing that happened while she was there, down to the flavor of ice cream the patients ate. These daily stories allowed us to feel as though we were there with Ruthie and Mary again. She lets her remain in our memory through these stories. Some days they are boring, but we still listen. We still enjoy hearing about Auntie Mary. Although these stories are amazing, it still does not beat finally visiting Auntie Mary in person.