He was a big classical music fan

The brain does funny things as Dementia sets in

My father lost his ability to read a map

He stopped being able to swim

But knew the name of the Vienna State Opera House

We memorise music differently in our heads

Dad insisted he could still hear his favourite music in his head

Mozart, Wagner, Schubert, Puccini …. 

When he was alive we got a call from the nursing home, they were concerned

Dad was sitting in his chair waving his arms around

When we asked him about this he said “I’m conducting” 

He had always wanted to be a conductor

And in his head, he was conducting his favourite classical pieces 

We asked him “will you know when it’s time to go?”

And he said, “Yes, when the music stops”.