Not long ago, I went to visit myelderly Aunt Mary who lives in anursing home. Alzheimer’sdisease had taken its toll. As I sat besideher, my aunt stared vacantly into space, her once vibrant features frozen into anunhappy frown. She hardly glanced at thebouquet of daisies I had brought, and when I tried to take her hand, she pulled awayfrom me in fright. I felt a terrible sense ofloss, remembering how close we had beenand the confidences we had shared throughthe years, usually over a cup of tea in hercozy kitchen.