Mimi was my maternal grandmother. I should say, rather, that she still is my maternal grandmother, though she has that role in my life from her vantage point of being deceased. Just because she is dead, that doesn't make her not my grandmother.
Mimi and I were not close and there is a reason for that. She is dead, and there is a reason for that too; I mean a reason beyond the idea that we will all die, one day.
Mimi was crazy, literally. She was a paranoid schizophrenic. She didn't have a mild case either, if such a thing exists. For example, if she heard a Beetles song playing over the super market sound system, she'd begin screaming and run helter skelter for the door. She was certain that the Beetles were out to get her.
I am writing about her to try to make sense of my own life, and hers. I believe I know why she became so mentally ill. I hope in telling her story -- and my own -- that the two of us can provide answers for others who suffer from their own minds (and bodies) that fail them or even stalk them, as Mimi's mind did to her.
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Hi Annie, Linda sent me! We have much in common, including Linda. I love your writting and as I explore the Gluten Thing as we call it I think back and there are signs everywhere. My grand mother too was crazy for as long as I knew her yet my mother insists there is no one in the family who has/had gluten issues. Let's see mother-arthritis, thyroid issues, osteopenia/porosis, migraines, infertility, cancer, nope nothing there! Father died of lymphoma, often related to Celiac Disease. It was his mother that was crazy. Again, nothing. Looking forward to your story as it unfolds.
ReplyDeleteHi Judy. Thank you so much for your post! I am writing it precisely to get in touch with others who have suffered from gluten. I am so sorry to hear of the physical ailments in your family. It can be crazy-making when you feel your family isn't listening and won't make a diet change that could curtail and even cure health concerns.
ReplyDeleteDo your ancestors come from northern Europe? I have been reading that people from those areas have a lot higher rate of Celiac's Disease, though gluten problems can affect anyone.
Are you now gluten free? I have been trying to d0 that since April of this year but I keep accidentally getting some nearly every week. You sound like you have really looked into this issue and I look forward to getting more comments and insight from you.
Hi Anne, yes, Swedish, French, German, English. Been GF now for about 4 years. Was really tough in the beginning but has gotten much easier. Hang in!! It is overwhelming at first how many foods contain Gluten or "hidden" gluten. Being vegetarian makes things more difficult but new products are appearing all the time. Plus I do cook so that's easy enough. We have had to decrease our restaurant choices of course to those we know and trust. Slowly more are getting on board but that is one steep learning curve!
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