Alzheimers--a funny name but there are few laughs for those involved

Diseases are not funny and there are few humorous moments when you or a loved one have a horrible affliction like Alzheimers.

That said, I was always struck by the name. Something about it just hit me funny. The name wasn't as bad as Rickets or Shingles.....both of which are really bad but sound funny.

I think my all time favorite funny name for a disease is "irritable bowel syndrome". When I hear it, I can't help but conjure images of someone saying, "Don't talk to my bowels today...they are irritable. You won't enjoy what they have to say"

Here are some other nominees for sad afflictions that have odd or humorous names.

Restless leg syndrome

Maple Syrup Urine Disease.

Tic disorder--has nothing to do with Lyme disease which is caused by a tick

Lyme disease which has nothing to do with Tic disorder which is not caused by Limes.

Piles, Gout, Scurvy and Tennis Elbow.

All of these diseases have difficult and sometimes fatal symtoms and they are not laughable in the least...but there are rare lighter moments surrounding them.

When my Father was first diagnosed with Alzheimers, he called it "Oldtimers Disease." For the first year or two it was relatively mild but the inevitable progression made life rock hard for him and my Mom.

One of the rare smiley times came about due to a telephone call to my parents' house. My Mother had just gotten a new "speed dial" phone. It was programmed with the phone numbers of my brother, sister, myself, and a few emergency contacts.

My sister was in the first slot and my brother and I occupied the next positions. My Father loved the "Speed Dial" and it greatly assisted him in being able to keep in touch with family and friends.

Mom usually answered the phone but my Dad reached it first on this particular day. Here's the conversation as overheard by my Mother.

Dad picks up and says, "Hello. You want to speak to who? That's my daughter you are asking for. She doesn't live here. She has her own house. I'll give you her number.........it's one....Goodbye."

Dad hung up the phone right after announcing my sister's number as one. He was beaming proud that he was able to give out the phone number. Mom, of course, didn't have the heart to tell him that the speed dial only worked on their phone.

There weren't many other fun times after that but the memory of that vignette always brought back fond memories after Dad's passing.