Paco's Irish Pub: the best baked ziti south of the mason-dixon line

So I've been in Charleston, SC for the past 7 days.

That's about all there is to say about that. I'll summarize the highlights: got to see lots of historic stuff (good), everyday was suffocating 90+ degrees with humidity which made the shade about the same temperature (bad), had a headache almost everyday (bad), smacked my hand down on a cactus (bad), and got scraped falling on some rocks in the ocean (bad), walked in a restaraunt where they were taping an episode of elimiDATE and didn't know it til we were walking out which was around the same time that my sister noticed that Elise Fuller was there somehow in relation to elimiDATE (odd). Not to mention my mom fell on the same rocks and got scraped worse than I did, and my sister got crapped on by a bird (on the face and in her mouth no less). I do have some cool pictures from the aquarium. I'll put those up when I have time some time. (See: when I get back to Bloomington.)

My dad got a call from his side of the family tonight. My grandma went in for another surgery or another part of her surgery or something. My grandpa apparently got lost the other day, and it seems his memory is starting to fail him. He's forgetting things time-wise. Like my dad gave the example to us that he might remember that there was a hotel up somewhere that he uses for a landmark/reference when driving. And he knew that it was torn down 10 years ago, but now he forgets it, and wonders why there isn't a hotel there anymore. Signs of alzheimers I suppose. My grandpa's mom was put in a nursing home due to alzheimers. She died there. I remember it. I cried a lot and did a report for alzheimers for my biology class in high school and ended up crying at the end of my presentation in class. I don't know if it's genetic. I can't imagine losing my memory. That's the most important thing I have. I have this feeling that later on I'll get it too. And it has to be so frustrating not recognizing things or being told that something happened when you clearly don't have a memory of it, or being told that you've just forgotten it. Not knowing someone's face. Not remembering your own grandson who just walked in and reminded you who he was not 5 mintues ago. Not knowing or remembering what is going on in the world around you. I guess it might be more frustrating for the relatives or friends, since you don't remember it, and after a while people just keep re-reminding you and humoring you. How much do you realize you've forgotten and how much do you truly believe hasn't even happened? My memory is one of the most important things I have. What's the use if I can't remember anything that's happened anymore or anyone who means anything to me in my life? Hopefully my grandpa won't be as bad as my great-grandmother. Maybe they'll find a cure.