Notes from Mary Pat's Visit

via Reenie:

last Friday

When Mary Pat went in to see Alison (the first day that Alison was at South River), Mary Pat started prattling on with Alison, talking about this or that.  All of a sudden, Alison said (clear as a bell): "Shut up Mary Pat".  When Mary Pat got all excited, saying that Alison knew her name, and so forth, Alison said (again, clear as a bell) "Stop patronizing me".  Mary Pat was very encouraged by this, of course!

Also, while Mary Pat was there, Alison sometimes hollered out (not saying anything in particular).  Mary Pat asked why she was doing that, and Alison responded "I don't know".  When Mary Pat asked if something hurt, and asked Alison to point to whatever hurt, Alison said "I"m not in pain".  (We know that Alison often is in pain, but at least at that moment, Alison was able to articulate that she wasn't.)