This time Gregory was very tired so he seemed to be even less engaged. We got him into his painting shirt, put his hands into the latex gloves, and tried to paint.
He really had a hard time moving his hands and/or arms around today. When we would suggest, "OK, paint!" his hand would twitch but he just didn't seem able to control any movement.
At one point Katharine got a Rain Stick from the other side of the art room. She turned it over a few times. The soothing sound of the seeds inside the stick, sounding like gentle rain on a metal roof, caused Gregory to open his eyes and look at the stick with wonder.
We put the stick into his hands, me controlling his left hand and Katharine controlling his right hand and we tipped the stick back and forth. Gregory continued to look at it in wonder.
At one point he tightened his hands on the stick while we still moved it up and down. Then he grabbed it on his own, put it in a vertical position, and lifted it to his mouth. He put it into his mouth, just resting there, not trying to eat it or anything.
I stared to move it away from his mouth and he distinctly told me, "Don't. Stop." So I did. He sat there with it in his mouth in what felt like a "Holy Moment." Not sure what he was feeling or thinking, but it felt magical, spiritual, important.
We asked, "Do you like the sound of the stick?" and he replied, "Yes."
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" and he replied, "Yes."
Eventually he let us remove the Rain Stick and we tried to get back to painting. While he wasn't to able to move his fingers/hands through the paint, I had the feeling that he was "painting" in his mind.
He enjoyed the session, for who knows what reasons, but he did enjoy himself and that was what counted.
Again, Katharine and I periodically glanced at each other and shared a controlled tear or two.
Painting Set-Up
Today's attempt at painting. Not too productive.
Katharine and I made most of the moves shown here.
Gregory and the Rain Stick
Katharine and Gregory and the Rain Stick
Week Two painting number one.
Week Two: painting number two.
Week Number One
You both are so awesome. You, because of your perseverance, and Gregory because of the small windows he is still able to open. But actually you are both awesome because of the depth of love that exists between you, one love more conscious, one more zen. I love you guys.
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