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It has been a week and two days since Gregory died, I will continue to process and post here. My guess is that there is much more to write about and I will continue posting until it feels right to stop.

Look for information about: 

1) the Michael's Museum at Chicago Children's Museum Memorial in the planning, 

2) the "Architecture Play" website and LEGO contest roll out in Gregory's memory by Ken Parel-Sewell, Amethel Parel-Sewell and One World Architecture,

3) the obit feature in the Chicago Tribune, written by freelance writer Graydon Megan.

4) private showings of the documentary "Alzheimer's: A Love Story," 

and more.

An E-Mail

Thanks for asking about Gregory, R. Gregory has evened out again, even if at a much lower level of functioning but he is happy and content. My experience with Lieberman continues to prove itself to be loving, supportive, and provision of excellent care. 

While I still grieve and will probably do so for the rest of my life, but I face each day with renewed strength and excitement. As you saw, I just published my second book of poetry, am working on the possibility of creating a second Michael's Museum which will be known as MCM or Michael's Closet Museum: A Large Collection Of Tiny Treasures in a Tiny Space. 

Am repainting the condo, making it my "single pad," and while do not want to be away from Gregory for great lengths of time am planning a future trip to Amsterdam and will embark on a few three or four day adventures, the first on probably to Quebec City. 

I hired a private care person to be with Gregory seven days a week from 11:30 to 5:30. That covers lunch and dinner and the time between. It helps keep Gregory active. While the aides there take good care of Gregory, it is not a social, interactive experience. 

With Manny, he gets extra exercise, companionship and help eating at meals, the ability to go to functions at Lieberman, ability to go down to the library and out to the gardens, watch movies (usually musicals) in his room, have snacks and his beloved chocolates, do music sessions with his iPod and earphones (as set up by Manny,) have massage, read aloud. None of which Gregory could do for himself but with Manny's help is easy. 

Also because Gregory is a "fall-risk" and because cognitively his brain has great trouble controling his legs and muscles, he is confined to a wheel chair. Normally he would have to always be with the "crowd" of other residents but with Manny his time can be more individualized. 

I visit almost every day and take one off now and then when I feel the need. Gregory's condition is much worse but his situation is much improved. My heart is light.

Love to you and N.

Michael

Update

I have been wanting to sit down and write you a long e-mail for a while so here it is.

Been a very busy time for us. We had approximately 40 people here for Gregory's July 4th birthday celebrations. He took in a nice haul of birthday dark chocolate and bathed in the attention and love that our friends and family brought with them. We brought in Italian Beef & Sausage on French Bread with au juice, mostacholli in a marinara sauce, and cole slaw from a local Italian Restaurant in the area. The chocolate on chocolate birthday cake was from COSTCO, $19.99, to great reviews. Fireworks were viewed from the living room, balcony, or lower level roof top garden. G and I were so exhausted that at the end of the evening, we put the food in the refrigerator and hit the bed only to be greeted by the mess in the morning.

After July 4th I went back to getting ready for Gregory's Art show. See the link at the end of the e-mail so you can see the paintings, the show's hanging, the party etc. Earlier, all of the paintings were photographed, catalogued, measured and described. Previously a "Hold the Date" e-mail was sent. Post cards were ordered, addressed and finally mailed about two weeks before the show. A web site was set up and updated every time a painting was sold. A price list was created for use at the show and it too was updated periodically. The show was hung on Friday July 13th, party refreshments and serving containers were purchased on July 16, the opening was set up on the day of the show. 

Over 60 people attended and the gallery was a-buzz with excitement about the paintings and with love for Gregory. He did well with all that attention and love. He sold close to half of the paintings. After the show we went to dinner with 10 family & close friends. Again exhausted we fell into bed and finished putting things and leftover refreshments away the next morning. As usual we bought too much but better safe...

Gregory has been spending time with his "Companions," one undergraduate and one graduate student, for over a month now and really enjoys being with them. Besides their presence allowing me to get away on my own, run errands, and just have time to myself to "play," the companions have instilled their "young blood" around the place and we both feel good about providing an opportunity for to earn a little money. 

G enjoys being with them, has become more assertive in deciding how his days with them will be spent, decids if they will eat in or out and also when to do nothing or to look through some architecture books or go out to Starbucks. He has been enjoying being a little more independent and it has been as good for him to get away from me as it has vice versa. As the MasterCard ad says, "Priceless!"

Looking forward to a visit from nephew and wife Mark and Colleen this weekend, and then niece Renee and grand niece Lily visit in August. My sister and brother-in-law were here for 10 days earlier in June. It was the first time they got to visit Michael's Museum. Obviously they loved it. I took July off from MM, will be there again on Wednesday afternoons during August as the featured "Maker" for "Maker's Month." We will help visitors make mini-books. They say I should expect to help over 175 kids make a book (I'll have three volunteers helping but I'll have to train and assist them as well.) 

Gregory continues to loose daily abilities but I continue to figure out the game rules and we are doing well. Thanks for the Companions because I can no longer leave him home unsupervised. I do pretty much everything for both of us and our life together. Don't mind but it takes a lot of energy and advance guessing of his needs. His quality of life continues to be high and he is happy and content. We are fortunate in our life. We are fortunate to have family and friends like you. We appreciate you!

Click here for link to: GREGORY MAIRE: Studies in Color & Form