You You, Me Me, Wa Wa Wee

Our friend Pat took this video of Gregory. 

In an e-mail yesterday, she explained: "It's from July. We were fooling around with singing & you can hear him respond to me by going lower & lower. Even though he was not looking at me, he obviously heard me & responded. I think it was the same visit I got him going & he sang "you-you-you" (or yoo-yoo-yoo"  & then, when I said playfully that I liked that song, especially since it was all about 'me,' he launched into the opposite, a song "me-me-me."  Or at least that's how I interpreted it."

For some wonderful reason, Pat and Gregory and Gregory and Pat built such a huge bond in the short time they knew each other. 

At Lieberman, he loved his time with Manny his private care helper and friend, was a pleasantly surprised to see long time friend and housekeeper Halina at his side, was always happy to see me, and always pleased to receive visitors. 

But the reception he gave Pat always seemed to be the largest of all with verbal "Wonderful" or "Oh My Oh My" or "WaWaWee!" She was probably the most loyal friend in her bringing Gregory treats and surprises and visits.

I am grateful for Pat who defines what a true friend can be.

Hatikvah

As we welcome in the Jewish New Year, 5776, these ideas come to me.

There is something about this piece, Hatikvah, the national anthem for Israel, that always moves me to tears. For me, it holds the hopes and prayers of not only the Jewish People but also any person, any group of people, any country who has yearned and worked for the right to be who they were meant to be, to be free from oppression because of their beliefs.

Most recently at the Lieberman Center, at a Sunday Concert, the performer played it with gusto on our grand piano. Slowly you could hear the under current of voices joining in, sometimes knowing the words other times just humming. Voices weak, weary, confused, lost or otherwise. Voices strong, resilient, sentient, determined or otherwise.

Never overwhelming the music, but raising from the heart, from the soul, from the place where ancestors live; much like a prayer, to blend in with life, love, freedom, and joy.

CLICK HERE AND LISTEN AND WATCH

Celebrating from Afar

Today is Gregory's birthday. He is a Fourth of July Baby. We celebrate him with days off from work, picnics, fireworks, and birthday cake. We celebrate him no less today than yesterday, just differently.

I baked two pans of Brownies with walnuts yesterday and will put them in the staff office today, one for each shift, in honor of his birthday.

Yesterday, with Gregory's help (or at least he watched as I worked and explained) I decorated the dining room by adding small American flags to the flower vases on each table. Manny poked one flag in the back of Gregory's chair.

I bought three mini-bund cakes; one for Gregory- chocolate chocolate chip, one for me - lemon, and one for Manny - marble choclate. We will put a candle in Gregory's, sing the birthday song (he usually sings along,) and see if he will blow it out (if not we will help.) Then we will pig out on the cakes. Maybe we'll cut them into thirds and share the flavors! We will add boxed milk (from Gregory's refrigerator) to the mix.

I will tell Gregory that I love him at least a dozen times. He may or may not respond.

"Gregory?"
"What?"
"I love you!"
"I know" or "OK" or "Yes" or "I love you" or a laugh or nothing
"You make me very happy!"
"I know" or "OK" or a laugh or nothing.

He may or may not give me a kiss when asked. Sometimes he will lean in towards me and give me the kiss. If he doesn't, I will lean in toward him, I go in carefully because recently my glasses were accidentally broken when he push me away.

One time he leaned in and gave me a kiss on the lips while putting his arm around me. He finished the kiss backing off a little, looked at me me and asked, "More?" and we leaned in for a second kiss. He backed off again and asked "Again?" and we leaned back in for a third kiss. It was magic. Another Momentary Monumental Magical Miracle!

Sometimes when we go through this routine I whisper and he whispers back! So whatever his response, the message gets delivered up to a dozen times depending on the length of our visit or what activities we are pursuing.

So it will be different, but none-the-less important to both Gregory and me and Manny, as we celebrate his July 4th birthday today.

Here are some photographs of the occasion:

Here is a video of the Birthday Song.

South Pacific

So for those of you who are still waiting for my dissertation "Who is Gregory" it will be a few more days until completed. But meanwhile enjoy these videos of Gregory and his singing and his emotions as he watches and enjoys watching the DVD of South Pacific.

Senior Citizen Lip Dub

Made my heart sing:
http://lipdubtube.blogspot.com/2011/07/clark-retirement-community-lipdub.html