Purpose

An interesting observation: When Gregory has a purpose behind what he wants to say, the words just don't come. Sometimes he is able to work out the details of his idea and other times able to hint or dance around the idea. On the other hand, when he just says what he wants to say, without any purpose, the words come easily.

He talks to the cat with no problem. Often he talks to me with no problem: "Do you want music with dinner?" No problem. ""Time for lunch." "I would like a frozen yogurt from Red Mango downstairs." "Bedtime already?" Spontaneous ... no advanced purpose ... no problem.

Formulating a thought ... problem! Yesterday we were on Navy Pier, in the beer garden, enjoying live music. Earlier, when we were having coffee and sharing a cookie, he was trying to tell me about something, some building on the Pier. He couldn't get any further so we let it drop.

Usually I sit and attend quietly with eye contact for as long as he needs while he works out his thoughts. This time he announced, "Oh I can't get there. We'll have to ask Roger." This didn't make much sense either at the time but I let it drop.

On our way to the Beer Garden, he even looked at a map of the Pier but to no avail. While in the Garden he was back on the topic of the "building on Navy Pier." I guessed a little: "Michael's Museum?" No. "The Ball Room?" No. "The Winter Garden?" No. Etc.

Finally he said, "You know ... the garden." "Winter Garden?" I repeated. No. "At our condo?" No. "The Shakespeare Garden at Northwestern?" Y  E  S!

I was then able to put the pieces together. There is a Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier. We have been to a few shows and they are always great. He was thinking that he would like to see one this summer. Apparently Roger had mentioned that he saw the review of the current Shakespeare play in the newspaper. Puzzle solved ... this time.