Dovie Sue

Dovie Sue is my grandmother. She's in the last stages of Alzheimers. In the past months she's gone from someone who could wake up in the morning, walk, enjoy food, know faces, have a
conversation, to someone who is vacant, distant, in pain.

Perhaps she understands more than it seems, perhaps, but I don't think so.

I saw her over Easter.

Her eyes are cloudy, vacant and I can just barely see the woman who used to run her own business, who would always say her boys were perfect and her grandchildren were too, the woman who traveled to Europe and even came with my Grandpa to travel around Wales with me when I was living there as an exchange student. She was a sharp dresser, had a quick wit and a big big heart. For years she ran "Young Togs" a children's store in Sylacauga, Alabama. As they said there, "there wasn't a child buried that didn't have something pretty to wear." It may sound gruesome to donate clothes for funerals, but Dovie felt it was a comfort to their family. She also made sure kids had clothes for school and recitals.

The nurses call her Lovey Dovey. They all say she's their favorite patient as she never has a cross word.

Alzheimer's hasn't made her mean, it's just taken bits of her away, little by little.

NYC

I took Annalise to NYC for Spring Break. We had fun. We walked, ate, saw shows, bonded, argued like an old married couple a bit, made up, walked, saw more shows, ate Ethiopian food, shopped, shopped, shopped and slept as late as we wanted to.
Annalise is really into shopping these days. I tried to keep up, but mostly I just followed her around and held things and offered my opinion outside of dressing rooms. I did try on a pair of Levis, after using their new computerized, "perfect fit" system. I stepped into this little round maching and a rod spun around my body and sensed my "heat sectors" and told me my perfect size: 6. I tried on three pair of jeans, none fit me right and one pair split right down the leg seam when I bent my knee.
We spent a day at Central park and lincoln center. ANnalise thought she might want to go to Julliard. We went to the lobby and looked at bulletin boards and scored tickets to a preview of new musical and then spent a long time looking at people in Central Park.
We saw La Cage Aux Folles(****), Brooklyn (**), Rent (*******) (this is Annalise's fave musical ever, hence the extras stars), and Dessa Rose (***).

Coming home, though, we found our flight was overbooked and after a tense, exhaustin few hours in line and in person with Continental customer service, we finally checked into a hotel, around 10 p.m., then got up again at 5:30 to take a taxi to our flight home.

Travel delays aside, this was a good trip.

I'm starting to realize that my kid will be moving out and on her own very soon. I'm so damned proud of her, she's amazing. Sometimes we drive each other nuts. Mostly we depend on each other, rely on each other, make each other laugh. Even when we aren't connecting, we know we're there for each other. I guess since we kind of grew up together, we probably know each other better than anyone else.
This trip made me realize how starry eyed she still is sometimes, how cynical I can be sometimes and how much I adore her.

SXSW

Inspiring, humbling, exhausting.
I WON a full pass to SXSW. Won it by answering an email, from these folks: www.talentmatch.com.
I'm glad I went. I saw some great documentaries, of all stripes and styles. I saw one intensely boring documentary, too, and one that was just sort of okay.
I didn't go to parties, I didn't do much carousing, I mostly walked and watched and had meetings.

Best documentary: murderball and devil and daniel johnston
Docs that are disturbing and important: operation dreamland, life without pain
Left me scratching my head: Giving it all away
Good for a quiet evening: self made man
Good to watch with your favorite teen and bible belter: Education of Shelby Knox
Slightly funny, slightly disturbing: Cowboy del amor

Jerry passed his test!

Jerry passed his driving test with a 100!

teaching jerry to drive

for the past two days, i've been teaching Jerry how to drive. A native of the Phillipines, Jerry volunteers at the homeless center, every day that it is open. Jerry is a wonderful guy, energetic, loving, patient. he's not such a good driver, but it's coming along.
We got smooth turns down, then went on to when to yield and when to stop. He can parallel park with the best of us.

I'm not sure how this came about, but come about it did. Now, I find I'm terrifically concerned about Jerry getting his license. Though tonight when we drove to the bus station, there were moments of sheer terror. I told him he's getting it and tomorrow he'll take his test.
He told me to pray for him and his driving.

homeless art and homeless camps

Today, Richard and I did some shooting in one of the cities homeless encampments. Beth told us her story and how she went from middle class mom to homeless camper.
Her place is pretty wonderful. A tent in the woods, a cat, some friendly racoons. She has a boyfriend, she's the only woman in camp, sort of the sage herbalist, the calm balanced one.

Later we picked up Joseph and went to the gallery where he sells his art. The owner, who is an angel, has supported Joseph's art since the late 90's. She has one son, who at 4 years old, was partiallly paralyzed by a drunk driver. The driver was his Dad. Her son is curently in ICU, struggling with a brain disease he picked up on one of his hospital visits. She said, "it's all up to God now." I admired her manner, her peace, her dedication to her mission to end drunk driving, her work with MADD and SADD and her overwhelming devotion to her son. Her gallery is beautiful.

Joseph, of course, loved showing us his work.

If I ever, even for a moment, think I'm not blessed, I will remember days like this.

Chips in your head

If the government planted a chip in your head, you would find it impossible to ever trust anyone who has any connection to the government ever again.
You might pick up papers , looking for codes in letters and numbers.
Your family would become distant, unable to understand you and eventually, they might even just forget about you.
People would laugh at you behind your back.
All you'd think about would be the chip.

at least, that's what Tony says...

into the woods

Tonight was opening night for the school musical Into the Woods. My musical daughter plays "Little Red Riding Hood." I play, proud Mom, awestruck parent, the one who watches the talented kids who sing, act, build sets, manage the stage and play the instruments that makes the stage a world. I play the grateful Mom who sings the praises of the directors who worked long days to make this happen, who put up with a masse of teenagers to help them learn, grow and create.
The show was amazing, and will be so for the rest of this week. I brought 6 friends with me tonight. Tomorrow Ill bring another, Saturday, five or so more.
It's a delight to watch this show, and not just for Moms.

Into the Woods is a great musical.
Annalise is a marvel.