My cousin Buck has been in a "vegetative" state for 9 yrs, albeit without any type of life support. He is fed baby food by mouth, which he somehow opens, receives, and swallows, like a baby bird.
Other than that, nothing.
When my mother-in-law was dying of Alzheimers - in a hospital bed placed in her living room and visited by blessed hospice people - she, too, was without response.
About 35yrs ago John Prine wrote a song -"Hello In There." It spoke of the elderly who sit w/ no apparent response to the world around them, but were once vital.
John figured the "person" was still in there somewhere. That's how I feel about Buck and felt about Marion.
So, I visit Buck (and did the same w/ Marion) play my guitar and just sing - Old Time Hymns, Froggie Went a-Courtin', whatever I feel/felt moved to play and sing.
I don't know if the Buck I grew up w/ is in there or not. I don't know whether my wife's mother was in there or not either.
But I sing to Buck and I sang to Marion. That's my part. Since I don't, and can't, really know, I'll err, too, on the side of life.
If I'm singin' to a brick wall, so be it. But, if not . . .
The Rez
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It was a Beautiful Rainbow
A Beautiful Time in my Life
A Thing to Share
A Time to Care
To Be Alive
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