Nothing Like Friends !

For those of you that haven't yet seen Tal since his stroke or perhaps not recently, you might want to plan a visit.

It's not like these are his last days or anything like that. Goodness knows, Mom and I think he is in a stable place physically speaking. He is on hospice and has been for some six months now. What hospice means for Pop is that he will never be going to the hospital ever again. He is as comfortable as he can be, given his situation.        

One thing I've noticed ? Pop's friends have an easier time helping him get back to his old self than newer friends of whom he can be wary. It's as if he doesn't have to figure out who you are ! Seeing a friend, he can rely on his memory of what you have done together, of what he knows about you from the past. Imagine just how reassuring that is for him !

He knows he can trust his friends.

Trust is a big issue for Pop ! Trust is a big issue for anyone with Anosognosia.

Especially when Pop is not quite sure about new people in his environment. Why are they talking to me ? Are they someone trying to impress me or someone I should be trying to impress ? Where do these people fall in the hierarchy of importance to my situation ?

With his old friends, things fall back into place very quickly as he doesn't ask those questions. He just picks up from where you two last left off.  Even if that was twenty years ago !

It goes without saying that there is alot to get used to, to organize beforehand. Speaking one on one, sitting on his righthand side, allowing time for him to answer. Coming at a good time when he is rested. But it's all doable. And very much appreciated.

As you can imagine, for anyone with their intelligence intact, days that lack meaningful conversation are deadly indeed.

Dream of Flight Family Gathering January 2014, Romig House, Zocalo :  
    

Part 2 of Dream of Flight Family : Ken, Fiona, Suzanne, Virginia, Tiger, David and Rob  

Tal's World Today : Fall 2013

Yes, you ask yourself if you  would be able to survive the day in - day out life Pop has been living these past few years ?  I think its a little bit more complex than you might imagine. As his brain processes information differently these days, we think that this is probably the best we can offer him. A life where things move at a pretty even pace. Changes are not abrupt. Yes, stimulation ( visual, talk, visits, outings) but we always make sure Pop has time to  recuperate and adapt both physically and mentally.

What does his world, his view from the bed look like ?  A bit chaotic, but he seems to prefer it like that.  I proposed changing out the postcards for instance, he said no he wanted everything left just as it was...so we just add a new area as new things come in.

On the wall closest to his right seeing side, messages from friends, long columns of post cards, photographs of Endless Column out at Storm King Art Center, a menu from Sweetwater Harvest Kitchen, pictures of Tiger, Pops godson,  and many other friends and family

Two bright blue socks hang with the message : " See Tal ? The sky really does begin at your feet! " 
That's a famous Tal Streeter quote by the way: "The Sky Begins At Your Feet !" Oh those boys from Kansas!

At Pops window, two Ken Conrad kites (Great Winds Kite Co. Seattle, WA) . Tal: "You see that kite over there? I am almost embarrassed to admit how much pleasure I have got out of watching that kite fly all day today. It is so beautiful how the tails come down and twirl around each other. All I have done all day is lay in this bed and watch that kite." 

On the window ledge, Pops collection of rocks. In particular, rocks found in the desert. More on these later. 

At the far end of his bed, Bruce George has made a small model of a sculpture that Tal wants to put up at the Dream of Flight , Museum and Library. 

Near the window, a wonderful little painting done by an eleven year old artist, Chamisa Edd from Durango. Mom found that at the 2011 Indian Market, a few days after Tal's arrival in El Castillo. Chamisa and her sisters, have a great site which I hope you will check out: eddgirlart.com. 

Everywhere else : kites and kite paraphernalia ! Pop's ripstop ribbons of color, Flying Red Lines, a brightly colored Chinese kite, a red Happi coat from the flying fields of a Shirone O-dako team, photos of Roy Meuller's parafoils, all make what could be a somber place, something quite joyful for everyone there.

Pop has a television. He doesn't watch it. Mom has covered it up with a cloth so I'd guess he has forgotten that he has one. We sometimes watch YouTube video on his iPad in bed. Most subjects are flight related. Hummingbirds, bird, butterfly and all types of insect flight as well as the Virgin Galactic animations for future spaceflight. 

Always the dream of flight... for this man glued to his bed. 

L.S, September 28, 2013

Santa Fe, New Mexico