I have a very wise friend, Josh, who has known for a while, something that I only figured out today.
Today I realized just how powerful music really is.
Michael is caretaker to his elderly aunt, who is 98 years old. She's barely coherent. Most of the time she doesn't remember where she is, and good luck on her knowing who you are. She sees people who aren't there, and has recently begun falling. She walks as if she's in pain.
I picked her up today, to take her out for a drive. Just some errands I had to run. She enjoys being out in the sun, and car rides always calm her for a few hours.
As we were puttering along (never over 58 with Ms. Pansy in the car), I looked over at Ms. Pansy and she turned and smiled at me with a very cloudy, misty look in her eyes. She didn't even know she was in a car.
That hurts my heart sometimes. Knowing that sometimes, a woman doesn't remember her husband has died, doesn't remember that most of her family has died, and cannot even realize that she's not in her home anymore.
This was one of those times.
So I gave her a strained smiled and asked if she'd like to listen to some music.
"oh sure, sure. If you think that'd be alright." - as is always her response to any question.
(Are you hungry, Ms. Pansy?? - "Oh sure, sure, if you think that'd be alright.")
I flipped on the radio, and tuned to the local oldies station, just as a catchy rock tune was ending. Ms. Pansy bobbed her head along as the beat faded.
Then the theme song to a Gidget movie came on. It was instrumental and very soft.
I glanced over to see Ms. Pansy's eyes had completely misted over. She wasn't there anymore.
She was transported to a time in her youth. Having a party with all her friends, laughing at the antics of her younger brother. Dancing with a young beaux in the garden out back. Her hands were twirling to the music and her smile was so bright. Her feet drifted over the floorboards in a dance pattern that her mind had long forgotten.
For a woman in daily agony to remember the slightest detail, all it took was one stanza to ease the torture. To put her mind at peace and send her to a place full of joy and sweet laughter.
The power that music holds...
I guess we'll never grasp the fullness of it. Never really see the vast potential that no one has tapped.
God understood the power of music. It's one of His greatest tools. Greatest weapons. Greatest defenses.
I guess only The One who created it every truly could know.
It humbles me.
~Bye~
"Accept diversity. Respect difference."
- Josh
Miss Anything?
Still kickin! - Sunday, Jun. 08, 2008
This year - Sunday, May. 04, 2008
Godzilla tans? - Monday, Feb. 11, 2008
Good times - Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008
To Doofus, with love - Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2007
