Thanks to everyone who sent me a congratulatory note after my last post about my name change.  If I’d known it would be so celebrated, I would have made the decision earlier…haha!

Since that seemed to add a odd little dash of romance to the air, I’ll continue in that spirit here tonight.

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As I played music off my phone for Vernon in the courtyard the other day (and again today), I remembered one song that he had sent me when we first met each other (which would have been ten years ago this summer.) Of course I was falling in love with him so the song meant a lot to me, especially since he said it captured what he was feeling for me. I listened to it all the time, and I always imagined him thinking of me.

Anyway, I played the song for him, hoping he would remember it too. He may not have remembered it in the same way, but I could tell he was getting pulled into the song, and he kept mentioning how beautiful it was. I agree, even after all these years. Have a listen here.

It’s bittersweet how some songs stay in our souls throughout our lives. I’m thankful we have a few special ones between us.

Now…on the subject of songs: Vernon has been caught singing along when there is some musical group activity lately. Apparently it was at the Jehovah’s Witness weekly-gathering this morning, that he joined in song. Joe sat and played cards at the table, annoyed that he had to sit in the multi-purpose room through the meeting (which he doesn’t agree with) but he’d promised to stay near Vernon.  Later on, he told him.  “You have to get better, Vernon. You owe me! I had to sit through that meeting for you today.”

After I sprung their escape by showing up (too late, apparently) and rolling him outside, Vernon said: “I like singing.”

“Really? I don’t think I’ve ever heard you sing as long as I’ve known you.  At least before you came here.”

“I didn’t used to like singing, but now I do. I really like it a lot.”

Perhaps he is finding ways to heal himself from the inside out.

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One more story on the subject of singing.  Do you remember sweet Anita, the 95 year old woman who gave Justine a rose on her birthday?  She is often parked on the patio, near the roses. I assumed she liked to look at them and smell them. Turns out, she is singing to them everyday.

When I asked her why she does this, she said, “I don’t remember a lot of things, but one thing I did read once that stayed with me is this quote: “Singing to the flowers brings out their beauty.”

 

“The only thing better than singing is more singing.” —Ella Fitzgerald

 

 

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