This has been a tough week in America. In light of the horror that 2 hate filled monsters perpetrated on so many innocent folks in Boston it's easy to lose faith in humanity. I have a young nephew who is a Junior at MIT and was so worried that he could be one of the unlucky innocents at the wrong place at the wrong time. Then...some light appeared during one of my Senior workshops.
One of my "students", Sophie, gets wheeled in each week, eyes shut, barely moving. I've spoken to her over the past 6 months and asked her if she enjoyed my classes and she has given me the faintest nod. I've never heard her speak. This past Wednesday as we were finishing a new song a young woman walked into the class. She was a lovely girl in her 20's wearing jeans, hiking boots and a t-shirt. She excused herself and kneeled in front of Sophie's wheelchair and whispered "Nana..." Sophie's eyes opened up and she had the look of someone who had just found out she'd won the lottery. Eyes wide open. She said "Where did you come from?" Her granddaughter said..."From South Jersey". Everyone in the room watched and one of the residents said to her that she looked just like he grandma. She said "Oh thank you, that means so much to me as my Nana is so beautiful". Then she said "Come on, Nana, let's go outside." At that moment Sophie suddenly stood up as if she was ready to go and walk with her, simply forgetting that she couldn't walk. Her granddaughter steadied her and after getting her back into her chair excused herself and wheeled Sophie out of the room. We watched on and the joy of their love blanketed us all at that moment.
One of my "students", Sophie, gets wheeled in each week, eyes shut, barely moving. I've spoken to her over the past 6 months and asked her if she enjoyed my classes and she has given me the faintest nod. I've never heard her speak. This past Wednesday as we were finishing a new song a young woman walked into the class. She was a lovely girl in her 20's wearing jeans, hiking boots and a t-shirt. She excused herself and kneeled in front of Sophie's wheelchair and whispered "Nana..." Sophie's eyes opened up and she had the look of someone who had just found out she'd won the lottery. Eyes wide open. She said "Where did you come from?" Her granddaughter said..."From South Jersey". Everyone in the room watched and one of the residents said to her that she looked just like he grandma. She said "Oh thank you, that means so much to me as my Nana is so beautiful". Then she said "Come on, Nana, let's go outside." At that moment Sophie suddenly stood up as if she was ready to go and walk with her, simply forgetting that she couldn't walk. Her granddaughter steadied her and after getting her back into her chair excused herself and wheeled Sophie out of the room. We watched on and the joy of their love blanketed us all at that moment.