This is one of those times that my various worlds overlap. This takes the form of a song I wrote and sang in my other

It was St. Paddy’s day and everyone at Bingo was wearing a green hat. We sat across from a fellow who was so jovial and

Before visiting my guy, today, I engaged in very nasty and dumb fight with one of my oldest and dearest friends, a guy I love

My 2nd buddy, the Jewish vet, has passed away. It’s hard to fathom that just a few years back we chatted with him about Boston

I need to clear up a bit of confusion that I caused. Morty, the vet who passed away was not the fellow I have been

Have not posted recently since the visits usually follow the same pattern: we sit under the tree canopy in the courtyard and sit, talk, or

Another splendid session under the trees listening to our most beloved gospel album by Doyle Lawson (Sing Me a Song About Jesus). Gentle soft breezes,

https://jonsjournal.life/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/doyle-lawson.mov A few weeks ago I posted about yet another session with my vet where we sang along with Doyle Lawson’s gospel songs. I proofread

My guy wanted to send a thank you video to Doyle Lawson for his video greeting. So I said, sure, and took a video of

Here I am in Israel which brings to mind a conversation I had with my veteran buddy a while back. We were sitting under the

On a visit a few weeks ago, my guy was sleeping when I arrived, which he often is. But this time when I woke him

Today was an inflection point. My guy was unable to speak at all. On Wednesday he was also quiet, but eventually sang along to the

My guy has shown a few sparks these last visits, after being nearly silent for a time. A few visits back he was looking intently

On this Veteran’s Day I reflect on my visit to the Dementia Ward yesterday. Have not written for a while because there was nothing new

On Thursday, I asked my guy if he wanted to watch some bluegrass on the iPad and he mouthed the word Yes. So I set

When you enter the floor of the dementia ward through the locked and passworded door, there is another further locked door to the right. That

For the third visit in a row my buddy has not been able to speak. For some visits he was asleep and barely able to

Things are stable with my guy, at this new diminished plateau. He gives me only the tiniest signs of recognition when I greet him, but

My ongoing journey with my veteran buddy at the VA may have ended in a way I didn’t expect. Last visit I asked him if

Last visit with my guy was the same and different. At the door, I could not just enter using the posted combination. Now all visitors

It turns out that his family’s interpretation of my guy’s wishes may have been wrong. And my interpretation of their wishes was also wrong. I

I am now down to one visit a week, for just half an hour. I am looking for real signs from my guy as to whether

Actually, I have no idea what is going on there. Not only is the ward closed to the general public, even family can not visit

There is a fellow who sits at the same table as my guy every day. They don’t seem to be aware of each each other,

Word came down this week that My Guy finally passed away. He lost his battle with Parkinson’s Disease at only 74. I have not been