Aug 29, 2013 - Carol Fitzgerald visit at Soquel Leisure Village

From: Carol fitzgerald <ceremonies@carolfitzgerald.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Aug 2013 17:55:32 

Hello all~
Visited with BAB at her new digs today.  Got there at 11, just after she and Beau had arrived.  At first she was weepy and expressed distress at the intensity of the changes.  and I guess the respite care place was pretty bad.

the people there at Soquel Leisure Villa were quite warm and friendly.  And i thought, genuinely so.  it's got great grounds...donkey and all.  Her room is quiet!!

At Beau's request,  I made several efforts to get Barbara Ann to open her mail; put things away where she wanted them...to no avail.

Stubborn chick...also, a bit like a feather on the wind at this point.
So, instead,  while I was there she made friends with the piano. Sang and played for almost an hour.  People began singing in the kitchen, and some even gathered around the piano, encouraging her on.  It was a perfect beginning, I think.

things I noticed or that she may need :
She's  attempting to address her inner struggle with the need to let go of control vs the urge to maintain autonomy.  I encouraged and supported her self suggestion of surrendering to it all, to letting herself be led...  yeah, right... :  )

She mentioned the challenge of remembering how to receive and send emails.  I suggested Having a printed set of steps for accessing and sending email on her computer, on the wall next to her bed.  Her computer wasn't there for me to look at.  Dorothy, do you know what email program she uses?  Could you make such a step by step printed doc?

Her memory/brain is challenged with remembering names of favorite songs to play and sing.  Could someone print up and bring to her next week,  a list of names of songs from Irving Berlin and 20's/30's

Just in case, I brought a tuna wrap and a salad from Trader Joe's.  She loved the tuna,  said she really doesn't want salads now a days.

I saw what they served  for lunch.  Don't think they're a five star, let's put it that way.

I stayed til 1:45.

she didn't want me to leave.  It was hard to go...

best to all~
Carol

Aug 29, 2013 - Barbara Ann moving to Soquel Leisure Villa

Beau is moving his mom to Soquel Leisure Villa this morning.

See http://www.soquelleisurevilla.com/

See http://goo.gl/maps/Fr7YV


We will post updates soon.

Aug 28, 2013 - Rob Gilmer's telephone conversation with BAB

From: Rob Gilmer <robgilmer1@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, Aug 28, 2013 at 10:16 AM
Subject: Telephone conversation with Barbara Ann on Tuesday.


BA and I spoke for nearly 30 minutes on the phone yesterday.  It was a very positive, encouraging experience:  she was very present, in what appeared to be full command of words, memory, etc.  
She seemed to be accepting, with considerable grace, the change in her living situation -- comfortable with the temp digs and looking forward to the more permanent facility.  She deftly negotiated getting pain meds and finding her headphones with staff personnel while she was on the phone with me, and did so with no anger or edge or confusion.  She laughed a lot.  We told silly jokes, made up even sillier phrases.  We talked of angels and Spirit. 

Though she's currently just minutes from Beau and the family, she allowed as how she missed them and was feeling somewhat isolated from family and friends, so regular calls are sure to be much appreciated and comforting to her.

I was more than pleasantly surprised at how strong BA's voice sounded and how present she was able to stay while talking to me.  I'm sure she has many ups and downs, even during a single day, but yesterday in the mid afternoon, we shared an extended 'up' experience.

Love to all,
Rob

Aug 27, 2013 - Email from Billie Harman to Barbara Ann

From: Billie Harman <bchbelize@me.com>
Date: Tue, Aug 27, 2013 at 6:22 PM
Subject: Re: Barbara Ann

 

Dear Barbara Ann, I treasure the memories of our last conversation, on our cell phones, when you were cutting flowers in the sunshine on the hill in Santa Cruz. And since then I have followed your blogspot closely. Also Rob has kept me up on how you were doing. His last description, not long ago, conveyed the same joy and love and peace that I experienced talking to you that day.

I was blown away though when one day, hanging out on your blog, I listened to you play "My life's been a pleasure".  I didn't recognize the shadowy figure at first, but then, as I watched,  I saw your beautiful flowing hands start moving so gracefully on the keys, and you were there, sitting next to me again, bringing life to your accordion. And grace to any of us fortunate enough to have heard you.  So young and so beautiful, so mesmerizing, so alive, so Barbara Ann.  

And then as I was already transfixed, you started to sing.   It was almost like nothing had changed. Except there was another dimension of wisdom and peace.   And there you were, that same beautiful voice, that music, that same love. That same joy.  And I cried. Tears of joy. I think that was the most beautiful song I have ever heard

I want you to know that I am with you in spirit, follow you on your blog, and I hold those memories of times we shared together over the years.  And think of you with love.

And I'm glad that you are in Soquel, where I've spent a lot of time. I think that is a very special place.

I love you very much,

Billie

Aug 26th, 2013 - Barbara Ann moving to new facilities

From: Audrey McLaughlin <amclaughlin3@me.com>

Subject: 6:40pm update
Date: August 26, 2013 6:48:53 PM MST

I just spoke to Barbara Ann.  She is calm and getting acclimated to her temporary surroundings.  As I understand it, she will be at this interim place for 2 days and then will move to Soquel Leisure Village.  Tonight she is at Pacific Coast Manor on Wolf Rd.  If you talk with her please reinforce that this is in a temporary stay and she will be moving soon to a quiet, residential setting.  She did tell me the people are very helpful. 

Audrey

Barbara Ann's Calendar

Audrey McLaughlin, amclaughlin3@me.com, has established a Google calendar for Barbara Ann so that the information about who is visiting can be shared.

Please let Audrey know if you want access to the calendar. Send her your google account so that she can give you access. (If you do not have a google account please create one by going to
https://accounts.google.com/.)