I found this poem among Mother’s papers following her death. Typed with her best Smith-Corona - on paper which is now yellowed, she had used her red ink pen from the classroom for her greeting and signature. The words entered in her handwriting were, “To My Loving Farmer Husband” and [...]
Americans have long turned to the soil in moments of upheaval to manage anxieties and imagine alternatives. My research has even led me to see gardening as a hidden landscape of desire for belonging and connection; for contact with nature; and for creative expression and improved health. . . . These [...]
In this concert performed in her living room, she is known as Deborah Henson-Conant. Introduced to her in 2006 via PBS performances on Saturday nights, we knew her then as “The Wild Woman of Harp.” Our DVD library included one of her albums titled “Invention and Alchemy” in which she [...]
“. . . people should have the death conversation, to talk about their hopes for what they will experience at the end of life. You aren’t going to achieve what you want unless you articulate it to people who can help you sort it out. . . . If we [...]
I first encountered the work of Oliver Sacks, MD, BC-Neurologist, in the early 2000’s as the “www” was beginning to develop. By this time, Mother and I had been finding great joy singing together daily at the piano for a number of years – beginning in late 1998. He was [...]
“Like no other writer, he showed readers how a compassionate doctor can treat the most misunderstood and marginalized patients by accessing their mysterious inner worlds.” – Delcan Fahy, Lecturer in Communications, Dublin City University Oliver Sacks achieved global public renown because his writings melded two particular traits that cut [...]
“The senior living field has long been ripe for disruption. While the pandemic is causing incredible stress and suffering, it can also be a launch pad for change – to move beyond ‘what was’ to an exciting new future. Join Jill Vitale-Aussem as she talks with Bob Kramer, President and [...]
We bear witness to the heart-breaking stories of adult children about their parents - older adults dying alone during COVID-19. Each one has a story cut short too soon - in the absence of family, loved ones, and a human connection. It feels far removed from a time when one [...]
Having a season subscription to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for 35+ years, I looked forward to the return performances of this guest artist. He became a top favorite performer on a long list of guest soloists. Yo-Yo Ma, the renowned cellist, was told at an earlier point in his life [...]
From the first to the last Chicago high-rise which I called home, no matter how small, I always found a space for a home office. Setting up and maintaining a second office to be close to aging parents would not be an impossible challenge. The goal was to pursue the [...]