3:10 It was our routine three hour preparation time with the usual repetitious question, “GeVonna, where are we going?”
For what seemed like the nineteenth time, I answered, “It’s your birthday and we’re going to the opera to see Porgy and Bess.” She smiled and said that’s nice.
6:10 Since we live only 20 minutes away from the Civic Opera House I planned on leaving home no later than 6:30 or so. After making sure everything was in place earlier with Uber (so I thought), I made numerous attempts to get a car only to see several rate hikes on my screen. Each time I hit accept, but still no Uber…that’s another story.
6:45 It’s apparent, Uber isn’t coming. No time for a taxi, frantically I put Momsey in the car (that’s another 7 minutes) and head downtown. I tried my best to stay calm, but obviously it wasn’t working because Mom asked me a number of times if I was okay. I told her I was trying to get us to the opera on time. She went on to recite her customary prayer when we were running late (which for us is quite often), “Spirit of the Lord go before us and make it safe, happy and successful along our way.”
7:22 Somehow that prayer always seems to work and tonight was no different. When we arrived the usher greeted us with, “Six minutes before showtime.”
Favor continued, there was no one in front of us at the ticket window. I grabbed the tickets from will call and off we went to our seats-just in the nick of time.
7:30 Lights dim, the curtains rise to reveal a mammoth two-story set which is a depiction of the fictitious Catfish Row in Charleston, South Carolina. One of the residents, Clara started singing a lullaby, “Summertime” to her baby. All of the sudden, my mother leaned over to me and asked, “Where’s my baby?”
“Shhh,” I said, “The baby is at home.”
“He better be,” she replied.
My answer seemed to placate her for the moment, but I started second guessing myself as to whether I did the right thing by bringing her. Then it seemed from that point on she was really engaged-so much so, later on in the show she started following the surtitles and started singing along with Porgy as he belted out “I Got Plenty o’ Nuttin.”
I smiled to myself, knowing she was really enjoying the show-though once again I had to quickly shhh her so she wouldn’t disturb those around us.
Porgy and Bess is an opera that stirs lots of emotions. For someone with Alzheimer’s I didn’t know what she was thinking.
After making it through a really challenging intermission I was ready for anything, so I thought. All was well until the hurricane scene. Momsey became alarmed. She thought a real storm was coming.
“What’s going on?” She asked.
This time I held her hand in reassurance and told her it was a part of the show. In a child-like innocence she held tightly to my hand almost until the end.
When it was said and done, I know she enjoyed herself. Of course she did, it was music and she managed to stay awake for the entire 3 hours and 10 minutes.
Music therapy is known to be a healing tool for those with Alzheimer’s. It encompasses all genres of music, including opera. It’s the familiar. So there were bits and pieces of Porgy and Bess that struck a familiar chord. I no longer second guessed myself.
Happy 86th Birthday, Momsey! I’m looking forward to our next outing.
MOMSEY’S BIRTHDAY AT PORGY AND BESS 0
by admin • Olivia's Prayer • Tags: Alzheimer's, Civic Opera House, Music Therapy, Porgy and Bess on December 13, 2014
3:10 It was our routine three hour preparation time with the usual repetitious question, “GeVonna, where are we going?”
For what seemed like the nineteenth time, I answered, “It’s your birthday and we’re going to the opera to see Porgy and Bess.” She smiled and said that’s nice.
6:10 Since we live only 20 minutes away from the Civic Opera House I planned on leaving home no later than 6:30 or so. After making sure everything was in place earlier with Uber (so I thought), I made numerous attempts to get a car only to see several rate hikes on my screen. Each time I hit accept, but still no Uber…that’s another story.
6:45 It’s apparent, Uber isn’t coming. No time for a taxi, frantically I put Momsey in the car (that’s another 7 minutes) and head downtown. I tried my best to stay calm, but obviously it wasn’t working because Mom asked me a number of times if I was okay. I told her I was trying to get us to the opera on time. She went on to recite her customary prayer when we were running late (which for us is quite often), “Spirit of the Lord go before us and make it safe, happy and successful along our way.”
7:22 Somehow that prayer always seems to work and tonight was no different. When we arrived the usher greeted us with, “Six minutes before showtime.”
Favor continued, there was no one in front of us at the ticket window. I grabbed the tickets from will call and off we went to our seats-just in the nick of time.
7:30 Lights dim, the curtains rise to reveal a mammoth two-story set which is a depiction of the fictitious Catfish Row in Charleston, South Carolina. One of the residents, Clara started singing a lullaby, “Summertime” to her baby. All of the sudden, my mother leaned over to me and asked, “Where’s my baby?”
“Shhh,” I said, “The baby is at home.”
“He better be,” she replied.
My answer seemed to placate her for the moment, but I started second guessing myself as to whether I did the right thing by bringing her. Then it seemed from that point on she was really engaged-so much so, later on in the show she started following the surtitles and started singing along with Porgy as he belted out “I Got Plenty o’ Nuttin.”
I smiled to myself, knowing she was really enjoying the show-though once again I had to quickly shhh her so she wouldn’t disturb those around us.
Porgy and Bess is an opera that stirs lots of emotions. For someone with Alzheimer’s I didn’t know what she was thinking.
After making it through a really challenging intermission I was ready for anything, so I thought. All was well until the hurricane scene. Momsey became alarmed. She thought a real storm was coming.
“What’s going on?” She asked.
This time I held her hand in reassurance and told her it was a part of the show. In a child-like innocence she held tightly to my hand almost until the end.
When it was said and done, I know she enjoyed herself. Of course she did, it was music and she managed to stay awake for the entire 3 hours and 10 minutes.
Music therapy is known to be a healing tool for those with Alzheimer’s. It encompasses all genres of music, including opera. It’s the familiar. So there were bits and pieces of Porgy and Bess that struck a familiar chord. I no longer second guessed myself.
Happy 86th Birthday, Momsey! I’m looking forward to our next outing.