Cindy often dozes these days, but practicing the American Discovery symphony seems to wake her up better than most things I do. She even used to “sing” along with the lyrics I created for the Kindness and Joy movements, which always were touching moments for me. She no longer can do this, but Kindness and Joy still garner the most attention from her, probably because they both feature abundant slides with people smiling.
Working on the symphony has been my main activity as a caregiver. Practicing the symphony has been the main form of entertaining Cindy. I suspect that seeing slides of our 5,000 mile walk across the country, day after day after day, also helps her stay connected with the life we share.
After my “thesis adviser” for the project provided composition software, I am now on the home stretch. I recently finished composing the first movement, Beauty, for a brass ensemble and classical guitar. I subsequently synchronized the orchestrated version with slides and loaded that onto the Humanity Hiker YouTube channel.
Being active is one of the most important ingredients for brain health, which means the American Discovery project allows me to be a caregiver without suffering the common consequences. Having spent so much time on this also prepares me, in essence, for a new career to fall back on in my next life. I do not expect all caregivers reading this to start composing a symphony, but be mindful of potential parallels to your own hobbies and interests. If you can engage in a hobby that keeps you active, engage your loved one and prepares you for life after caregiving you come out of the experience all the better.
My “thesis adviser” requested I put together a brief to acquaint musicians with the symphony’s background and purpose before playing the piece. I share that brief here for those who have been interested in our journey. Please check out the link below to the new draft of Beauty, now with slides and brass ensemble. Let me know what you think.
AMERICAN DISCOVERY BRIEF
When my wife Cindy lost her job because of early cognitive decline, we resolved to reboot her life with a long distance hike along the American Discovery Trail. We walked over 5,000 miles from the Pacific coast back home to Connecticut, over a full leap year of 366 days. The journey lived up to the name of the trail we followed; we discovered America in ways few people experience.
American Discovery uses music, photos, sound effects and interviews to portray this journey across America. Five movements of Beauty, Culture, Kindness, Joy and Journey reveal different facets of discovery. As the symphony unfolds an additional theme emerges: a loving couple living life fully despite a tragic illness.
Beauty features a brass ensemble and classical guitar to portray natural landscapes across America, compressed into the arc of one beautiful day. The Serene start to the composition corresponds to early morning mists and pastoral landscapes starting a day. A Spirito middle section conveys movement of ascending through canyon and mountain landscapes, then descending along falling waters. The movement returns to Serene at the end with landscapes of lakes and sunsets in a winding down of the day.
(Other Movements in brief will be shared later)
Since the first time you contacted me on a political commentary, I have read with great interest of your life experiences. I believe that when the time comes for you to move on to the next plain of existence you certainly can have no regrets upon leaving this one as you seem to have taken a bite of this life with the greatest width and breadth possible. Thank you for sharing your symphony and your perspective.
Thank you, Joan. I try to stay away from the political commentary these days, with something more important for my focus, but sometimes I cannot help myself. 🙂 Live well.
Kirk…….what a beautiful statement to your and Cindy’s life together, and to our Earth Mother. And, of course, your music, the symphony you are composing….and the song of the robin. And everything. Beautiful.
Although there is only the similarity of circumstance, this reminds me of the story that Nicholas Sparks wrote, The Notebook. I read it quite a long time ago, probably while you were teaching at the HS, and I thought at the time that something like what he wrote about might be a good way to keep a loved ones heart alive and happy. You have done this.
Love to you both.
Thanks, Peggy. You and Anneke appear to me to be very much alike; I mean that in the best way possible. Live well!
Beautiful job Kirk. Making something beautiful of something so heartbreaking. Peace and love to you and Cindy.
Thanks, Kevin (does anyone call you Space anymore :-})
Ha! Yes there are still a couple of old ECSU people around who call me that. Be well.
Love your heartfelt music. I know why its touched Cindy so deeply : )
Hug that gal for me will you ?!