Photography

I gave Sam her camera yesterday morning and helped her sling the band around her neck. She held the camera as if it were always part of her and looked up at me lovingly. She than gave me a gentle hug and kiss. She was very happy. It was a gorgeous day, so we went outside and we took a "hike" around the perimeter of the facility. Sam would stop periodically as her legs would get tired from holding them up while i was pushing her in the wheelchair. Each time we stopped I asked her if she wanted to take a picture. Sometimes she did and sometimes not. Her pictures were pretty good, and I actually can say that they are better than anything I could do. She is as we all know very imaginative and resourceful and so when the camera seemed too heavy for her to hold up, she leaned it on her stomach and aimed the lens and took the picture. I wasn't expecting those pictures to be any good, but in fact they were perfectly focused on her subject. After it got a little too warm outside, we went into the car and I drove through the "drive-through" window at McDonald's, which has become our habit, and picked-up a strawberry banana smoothie for Sam. She loves them and always seems amused when we do this. We then went over to Joan and Bill's apartment (where I stay on Saturday nights) and we hung out for the rest of the afternoon. I had already picked-up lunch for Sam and we sat and "talked" (I do all the talking, because Sam has stopped talking for now), took naps and watched some TV. She did manage to say a few words to me yesterday though, which was surprising, she said "I love you a lot, and I've been meaning to tell you this for awhile". She also said she misses me. I was very touched, and told her the same. When we returned to the facility at 5:00 pm (I request "day passes" for Sam on the weekends now, from around 10:00-5:00), there was a big crowd upstairs in the "living room" area, with everyone watching T.V. We parked ourselves in front to see what everyone was watching, and it turned out to be a Fleetwood Mac reunion with Stevie Nicks performing. Everyone was transfixed...I imagine because most of the people there are former hippies. However we too were fascinated. I asked Sam if she remembered that she used to do a terrific Stevie Nick's impression that would crack-up our friend Aileen (she always laughed so much it turned to tears) and Sam did remember, I could tell. She started laughing right away an mouthing very quickly what would have been her impression. if she were making sounds. We sat there for a long while and Sam took my hand to hold in hers. As odd as it sounds, it was a wonderful way to end the afternoon.