The Beechwood Home is a special place to me. For the last decade, I've been sharing musical space with the wonderful residents and staff of this care facility . I have friends there.
I had the honor to present Christmas music and other soulful favorites for their 2021 Holiday event on December 13th 2021.
The Beechwood Home is an long-term care facility specializing in neurological disorders which include but are not limited to those with a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Huntington's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, ALS and those who have suffered a stroke.
I simply love sharing music at this place! They give me more than anything I could ever give them. I always feel an unspoken vibration of love and kindness from the moment I enter this home
For the last decade, I've been invited in to perform for the residents and staff. They love the music. They bathe in the sound of the baby grand piano. The music takes them to places they been before. It transports them for an hour.
Most don't talk and are non verbal. The ones who do talk do so with much labor. What they can't do with words, they make up for with smiles. Their eyes light up with the warmth of a candle.
We do the things together that words can't express anyways. We giggle together, we cry together, and most of all, we smile.
I hope they know that they give me so much more than I can ever give them.
When It's time to leave, I never want to go. After the performance, I get a chance to go hold hands and listen. Words are a chore for them. Sometimes it takes a long time for them to complete one sentence, so they choose all words with great intention.
If we all chose our words that carefully, our world would be a more peaceful, loving, and better place.
I love this place. I have friends there. I learn so much every time I perform there. I become a better listener. I get a chance to see what courage looks like in real life.
I would like to thank activities director Megan Randolph for inviting me to performance multiple time per year at Beechwood. Megan is an angel and she does God's work.
I also want to thank saxophonist Matthew Irvin for joining me for this years Christmas program.
I love The Beechwood home, and look forward to sharing there in 2022!
To learn more about The Beechwood Home, please visit:
https://www.beechwoodhome.com/
