Shiela still Conducting at 90.....

Joy is possible when your mind and body no longer work well. Today I visited Shiela who was a colleague in Leysin American School 40 years ago. We have always kept in Christmas contact but not this year, she had had to go into a home. Another ex-colleague from that era visited at the same time and he brought Year Books with him. We had an excellent time reminiscing about those simple days of fun with the children we taught. Shiela remembers more names than I do! We left her in the dining room of the home, listening to, and conducting along with, an excellent pianist. She has not lost her sense of rhythm and, while she cried with musical emotion, I cried, watching her experience momentary joy, knowing she was slowly drifting into the solitude of Alzheimer's.

(In a café, still no internet)