We get here, and Lou is singing. His caregiver Polly is waiting for the chorus when he takes a breath, so she can feed him. His pal Ethel watches him like a hawk so he doesn’t go full throttle, piss off the other diners and make trouble for them in their once grand, now fading old-age home. I think she is crazy in love with him, but that’s another story.
Lou’s song is a mash-up between a 1940’s pop tune and a keening Jewish lament. He stops singing and says, bingo, when I suggest it. Polly slips a fork of smoked turkey into his open mouth. Ethel insists, he needs to eat.
Lou is my friend Naomi’s beloved Dad. A few years prior, when her Mom, the woman he adored for 60 years, died after 7 wild years of dementia, Naomi was afraid the grief would kill him, but I’m here to tell you that this mystical, irresistible, old man is plugged into a swirling, whirling world, and he is still singing.
Lou chews slowly and smiles wide, a real dazzler. He has a great set of teeth, and he flashes them, a lot. Everyone at the table is entranced. This is the story of a man who has always been loved.
What’s the most important thing in life? I demand. Lou’s eyes shine because he knows the truth. Books. I am reminded that his room is lined, from ceiling to floor, in soft and hard covers. Ethel snorts. She’s deeply impressed by his brains, but she survived a holocaust and food is more important.
At 96, Lou can sing up to six hours a day, with breaks to chat, nap, pour over words and enjoy a tasty snack. Sometimes, Naomi wonders what it all means, but then he pats her hand, cracks a smile and she throws her head back and laughs. Lou’s darling daughter has learned a lot from his flow.
Read more about Lou and Ethel in Part 2: I Am Stronger than Most Men.
Read more about Lou in Living the Dream, Lucky Lou & the Garden of Eden and Lou Over the Ocean.
Photos courtesy of the man himself. I cannot thank you enough for your trust.
Meet Lou is Part 1 of SENIOR HIGH – a series I am developing about some awesome people. I hope you fall in love. Click here for more.
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55 Responses to Meet Lou
Lou sounds like an amazing man. My dad has dementia and is still taken care of by my mom. It is true love!
Congrats on your series!
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There is nothing like a good love story to make life worth living.
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Go Lou! I’m a big fan already. Keep going strong, Lou. You too, Brenda! Ez
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Senior High will need all the fans it can get. Go, Ez!!
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Touching, brilliantly written, made me shed a tear of joy. Love this series. Bravo.
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Tears of joy are the best. Thanks, Arleen. I’ll need all the help I can get to share these amazing lives.
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would like to express gratitude for the energy you create for a loving
sharing community on this planet.
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What goes around, comes around. Thank you, and welcome, Anna!
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Nice and tight. Aspire to that style. Every word you write is a lesson! Merci bien.
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The trick is brutality: do not write a single word that is not absolutely essential. Le plaisir is all mine.
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Oh, Lou. What a man. Some people come into this world already so special it astonishes me. I am, indeed, in love.
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What a man, indeed. The real deal. Welcome, Mary D!
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Love that smile! Thanks for this.
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The pleasure is mine. More to come!
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Allô Brenda,
J’aime toujours ton blogue !
Comme disait Kafka, « la dépendance garde jeune », ou quelque chose comme ça.
xx
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I’m going to translate your fascinating Kafka paraphrase: dependance keeps us young.
Contente que tu aimes. xx
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Singing at 96. Sounds rare.
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We sing spontaneously when we are kids; why do we stop? Lou reminds us that we don’t have to.
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Two things I can think of as to why. Loss of interest in music, and work/family environments that don’t allow us sing. I still sing spontaneously sometimes.
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Keep singing. I will, too.
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I am in love with Lou. Sadly, I know I can’t possibly hold a candle to all the dears probably lusting after him where he lives now, and I’m sure no one can ever hope to eclipse his dearly departed, but still… what a man! Thank you for sharing his handsome smile and beautiful spirit with us.
Looking forward to this new series. We need a little sunshine and a whole lotta’ wise words.
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I bet you’re right that there are a lot of people in love with Lou and I’m going to investigate! Stay tuned.
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Reblogged this on Nigel Alexander.
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Thanks for the reblog!!
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Thanks for the blogs Good quick reads for bed – Ha! Also early in the morning with tea
Bless!
Andy
Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2015 14:54:13 +0000 To: blackstarliner@hotmail.com
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Love it and bless you, Andy! Your music keeps me company, too.
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Fabulous. I’m smitten.
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Excellent.
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We have a lot to learn from our elders, and through you, Lou just schooled us on some essentials. Thanks, Brenda.
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We sure do have a lot to learn, and inspiration abounds.
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Lou shines! What a smile.
And what a beautiful first entry to your series ‘Seniour High’. ❤
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*Senior* oops
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Lou’s glow spurred on this series idea I’ve had on the back-burner for a while. Thanks, Karen! xx
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Reblogged this on http://www.pinpinfluda.cl.
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Thanks for the reblog!!
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wow nice pic
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Lou has the best smile.
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Brenda, I absolutely love this series! It seems to me?? That you featured Lou before? If not, somehow I knew he was out there, and I already love him. This is just beautiful!
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Lou is the new kid on the block and mark my words, you will see him again. Stay tuned for Ethel and thanks for your heartening support!
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These are some of my favorite! Just beautiful stories of remarkable people.
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Those were wonderful times when there was still such a hurry
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What a wonderful and inspiring person Lou seems to be. And so lovely told in this post, by words and photos.
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Lou is some kind of magic and I keep going back for more!
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[…] some awesome seniors and the people who love them. I hope you fall in love and tell your friends. Meet Lou is Part 1. Click here for the whole series. Much more to come. Stay tuned for Part […]
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Yes, I’m in love! I love anyone who sings as much as possible and thinks that books are the most important part of life. I’m already looking forward to more of this series.
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Music to my ears. Thanks, Sheila!
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Lou is 50 years older than me, and I think he has more life energy than I do. xox
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Well, he naps, too, he’s 96.
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I love Lou!
I love that you are doing this!
It seems to me that we no longer place value on our seniors – the ones who brought us so far!
People tend to forget them when they feel that “they aren’t as useful” to them as they once were.
I know they contain the keys to so many treasures!
I love visiting nursing homes and just listening to their stories.
Yes it can be sad and depressing, as any part of life can be, but also I know that it can be cathartic to meet and share life with these people.
Thank you.
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You said it all. Thank you.
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