Robin Russell Gaiser
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Events
  • Blog
  • Open for Lunch
  • Musical Morphine
  • Music
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Events
  • Blog
  • Open for Lunch
  • Musical Morphine
  • Music
  • Contact

Blog

Stay tuned: New story

4/12/2017

0 Comments

 
"Buffalo Plaid' was excluded from my book, MUSICAL MORPHINE: Transforming Pain One Note at Time," not because my editor didn't like it, but because I needed to cut a little in a particular chapter. The story takes place one winter in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York when I was working at Mountain Valley Hospice as a Certified Music Practitioner. The story has never been published, although I have submitted it for inclusion on a music website.

As an author, since I never toss anything I write, I am gifting "Buffalo Plaid" to you. Enjoy.
Picture
Music will often accompany the following story so watch for the red "Listen" tab each week to hear it. I'll have some photos as well.
​
0 Comments

Buffalo Plaid

4/11/2017

0 Comments

 
Doug sat alone in his Hospice room, seated in a beige recliner, staring out the window at the snowy woods. His door was wide open. The television was off, no radio played. He was not reading or working a puzzle or talking on the phone. When I knocked lightly on his door he looked up with a response that surprised me.
Picture

What does the setting in Doug's room suggest to you about this man? What response do you think he surprises me with?

0 Comments

Missing Fingers

4/10/2017

0 Comments

 
I looked more closely at Doug and saw missing fingers on the hand lying across his lap.
Any more ideas about Doug's working life?
0 Comments

Dangerous Work

4/9/2017

0 Comments

 
Lumberjack, I thought.
Can I be sure of this thought?
0 Comments

In the Woods

4/8/2017

0 Comments

 
​The vast unforgiving Adirondack Mountains harbored many a hard-living man eeking out a meager living in the woods just five hours north of hurried, crowded, sophisticated New York City. ​
What does the mention of New York conjure up for you?  Thought so.  Most people think New York means New York City. 
0 Comments

Keeping my distance

4/7/2017

0 Comments

 
I approached the solitary man slowly. Keeping my distance, I pulled out my harmonica, showed it to him and began playing "Git Along Home, Cindy, Cindy," an upbeat folk tune often played on hammer dulcimer in the lumber camps up north.

​Doug resumed staring out the window, expressionless. I finished the tune and allowed some time to pass. 
Picture
LISTEN: Get along Home Cindy Cindy
Now what? Should I leave Doug's room at this point?
0 Comments

Unexpected

4/6/2017

0 Comments

 
​I didn't expect him to speak.
What do you think Doug has to say to me? 
0 Comments

My Uncle

4/5/2017

2 Comments

 
​"My Uncle played one a' them," he said flatly, looking at me briefly, then turning his head to gaze out the window again. 
Do you have a harmonica "story?" It seems like lots of folks do. Share one if you do.
2 Comments

More?

4/4/2017

1 Comment

 
"You want me to play some more?" I asked.
Will Doug want more music or has the lone man had enough?
1 Comment

Yeah

4/3/2017

0 Comments

 
"Yeah," he said still looking away.
What did the music, the choice of harmonica do for Doug?
0 Comments

Camp Tunes

4/2/2017

4 Comments

 
I played several more camp tunes for Doug: "Golden Slippers," "I've Been Working' on the Railroad," "Oh, Susannah," and the like. 

​When I stopped and put the harmonica in my pocket he looked over at me and spoke again.
Help me out with some more "campy tunes" to add to my harmonica repertoire?  What might you enjoy hearing?
Picture
LISTEN: Golden Slippers
4 Comments

Next Week

4/1/2017

2 Comments

 
"When you comin' back?" Doug asked me. 

"Next week," I replied.

​"Good."
Are you surprised at Doug's response? I was.  Why?
Picture
LISTEN: I Been Workin' on the Railroad
2 Comments

Same Outfit

3/31/2017

1 Comment

 
The following week I knocked softly on Doug's door hoping this time I wouldn't frighten him. 

He sat clad in the same outfit, in his chair by the window, but his expression changed when he looked up and saw me. His fear, his apprehension wasn't present and he even cocked a half-smile as I entered. 

​I played more harmonica music as he listened intently facing the window with the view of the winter woods.
I stayed "safe" during this session.  How and why?
Picture
LISTEN: Oh Susanna
1 Comment

You Know One?

3/30/2017

2 Comments

 
The next week I brought my guitar and ventured into singing some country music for Doug. He remained relaxed, focused on the woods outside his window.

After several songs he spoke. 

​"You know one about grace or something? My mama sang it."
What do you think Doug is referring to?
Picture
LISTEN: See if you are right
2 Comments

Swallowed Hard

3/29/2017

2 Comments

 
I began playing the intro to "Amazing Grace" on my guitar then sang all five verses.

​Without looking too invasively at Doug, my solitary friend, I noticed tears in his eyes. He swallowed hard.
Do you have any songs that make you tear up, swallow hard?  What might have made Doug become emotionally connected during this session?
Picture
LISTEN: Amazing Grace
2 Comments

Telltale Signs

3/28/2017

1 Comment

 
Doug welcomed my music for several weeks, but I began to see the telltale signs that he was failing.

​He slept more, and some days he was not fully dressed. His favorite snacks, Pepsi and cheese crackers, were left uneaten on the side table by his chair.
Some folks say that doing this kind of work with dying patients at Hospice takes a special person. I agree that it is intense and difficult, but special? What do you think?
1 Comment

Typical Winter Day

3/27/2017

2 Comments

 
It was a typical Adirondack winter day, penetratingly cold, heavy gray, and spitting snow.

When I entered Doug's room as usual, I saw his limp, now non-responsive body resting in his Hospice bed. The hand with the missing fingers lay across his chest as it rose and fell irregularly with each struggling breath.

​No Buffalo Plaid flannel shirt or worn jeans, no work boots were in sight.
This is where things get hard for me.
2 Comments

Softly

3/26/2017

2 Comments

 
I softly played harmonica over him, remembering the shy lumberjack who allowed me into his very private life.
I consider this a small miracle. Who knew that a harmonica could be an entre into a shy, withdrawn dying man's life. Have you had an experience where something drew you and another person together unexpectedly? Will you share?
Picture
LISTEN
2 Comments

On This Earth

3/25/2017

0 Comments

 
The music I gave him that day was the last sound he heard on this earth.
So how do I do it? I carry these patients, like Doug the lumberjack, in my heart, write stories about them and share the sorrow as well as the joy with you. The saying goes: sorrow shared, is sorrow divided; joy shared, is joy multiplied.

​Share your stories!
Picture
LISTEN: Shenandoah
0 Comments
    Click here to add your name & email for:
    • video clips
    • music
    • short book excerpts  
    • book tour events
    • and other news 

    Categories

    All
    Buffalo Plaid
    Events
    First Patient
    Goya Guitar
    KFC
    Miscellaneous
    Music
    Musical Morphine
    Never Saw A Wolf
    :: Open For Lunch

    Read Posts:
    • Events
    • Miscellaneous
    • Music

    Open For Lunch
    • KFC

    Musical Morphine
    • First Patient
    • Goya Guitar
    • Never Saw a Wolf
    • Buffalo Plaid

    Picture
    Musical Morphine:
    ​
    Award Finalist in the "Health: Alternative Medicine" category of the 2017 Best Book Awards

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.