I hear:
... now, so when you don't have one it'll be cool.

Childhood-Story:

1948 Vivid knock down.

Don't remember why.

My mom is standing in the living room yelling at me.

I rush and push her down on the floor.

She looks up sad.

I run to my bed and cry.

'Childhood' story:
The last time I saw my father

January '70 my Opening at Reese-Paley in SF

He drives from Carmel Valley drunk

Looks around

Cries

Drives home drunk.

I hear:
She had a really nice day ... walked around ...

 

Edith .Thacher .Dane
1913 - 2002
OVS-KBS-Vassar, BA Science, then:
(beloved-uncle-yale-doc-dick-preserver):
"Edith, you (woman) can't be a Doctor" !
So:
Teacher!
Primary Care Giver!
Lab Tech!
Social Activist!!
Justice Seeker Always!!!
Do Your Best - Give Back.
Thank You .Mom ..Love .Bill
And this is only the ending:
The Tell-Tale-Son:
All of a sudden Edie
decided to leave Sierra Madre.
Within three months She, Nancy, Frank and I had
found Willow Glen Villa in San Jose, sold the house,
packed her up, and physically moved everything.
It took two extra trips in my wagon to bring all her plants.
We photographed Mom's living room, (etc) so we could
carefully reconstruct her 7' x 12' display shelves -
a collection of objects: travels, gifts, oddities -
in her new, one bedroom apartment. Frank rebuilt it again
in her 'assisted living' apartment.
Then again when we moved Mom to Nancy's.
Her favorite "stuff" went with her, as it had since childhood.
'Hospice Week' at Nancy's house Mom lived in her room
surrounded with 'furnishings' which had been within
feet of her self, as far back as we could remember.Edie died very quietly right there with.
It was just getting dark June 23rd 2002

Edie's Last Days:
I take Mom to Kaiser for "Evaluation".
She moves around - reality wise - not too far out.
Her Doctor, sweet voice for seniors I gather,"Hello Mrs. Dane. Can you tell me who you are ?"
Edie, in her most cultured tone with tightened jaw,"You know perfectly well who I am, and so do I."

Edie's Last Days:
Mom has a double room at Kaiser.
Curtain, and older couple's voices, next bed over.
They've been arguing about the wife going home, etc !
Edie is in and out - stream of consciousness mumblings.
(It was always entertaining and cried out for 'sense making')
She suddenly sits shot up straight, and in loud and no uncertain terms,"For God's sake take her home.
Can't you see she wants to go home"

Edie's Last Days:
Mom has been at Kaiser for 10 days.
Today is "Decision Day". Edie has to move on.
Her Doctors must recommend her next placement.
They've tried Meds and Talk and Scans = fuzzy picture !
Her Doctors want Kaiser to pay for her to go to Rehab.
She must pass a "Mobility Exam" - Mind and Body !
In comes the 'brand new', really young, testing "Therapist".
Sweetest high voice, for elders I gather, "Good morning Edie.
Now, You have to do what I ask so you'll get that wonderful new
placement. Let's sit up. Up we go, Edie. Now let's just swing
your legs over the edge of the bed. Here we go. Try to do it all
by yourself, Edie". At this point Mom grasps her arm tight.
In a perfectly articulated, tight jawed, patrician tone,"You may try to get me to do anything you want, Dear.
It will not work. I died at ten o'clock this morning".

2010 Health Care:
Screaming - pointing - swearing - spitting into Other faces;
Fellow citizens who themselves would suffer without Medicare and
the other patched together Government Health Care they're trashing.
Never mind their bibles and 'right-to-certain-kinds-of-life' stuff.

RACE and CLASS
OUR MOST CRUCIAL BUSINESS

I hear:
Please hang on !

Childhood-Story:
1964 Not working
We have jobs at SKS Die Casting.
Black, Willie Goodjoint, 63, my casting machine leader.
Black, William Jones, 25, factory custodian.
White, Bill Dane, 25, grunt n gofer.
We eat lunch and talk together for 3 months.
Brown-bag sitting on 4th Street.
Luckily, Willie keeps his job.
William and I are laid off.
We visit each other's apartments twice.
In downtown Oakland with a wife and two daughters.
In Richmond with a wife and a painting space.
We're both smart enough. . We use our words.
We can feel what's coming. . We're not super-stars.

The .PHOTO ALBUM