Category Archives: Altzheimers

All crossings are sacred

Posted on January 11, 2014 by jyourist

This is dedicated to my dear friend MH who placed his partner of 38 years into an Altzheimers Care facility today. In Jewish tradition, the entire Bible is divided up into 54 sections, one of which is read every Shabbat … Continue reading →

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“Disappearing”

Posted on December 26, 2013 by jyourist

At the Field Museum, in the Colombian World’s Fair exhibit, a sign speaks of the disappearance of the carrier pigeon. To commemorate its demise, I stare at a stuffed version of itself displayed in 1893. Yesterday I sat in a … Continue reading →

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Making a life from the fragments and the shards

Posted on January 14, 2013 by jyourist

What is art? How does one create significance and address sacred issues, life issues with words? How can art cross from the specific and the personal to the larger and more universal spaces of meaning? How can personal pain transform … Continue reading →

Posted in Altzheimers, poetry | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

A miracle of choreography of heart space

Posted on December 28, 2012 by jyourist

We were out tonight with long time friends (35+ years?), eight of us in all. GM (I have written about him before), one of the eight, was diagnosed with early onset of Altzheimers about 10 years ago and has progressively … Continue reading →

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Sacer and Profanus in Lincolnwood

Posted on July 18, 2012 by jyourist

Some years ago, actually many years ago, I was moved by a lecture on the sacer and the profanus and how these concepts related to the world of art. The profanus is the prescribed world, the world that can be … Continue reading →

Posted in Altzheimers, art, artist | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Gregory is a Chopin Ballad

Posted on February 29, 2012 by jyourist

My dear friend Gregory was diagnosed with early onset of Altzheimers when he was only 55. Since then pieces of his brilliant self have fallen away, including his amazing ability to play the piano. He had a concert grand piano … Continue reading →

Posted in Altzheimers, music | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments