Paul Fathers Day 6/20/10 at Aviara Health Care.
We took Paul out for burritos but he wasn't feeling well so we took him back to the nursing home right after lunch. He got a new deck of playing cards from us with names and accomplishments of scientists on each card. Here he is playing with them and feeling a little better.
Hello, CINDY ~
ReplyDeleteI'm very sorry to learn of Paul's condition.
Just the other day, I finished reading his book "Brian Wilson & The Beach Boys: How Deep Is The Ocean?" and I was doing some Google searches to see if Paul had written anything about Brian's release of "Smile" in 2004. After all those years, I was curious to know what he thought of the final materialization of that legendary album.
Would I be correct in assuming that Paul has not analyzed the "Smile" album in written form due to his condition?
Or if he has written anything about it, would you be so kind as to tell me where I might be able to read it? Is there an article posted on a website somewhere? An Internet link you could provide me with? Anything like that?
Just in the last few minutes have I become aware of Paul's situation, and again I express my sadness at learning of this.
I hope you are well and that Paul is as well as can be hoped for.
Sincerely,
~ Stephen T. McCarthy
(aka "Lonesome Dogg" McMe)
Stephen, So sorry to be the bearer of bad news. But the blessing is that Paul is not suffering, or unhappy or asking to come home. It seems mostly at peace with his lot.
ReplyDeletePaul wasn't capable of giving the most recent SMiLe a real listen. It was difficult for him to concentrate from about 2004 and on. He did write an occasional email at that time but even email correspondence ended around 2006. I played the album for him a few times then gave up, he hasn't been interested in listening to music for a very long time and that was the main reason he had to stop writing his final Dylan Performing Artist book 4. It wasn't pleasurable anymore.
He does enjoy getting letters and friends and family and fans though. If you'd like to send one to me I'll be sure to deliver it.
CINDY ~
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear that, but I thank you for your response.
After all those years and all of Paul's thoughts and words about "Smile", for Brian Wilson to finally record and release it only after Paul is unable to appreciate and/or analyze it is a sad irony of Shakespearian tragedy proportions!
Because we are unable to express to others exactly why it affects us the way it does in these fleshly forms that we occupy, I have often told people that music is spiritual in nature.
But I think Paul said it best in his "I Believe You Anyway" piece. I have added his words to my collection of favorite quotations, which also includes the likes of Henry David Thoreau, Patrick Henry, William James, and Cheech Y Chong (hey, c'mon, they said a lot of quotable things!)
Well, I don't know if it would mean anything to him, but if you think it would, please tell Paul that someone out here thinks that he wrote one of the most profound observations about music ever expressed:
http://stephentmccarthysstuffs.blogspot.com/2009/01/favorite-jokes-n-quotes-n-stuffs-part-2.html
Thanks, Cindy.
And thanks again for your reply.
Best Wishes!
~ "Lonesome Dogg" McMe
For the record I'll post Paul's quote that Stephen McCarthy is referring to. I like this one too:
ReplyDeleteMusic is spirit that becomes flesh when it's vocalized ... What can you say about a melody, except that you worship the air it vibrates in?
~ Paul Williams
(from his book "Brian Wilson & The Beach Boys: How Deep Is The Ocean?")
Hi Cindy Lee, Father's Day had a special poignancy for me, as my dad passed in April but had suffered with dementia for the prior 16 years. Someone mentioned that dementia is known as "The Long Goodbye." I was fortunate to be with Dad during his last week on Earth, and amazingly enough, in his rare waking moments he was quite lucid. I wanted you to know that I was thinking of you today, and to remind you we are all connected in ways we are not even aware of sometimes. Kudos on your beautiful music, and beautiful you.
ReplyDelete