[Script Info] Title: [Events] Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text Dialogue: 0,0:00:10.61,0:00:14.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The first funeral\NI ever went to was in 1979. Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.42,0:00:16.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was 25, Dialogue: 0,0:00:16.44,0:00:18.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I was working\Nas an activities director Dialogue: 0,0:00:18.49,0:00:20.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at a nursing home in Boston. Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.22,0:00:24.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There was a man at the home\Nby the name of Arthur Brown. Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.18,0:00:27.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One day, he took sick,\Nwas taken to the hospital, Dialogue: 0,0:00:27.92,0:00:32.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he died shortly after that -\Nall in a short span of time. Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.30,0:00:36.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But he was 96, had lived\Na long and healthy life up till then. Dialogue: 0,0:00:37.10,0:00:40.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I asked around to see if anybody\Nwanted to go to his funeral, Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.39,0:00:43.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and there was another man\Nat the home who wanted to go; Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.77,0:00:45.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he was the one who wanted to go. Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.07,0:00:48.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,His name was Arthur Wallace. Dialogue: 0,0:00:48.45,0:00:53.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the two of us set off\Nto go to this graveside service. Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.74,0:00:55.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I borrowed a car. Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.08,0:00:58.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On the way there, it took\Na little longer than I thought - Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.79,0:01:00.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I got a little bit lost - Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.00,0:01:02.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the entire way there, Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.74,0:01:05.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Arthur was giving\Na sort of running commentary Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.92,0:01:11.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on skirt lengths and billboards\Nand bad directions, Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.75,0:01:12.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and all the while, Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.99,0:01:15.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he was monkeying around\Nwith his hearing aid Dialogue: 0,0:01:15.32,0:01:17.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that would fall\Nout of his ear onto the seat, Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.65,0:01:21.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he would jab it with a pen\Nin some kind of a repair ritual Dialogue: 0,0:01:21.22,0:01:22.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and put it back in. Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.34,0:01:24.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It would fall out again. Dialogue: 0,0:01:24.00,0:01:29.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the entire time he had a cigar\Nthat was not lit but was wet on both ends. Dialogue: 0,0:01:29.22,0:01:30.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.35,0:01:33.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So this is who I was\Nin this small container with Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.15,0:01:37.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for the time it took to find the cemetery. Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.41,0:01:39.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Finally found it, pulled in. Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.85,0:01:42.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There were a couple people\Nstanding by one grave site. Dialogue: 0,0:01:42.39,0:01:44.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I parked the car and helped Arthur out. Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.84,0:01:48.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There were a lot of leaves\Non the ground - it was November - Dialogue: 0,0:01:48.55,0:01:52.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I walked him across the leaves\Nover to where these people were standing. Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.72,0:01:54.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There were a couple of elderly women Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.45,0:01:57.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who were distant relatives\Nof the deceased, Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.63,0:01:59.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then there was a minister. Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.38,0:02:02.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when we were through\Nwith these brief introductions, Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.10,0:02:06.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the minister then said\Na very short service. Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.25,0:02:10.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At the end of that, he asked\Nif anybody else wanted to say anything. Dialogue: 0,0:02:10.25,0:02:13.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And Arthur Wallace, who I brought along,\Nwanted to say something. Dialogue: 0,0:02:14.15,0:02:16.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So he stepped forward\Nfrom where he was next to me, Dialogue: 0,0:02:16.58,0:02:19.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he said something like this: Dialogue: 0,0:02:21.02,0:02:23.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Arthur Brown was a good man, Dialogue: 0,0:02:24.48,0:02:29.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but funny thing was\Nhe didn't like bananas. Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.05,0:02:31.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now when his lunch\Nwould come up on the tray, Dialogue: 0,0:02:31.14,0:02:32.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if there was a banana on it, Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.98,0:02:34.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he'd give it to me. Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.92,0:02:37.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I like a banana. Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.51,0:02:39.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I like a banana okay. Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.91,0:02:42.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A banana's my number two fruit. Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.78,0:02:45.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My number one fruit's a big, mild pear." Dialogue: 0,0:02:45.100,0:02:48.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then he stepped back next to me. Dialogue: 0,0:02:48.94,0:02:51.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That was the first funeral I ever went to. Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.40,0:02:52.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.43,0:02:54.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I should now tell you Dialogue: 0,0:02:54.23,0:02:57.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how I came to be working\Nin a nursing home in the first place. Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.13,0:03:00.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,About a year before,\NI was on a cross-country trip Dialogue: 0,0:03:00.50,0:03:02.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and stopped in Palm Springs Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.61,0:03:05.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where my grandmother\Nwas spending the winter. Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.66,0:03:09.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I met a couple who were\Nlifelong friends of hers, the Feitlers. Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.100,0:03:13.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And Herb Feitler and I\Nspent the better part of a day Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.50,0:03:14.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sort of palling around. Dialogue: 0,0:03:14.96,0:03:16.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We went in his car Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.17,0:03:20.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to flea markets in surrounding\Ndesert communities out there. Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.63,0:03:22.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I just had a fantastic time. Dialogue: 0,0:03:23.54,0:03:25.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I got back home to Boston, Dialogue: 0,0:03:25.48,0:03:28.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in considering this fantastic time I had, Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.20,0:03:30.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I realized that what made it unique Dialogue: 0,0:03:30.41,0:03:34.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was that it was the first time\NI sort of had made friends with somebody Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.49,0:03:39.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who was significantly older than me\Nbut wasn't in my family. Dialogue: 0,0:03:40.03,0:03:43.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I liked that, and I thought\NI would like to do that again. Dialogue: 0,0:03:43.11,0:03:46.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had just graduated from art school\Nwith a degree in painting, Dialogue: 0,0:03:46.06,0:03:49.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I thought there was something\NI could do that would be better for me Dialogue: 0,0:03:49.50,0:03:53.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than scooping ice cream\Nand delivering flowers. Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.56,0:03:58.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I heard about a job at a nursing home\Nas an activities director Dialogue: 0,0:03:58.31,0:04:00.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that somebody I'd gone\Nto school with was doing Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.52,0:04:02.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and was going to be leaving the job. Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.32,0:04:05.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I went there and applied,\Nand I got the job - Dialogue: 0,0:04:05.92,0:04:09.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for 50 cents an hour less\Nbecause I had no prior experience. Dialogue: 0,0:04:10.42,0:04:12.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I started then, right away. Dialogue: 0,0:04:13.24,0:04:16.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was in a residential,\Ntree-lined neighborhood Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.70,0:04:18.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in Jamaica Plain, in Boston, Dialogue: 0,0:04:18.40,0:04:22.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it was an old, converted duplex house, Dialogue: 0,0:04:22.46,0:04:25.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,hence its name, the Duplex Nursing Home. Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.26,0:04:29.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And as soon as I set foot Dialogue: 0,0:04:29.93,0:04:33.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,into this environment, Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.76,0:04:36.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was just captivated with it. Dialogue: 0,0:04:36.04,0:04:42.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was just filled with riveting bits\Nof conversation that I had to write down, Dialogue: 0,0:04:44.74,0:04:46.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,here being some examples: Dialogue: 0,0:04:48.23,0:04:49.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"I keep smoking, Dialogue: 0,0:04:49.24,0:04:52.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but what I really want to do\Nis drive around in a stick-shift car." Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.03,0:04:56.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"If a crow would see my picture,\Nthe crow would fly away." Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.60,0:05:00.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Mars will probably be a state someday." Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.56,0:05:01.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:05:01.73,0:05:04.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"I'm going to get me a fly,\Nand I'm going to keep it in my room." Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.86,0:05:06.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.19,0:05:08.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"The most important thing\Nof human behavior Dialogue: 0,0:05:08.24,0:05:10.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is don't be terrorizing anybody." Dialogue: 0,0:05:11.44,0:05:14.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"I heard a knock at the door,\Nand I hung up on it." Dialogue: 0,0:05:14.04,0:05:15.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.72,0:05:19.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"When you rake the yard,\Nyou rake the yard with a rake." Dialogue: 0,0:05:19.66,0:05:20.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I love that one. Dialogue: 0,0:05:20.70,0:05:21.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:05:21.71,0:05:25.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"I can speak five languages,\Nand I can also blabber." Dialogue: 0,0:05:25.24,0:05:26.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:05:26.64,0:05:29.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"The weatherman says\Nit's going to be cold tonight, Dialogue: 0,0:05:29.05,0:05:32.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so around midnight, I'm going to cook up\Na pork chop in the moonlight. Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.35,0:05:34.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Doesn't cost too much\Nto cook in the moonlight." Dialogue: 0,0:05:35.01,0:05:37.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"My shoveling days are over, Davy baby." Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.38,0:05:41.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"I'll smoke another cigar, by and by." Dialogue: 0,0:05:43.91,0:05:46.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So these quotes\Nand conversations that I had Dialogue: 0,0:05:46.87,0:05:50.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,became the basis\Nfor a publication I started Dialogue: 0,0:05:50.21,0:05:52.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,called "The Duplex Planet." Dialogue: 0,0:05:53.22,0:05:55.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I didn't know exactly where it was going, Dialogue: 0,0:05:55.19,0:05:58.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I felt like it was something\Nthat I needed to communicate as an artist, Dialogue: 0,0:05:58.72,0:06:00.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and in fact, I set aside painting. Dialogue: 0,0:06:00.75,0:06:06.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I felt like if this was to be something\Nthat I was to find my way in, Dialogue: 0,0:06:06.04,0:06:09.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I shouldn't have any other outlet\Nthat would allow that. Dialogue: 0,0:06:10.88,0:06:13.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I got the first issue together Dialogue: 0,0:06:13.09,0:06:17.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and gathered all the residents\Ntogether one afternoon Dialogue: 0,0:06:17.42,0:06:19.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and handed out a copy to each one of them. Dialogue: 0,0:06:20.59,0:06:22.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Within about two minutes, they figured out Dialogue: 0,0:06:22.60,0:06:26.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I wasn't also passing out cake\Nor refreshments or something Dialogue: 0,0:06:26.00,0:06:29.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and most of them wandered away,\Ndiscarding these. Dialogue: 0,0:06:30.12,0:06:33.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,However, that night, Dialogue: 0,0:06:33.87,0:06:38.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,copies that made it home with me\Nroommates and friends saw, Dialogue: 0,0:06:38.65,0:06:42.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I instantly got\Nthat this was for everybody Dialogue: 0,0:06:42.37,0:06:44.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but the people in it. Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.70,0:06:48.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Had it been more traditional oral history, Dialogue: 0,0:06:48.72,0:06:50.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it would have been a keepsake of sorts Dialogue: 0,0:06:50.56,0:06:51.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for the residents, Dialogue: 0,0:06:51.57,0:06:53.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but this was something else: Dialogue: 0,0:06:53.67,0:06:57.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this was characters\Nspringing to life on the page. Dialogue: 0,0:06:59.15,0:07:02.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I got to know\Nall 45 of these residents; Dialogue: 0,0:07:02.37,0:07:04.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it was an all-male\Nnursing home, this place. Dialogue: 0,0:07:06.04,0:07:07.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some were talkative; some were not. Dialogue: 0,0:07:07.71,0:07:09.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some were agitated; some were calm. Dialogue: 0,0:07:09.84,0:07:13.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some were very articulate\Nabout all manner of things, Dialogue: 0,0:07:13.77,0:07:19.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and some didn't really make\Na lot of sense in expected ways. Dialogue: 0,0:07:19.82,0:07:24.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it was those latter ones\Nwho I was most interested in. Dialogue: 0,0:07:24.52,0:07:28.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I felt fortunate to be in close contact\Nwith people who were going through that, Dialogue: 0,0:07:29.40,0:07:31.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I came to see Dialogue: 0,0:07:31.88,0:07:37.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that they ended up not making sense Dialogue: 0,0:07:37.74,0:07:42.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,having made the same sense\Nthat we all make when we make sense. Dialogue: 0,0:07:42.42,0:07:44.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If that makes sense. Dialogue: 0,0:07:44.27,0:07:46.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:07:46.05,0:07:50.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There was one man at the home\Nby the name of William Gunn Ferguson, Dialogue: 0,0:07:50.62,0:07:53.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,affectionately known as Fergie\Nto everybody there. Dialogue: 0,0:07:53.14,0:07:56.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And he needed a sentence or so Dialogue: 0,0:07:56.17,0:07:57.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as a runway, Dialogue: 0,0:07:57.17,0:08:00.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he'd be off, darting around. Dialogue: 0,0:08:00.32,0:08:02.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it might come back\Nto where it started, Dialogue: 0,0:08:02.88,0:08:03.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or maybe it didn't, Dialogue: 0,0:08:03.99,0:08:09.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it was also an incredible trip. Dialogue: 0,0:08:09.28,0:08:11.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So this is one thing that he said: Dialogue: 0,0:08:11.92,0:08:14.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"The best place to hide\Nis in the top of a tree. Dialogue: 0,0:08:14.83,0:08:16.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I used to tell those children, Dialogue: 0,0:08:16.27,0:08:21.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,'If you want to hide from your mother,\Nyou climb up in that tree and hide.' Dialogue: 0,0:08:21.02,0:08:23.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'll tell ya, they'd hide\Nso I couldn't even find them. Dialogue: 0,0:08:23.60,0:08:25.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I don't mean any small trees. Dialogue: 0,0:08:25.18,0:08:27.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean trees that were 50, 60 feet high. Dialogue: 0,0:08:28.28,0:08:30.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they'd fall out of those trees too. Dialogue: 0,0:08:30.25,0:08:31.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:08:31.90,0:08:36.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They'd fall out of those trees\Njust like you'd smoke a pipe. Dialogue: 0,0:08:36.27,0:08:38.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:08:38.03,0:08:39.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I used to have a lot of pipes. Dialogue: 0,0:08:40.46,0:08:44.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Until the children got into them,\Nand they hid them. Dialogue: 0,0:08:44.53,0:08:46.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And you know where they hid them? Dialogue: 0,0:08:46.98,0:08:48.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the trees." Dialogue: 0,0:08:48.55,0:08:50.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:08:51.42,0:08:53.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One day at work - Dialogue: 0,0:08:53.02,0:08:56.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I say work, but it really\Njust seemed like my life at the time. Dialogue: 0,0:08:56.56,0:08:58.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It didn't really seem like work. Dialogue: 0,0:08:58.23,0:09:00.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Though there came a time\Nabout two years later Dialogue: 0,0:09:00.65,0:09:03.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when I felt like I made a better friend\Nto the residents there Dialogue: 0,0:09:03.70,0:09:06.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than I did as an employee for the owners, Dialogue: 0,0:09:06.30,0:09:08.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and so I left the job. Dialogue: 0,0:09:08.53,0:09:09.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But anyway, this one day, Dialogue: 0,0:09:09.86,0:09:11.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a resident by the name of Larry Greene Dialogue: 0,0:09:11.70,0:09:12.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,came to me, Dialogue: 0,0:09:12.91,0:09:17.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and with all the urgency he could muster, Dialogue: 0,0:09:17.18,0:09:21.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he said, "Dave, nobody's come\Nto get my dad's tray." Dialogue: 0,0:09:21.13,0:09:24.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, the tray part I understood -\Ntheir noontime meal came up on a tray - Dialogue: 0,0:09:24.68,0:09:29.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but the dad part didn't make any sense,\Nbecause his father was long dead. Dialogue: 0,0:09:29.53,0:09:32.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I followed him out\Nof this activities and dining room Dialogue: 0,0:09:32.22,0:09:34.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,around another part of the home, Dialogue: 0,0:09:34.23,0:09:36.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he led me to this room\Nthat was shared by two men, Dialogue: 0,0:09:36.93,0:09:38.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one of whom was sitting there, Dialogue: 0,0:09:38.41,0:09:39.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Walter McGeorge. Dialogue: 0,0:09:39.75,0:09:43.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There he sat with his tray\Nin front of him on a little table, Dialogue: 0,0:09:43.21,0:09:45.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and Larry went over and stood next to him Dialogue: 0,0:09:45.20,0:09:47.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and said, "Hi, Dad." Dialogue: 0,0:09:48.11,0:09:49.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And Walter was smiling. Dialogue: 0,0:09:49.68,0:09:53.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He seemed to be smiling for Larry\Nas if to acknowledge the "Hi, Dad," Dialogue: 0,0:09:53.95,0:09:55.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he seemed to be smiling at me Dialogue: 0,0:09:55.53,0:09:59.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as a way to say, "It's all right.\NIt's no big deal. Dialogue: 0,0:09:59.02,0:10:01.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We'll let him think I'm his father." Dialogue: 0,0:10:01.86,0:10:04.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Larry was in this remarkable state Dialogue: 0,0:10:04.75,0:10:06.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where he thought\Nthat anybody who smiled at him Dialogue: 0,0:10:06.94,0:10:08.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was an old friend of his, Dialogue: 0,0:10:08.31,0:10:10.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he had sort of remembered his life Dialogue: 0,0:10:10.58,0:10:13.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,into something much easier\Nthan it had ever been. Dialogue: 0,0:10:13.15,0:10:15.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He had had a fairly difficult life. Dialogue: 0,0:10:15.68,0:10:17.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He had worked on a coal wharf, Dialogue: 0,0:10:17.94,0:10:19.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,never had enough money, Dialogue: 0,0:10:19.13,0:10:20.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,had six children. Dialogue: 0,0:10:20.63,0:10:22.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He would now say that he had two children. Dialogue: 0,0:10:22.93,0:10:26.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You could name any of the six,\Nand he would acknowledge them as his, Dialogue: 0,0:10:26.14,0:10:28.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but he would always have\Nthe math come out to be two. Dialogue: 0,0:10:28.68,0:10:31.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It just seemed like an easier life\Nthat way or something. Dialogue: 0,0:10:32.18,0:10:37.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what I learned from Larry\Nand from Walter and from Fergie Dialogue: 0,0:10:37.07,0:10:38.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and from many other people there Dialogue: 0,0:10:38.60,0:10:42.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was that anything was as real\Nas anybody said it was. Dialogue: 0,0:10:43.28,0:10:45.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The days of their big\Nadventures were over, Dialogue: 0,0:10:45.28,0:10:48.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they were now\Nsort of recombining things, Dialogue: 0,0:10:48.16,0:10:50.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they were coming out differently, Dialogue: 0,0:10:50.73,0:10:53.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the most direct way\Nfor me to get to know somebody Dialogue: 0,0:10:53.25,0:10:56.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was to just accept\Nwhatever they said as real Dialogue: 0,0:10:56.06,0:10:59.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it was real for them Dialogue: 0,0:10:59.39,0:11:02.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that was how\NI was going to get to know them. Dialogue: 0,0:11:03.90,0:11:06.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Music with ticking sound) Dialogue: 0,0:11:07.42,0:11:10.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Recording) David Greenberger:\NFunny how time marches on. Dialogue: 0,0:11:12.11,0:11:14.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But they're all in the same boat a year. Dialogue: 0,0:11:15.34,0:11:17.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Happy-go-lucky. Dialogue: 0,0:11:18.66,0:11:20.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How time marches on. Dialogue: 0,0:11:22.54,0:11:26.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They must realize\Nthey are a kid no longer. Dialogue: 0,0:11:28.48,0:11:32.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're always looking\Nfor that first snowstorm Dialogue: 0,0:11:33.65,0:11:35.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we had the other day. Dialogue: 0,0:11:36.01,0:11:38.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't suppose\Nyou'd call that a snowstorm. Dialogue: 0,0:11:40.49,0:11:45.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Just about everybody likes to see\Nthe old-fashioned Christmas. Dialogue: 0,0:11:47.01,0:11:49.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yeah, but time marches on. Dialogue: 0,0:11:50.04,0:11:51.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Time Marches On] Dialogue: 0,0:11:55.01,0:11:56.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Church bells ringing) Dialogue: 0,0:11:59.41,0:12:00.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Music ends) Dialogue: 0,0:12:00.81,0:12:03.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(On stage) DG: "The Duplex Planet" Dialogue: 0,0:12:03.03,0:12:07.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,continued as a little, self-published,\Nchapbook-sized periodical Dialogue: 0,0:12:09.14,0:12:10.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I started back then in 1979, Dialogue: 0,0:12:10.91,0:12:15.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but in the '90s, it became better known,\Nthe work that I was doing, Dialogue: 0,0:12:15.29,0:12:17.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,through several books that came out. Dialogue: 0,0:12:18.62,0:12:20.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The material was adapted\Ninto a comic book, Dialogue: 0,0:12:20.68,0:12:22.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and there were a couple of documentaries. Dialogue: 0,0:12:22.67,0:12:25.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And for the past 15 years or so, Dialogue: 0,0:12:25.44,0:12:30.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've been most interested\Nin creating monologues with music. Dialogue: 0,0:12:30.96,0:12:34.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've done a series of CDs and performances Dialogue: 0,0:12:34.02,0:12:40.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for museums and arts presenters\Nand universities and NPR. Dialogue: 0,0:12:41.89,0:12:46.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And these have been done with a variety\Nof different musical ensembles, Dialogue: 0,0:12:46.30,0:12:47.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,different styles. Dialogue: 0,0:12:47.44,0:12:48.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But in all cases, Dialogue: 0,0:12:48.44,0:12:49.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I strive to have the music Dialogue: 0,0:12:49.94,0:12:56.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,be a fully active element\Nin the final piece, Dialogue: 0,0:12:56.37,0:12:59.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not background music. Dialogue: 0,0:12:59.07,0:13:03.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'd likened it to a band\Nwith a guy talking - me. Dialogue: 0,0:13:05.06,0:13:07.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So these audio pieces that I record, Dialogue: 0,0:13:07.97,0:13:12.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they're not recreations\Nof time that I spent with somebody; Dialogue: 0,0:13:12.70,0:13:16.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they're abstracted from it. Dialogue: 0,0:13:16.20,0:13:22.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The words and the music\Ncome together for me and fall into place Dialogue: 0,0:13:22.67,0:13:26.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when it seems like how it feels\Nto remember that person. Dialogue: 0,0:13:26.65,0:13:28.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So that it's a gauge that I use to know, Dialogue: 0,0:13:28.80,0:13:32.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and hopefully it resonates\Nin some way for somebody else. Dialogue: 0,0:13:32.00,0:13:35.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These aren't documentary snapshots Dialogue: 0,0:13:36.54,0:13:39.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of elderly people that I met. Dialogue: 0,0:13:39.68,0:13:44.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I try to have it be Dialogue: 0,0:13:44.20,0:13:48.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,something that will resonate\Nseparate from that. Dialogue: 0,0:13:49.15,0:13:53.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm not using their voices,\Nthe actual voices of them, Dialogue: 0,0:13:53.56,0:13:55.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or projecting their pictures behind me. Dialogue: 0,0:13:55.99,0:14:01.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because I want these to resonate\Nwith listeners individually. Dialogue: 0,0:14:05.53,0:14:09.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Last year, I was in Milwaukee,\Nfinishing up an artist residency Dialogue: 0,0:14:09.63,0:14:14.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I did there for the Center on Age\Nand Community at the university there. Dialogue: 0,0:14:14.90,0:14:16.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had spent three months Dialogue: 0,0:14:16.34,0:14:22.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,talking and conversing, meeting\Nwith elderly who have memory loss, Dialogue: 0,0:14:22.22,0:14:23.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,varying degrees of it - Dialogue: 0,0:14:23.32,0:14:27.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from barely noticeable\Nto profoundly fragmented. Dialogue: 0,0:14:30.36,0:14:33.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The one thing that everybody\Nhad in common that I spoke with, though, Dialogue: 0,0:14:33.60,0:14:37.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was that everybody liked\Nthe idea of talking with me. Dialogue: 0,0:14:37.41,0:14:39.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They agreed to talk with me. Dialogue: 0,0:14:40.26,0:14:44.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Maybe they thought they already knew me,\Nbut it didn't really matter. Dialogue: 0,0:14:45.65,0:14:49.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What was amazing for me to see Dialogue: 0,0:14:49.47,0:14:50.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was that the people Dialogue: 0,0:14:50.48,0:14:55.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who were the least able to have a -\Ncarry on a narrative conversation Dialogue: 0,0:14:55.83,0:15:00.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,still had the blueprint,\Nthe shape of a conversation Dialogue: 0,0:15:00.60,0:15:02.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that they utilized. Dialogue: 0,0:15:02.56,0:15:05.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I would say something,\Nand then they would say something, Dialogue: 0,0:15:05.27,0:15:07.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then I would say something:\Nwe'd go back and forth. Dialogue: 0,0:15:07.85,0:15:13.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they still adhered\Nto that sort of social convention. Dialogue: 0,0:15:14.56,0:15:16.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That it didn't always link up - Dialogue: 0,0:15:16.86,0:15:18.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I might say something, I often would, Dialogue: 0,0:15:18.75,0:15:21.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then they would say something\Ncompletely separate from that, Dialogue: 0,0:15:21.79,0:15:22.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I would go with that, Dialogue: 0,0:15:22.100,0:15:25.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then they would go somewhere else. Dialogue: 0,0:15:25.05,0:15:29.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It didn't link up, but I realized\Nthat it didn't matter. Dialogue: 0,0:15:30.45,0:15:31.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Strumming guitar) Dialogue: 0,0:15:31.77,0:15:33.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Recording) DG: I had to behave. Dialogue: 0,0:15:33.77,0:15:38.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had two sisters,\Nand I had a - let's see - Dialogue: 0,0:15:38.13,0:15:43.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had a - let's see - six brothers,\Na lot of brothers. Dialogue: 0,0:15:43.85,0:15:47.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My mother, all she had to do was work. Dialogue: 0,0:15:47.65,0:15:49.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My father worked every day. Dialogue: 0,0:15:49.96,0:15:52.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He worked in a - let's see - Dialogue: 0,0:15:53.09,0:15:56.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he worked in a - let's see - Dialogue: 0,0:15:56.08,0:15:59.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he worked in a - oh, where did he work? Dialogue: 0,0:15:59.41,0:16:01.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He worked every day. Dialogue: 0,0:16:01.28,0:16:04.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It took a lot of money\Nto support his kids. Dialogue: 0,0:16:05.01,0:16:06.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I wasn't real happy. Dialogue: 0,0:16:07.45,0:16:10.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I did it because I had to. Dialogue: 0,0:16:10.90,0:16:15.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When my mother comes after me,\Nthen I didn't feel so good. Dialogue: 0,0:16:16.85,0:16:18.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She came after me. Dialogue: 0,0:16:19.15,0:16:20.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She came after me. Dialogue: 0,0:16:21.33,0:16:23.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She came after me Dialogue: 0,0:16:23.65,0:16:26.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to see that I was doing okay. Dialogue: 0,0:16:26.92,0:16:28.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Mother Comes After] Dialogue: 0,0:16:28.25,0:16:29.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Music ends) Dialogue: 0,0:16:29.91,0:16:34.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(On stage) DG: Arthur Wallace, the man\Nwho had a mild pear as his favorite fruit, Dialogue: 0,0:16:34.65,0:16:39.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ended up dying about a year\Nabout the man whom he eulogized, Dialogue: 0,0:16:39.05,0:16:42.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and his demise was not so sudden. Dialogue: 0,0:16:43.78,0:16:47.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it was remarkable to see\Nwhat happened with him. Dialogue: 0,0:16:47.09,0:16:50.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He'd always been very precise\Nin all of his recollections, Dialogue: 0,0:16:50.56,0:16:52.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was very interested\Nin world events and politics. Dialogue: 0,0:16:52.98,0:16:56.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And what was happening then, at the end, Dialogue: 0,0:16:56.80,0:17:00.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was that the facts\Nwere becoming dislodged. Dialogue: 0,0:17:01.77,0:17:04.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Feedback sound) Dialogue: 0,0:17:05.45,0:17:10.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Recording) DG: I remember a sign\Non Brimmer Street to go to the South Pole. Dialogue: 0,0:17:10.12,0:17:11.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[The Last Words of Arthur Wallace] Dialogue: 0,0:17:11.82,0:17:15.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't understand,\Nbut I do dream about it at nighttime. Dialogue: 0,0:17:17.91,0:17:20.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Brimmer is where the State House is. Dialogue: 0,0:17:20.63,0:17:23.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I signed on to go with Byrd. Dialogue: 0,0:17:23.94,0:17:27.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I made a mistake, and I asked him Dialogue: 0,0:17:27.94,0:17:31.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Why do I dream at night\Nthat I go to the South Pole?" Dialogue: 0,0:17:33.94,0:17:38.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I remember a sign on Brimmer Street,\Nnear the State House. Dialogue: 0,0:17:39.09,0:17:41.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,His name was Byrd. Dialogue: 0,0:17:42.64,0:17:47.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I occasionally dreamed\Nthat I went with Byrd to the South Pole, Dialogue: 0,0:17:47.58,0:17:51.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but he quit when we got to Scott's grave, Dialogue: 0,0:17:51.36,0:17:53.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where the Englishman Scott was, Dialogue: 0,0:17:53.09,0:17:55.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who perished. Dialogue: 0,0:17:56.44,0:17:59.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I dreamt that Byrd\Ngot in a violent argument with us, Dialogue: 0,0:17:59.22,0:18:01.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he quit. Dialogue: 0,0:18:02.14,0:18:05.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the Americans went on\Nuntil they discovered it. Dialogue: 0,0:18:05.81,0:18:09.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's my dream. I dream it. Dialogue: 0,0:18:09.54,0:18:12.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why is my side all numb? Dialogue: 0,0:18:13.02,0:18:15.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I must have gotten frozen. Dialogue: 0,0:18:16.12,0:18:21.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I must have gone there,\Nand that's why my side is all numb now. Dialogue: 0,0:18:24.86,0:18:26.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Feedback sound ends) Dialogue: 0,0:18:26.49,0:18:28.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(On stage) DG: I did\Nsome rough math and figured Dialogue: 0,0:18:28.74,0:18:31.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've had about a quarter-million\Nconversations in my life, Dialogue: 0,0:18:31.61,0:18:35.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I've forgotten almost all of them. Dialogue: 0,0:18:35.89,0:18:37.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Conversations are a way for two people Dialogue: 0,0:18:37.72,0:18:42.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to be in the same time\Nand place as one another. Dialogue: 0,0:18:42.41,0:18:43.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we extract the data from it, Dialogue: 0,0:18:43.97,0:18:48.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we're left, then,\Nwith an emotional memory of somebody. Dialogue: 0,0:18:48.60,0:18:49.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm an artist, Dialogue: 0,0:18:49.84,0:18:53.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I'm also somebody\Nin the second half of my life, Dialogue: 0,0:18:53.24,0:18:54.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,well into it, Dialogue: 0,0:18:54.44,0:18:58.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I think I've learned as a human being\Nand grown as an artist Dialogue: 0,0:18:58.51,0:19:00.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from continuing to meet people Dialogue: 0,0:19:00.59,0:19:05.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who are living\Nthe last years of their lives. Dialogue: 0,0:19:06.34,0:19:08.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The differences between us are obvious, Dialogue: 0,0:19:08.59,0:19:14.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it's the things that we have in common\Nthat are the most fulfilling to me. Dialogue: 0,0:19:14.55,0:19:22.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's where you find the surprise\Nand the mystery and the truth. Dialogue: 0,0:19:23.24,0:19:25.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Music starts) Dialogue: 0,0:19:26.75,0:19:30.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Recording) DG: I felt like I was really\Ngetting towards Alzheimer's. Dialogue: 0,0:19:30.72,0:19:33.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was hoping it wasn't Alzheimer's, Dialogue: 0,0:19:33.39,0:19:37.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I was finding myself\Nrepeating myself very often, Dialogue: 0,0:19:37.32,0:19:39.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just in a normal conversation. Dialogue: 0,0:19:40.47,0:19:44.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I felt that I better do something\Nto help with my memory. Dialogue: 0,0:19:45.40,0:19:48.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My daughter's the one\Nthat came up with this program here. Dialogue: 0,0:19:49.54,0:19:52.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One of my sons drove me over\Nfor the first time Dialogue: 0,0:19:52.38,0:19:54.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to find out what it was about Dialogue: 0,0:19:54.35,0:19:58.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because he wanted to see it too,\Nwhat all was involved in it. Dialogue: 0,0:19:59.20,0:20:01.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This was actually not too long ago, Dialogue: 0,0:20:01.90,0:20:03.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I thought it was quite interesting Dialogue: 0,0:20:03.78,0:20:05.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and decided to register Dialogue: 0,0:20:05.50,0:20:09.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and keep on coming back\Non Tuesdays and Thursdays. Dialogue: 0,0:20:10.04,0:20:11.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And you know what? Dialogue: 0,0:20:11.65,0:20:13.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It has helped me. Dialogue: 0,0:20:13.79,0:20:15.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Since I've been coming here, Dialogue: 0,0:20:15.69,0:20:19.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've not noticed any further\Ndeterioration of my memory. Dialogue: 0,0:20:19.98,0:20:22.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Nothing I can detect anyway. Dialogue: 0,0:20:23.30,0:20:24.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm satisfied. Dialogue: 0,0:20:24.98,0:20:25.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Satisfied] Dialogue: 0,0:20:25.98,0:20:27.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Music continues) Dialogue: 0,0:20:27.24,0:20:28.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(On stage) DG: Thank you. Dialogue: 0,0:20:28.81,0:20:30.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)