Anne’s Celebration of Life

Anne’s Celebration of Life

The nature of Anne’s cancer and the stage that it has reached is such that she could pass away at any moment. Anne has fourth-stage brain cancer, glioblastoma, and we have entered  the palliative phase.

Yet in the last three or four weeks, since we have waived the white flag and renounced all aggressive treatments, Anne has begun to thrive: she has a voracious appetite for a vast array of foods, many of which she would have formerly eschewed for being too spicy; she loves to lurk about our neighbourhood, pushing her walker, then to sit for hours in front of the local wading pool to watch the children play; and she spends countless hours colouring elaborate images in an adult colouring book, whose space she enters in a single-minded, zoned way, like a mystic or a person intoxicated on colour and shape.

And most of all, we listen to hours of music together, an eclectic lineup of popular tunes, classical compositions, and jazz.

Anne has always had a clear idea of the music she wants to share during her celebration of life: “Take This Walz” by Leonard Cohen; Loreena McKennitt’s musical interpretation of Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s poem “The Lady of Shalott”;  the “Alegría” song from the Cirque du Soleil show performed by Francesca Gagnon; the traditional French song “À la claire fontaine” as performed by a children’s choir at the end of the movie “The Painted Veil”; Marcus Mumford’s cover version of Bob Dylan’s “Farewell”; and Caetano Veloso’s  “Cucurrucucu Paloma” from the film “Hable Con Ella.”

Anne has memorized all of these poems and lyrics.

She also wants to share Ravel’s Piano Trio in A minor, Sonata for Violin and Cello, Violin Sonata #2 in G, and Berceuse Sur le Nom De Gabriel Fauré from the film “Un Coeur en Hiver”; Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto No. 21 (specifically the second movement, Andante) as featured in several films, most notably in “The King’s Speech”; Auf dem Wasser zu singen D. 774, a Lied composed by Franz Schubert in 1823, based on the poem of the same name by Friedrich Leopold zu Stolberg-Stolberg and performed in the film “L’Avenir”; and Erik Satie’s music, specifically Gnossienne No. 1, a recurring staple of the film “The Painted Veil.”

She has many more suggestions besides.

Anne’s pursuit of these celebrations in real time are paradoxically warding off their realization. Her zest for savoury food and delectable music are feeding her desire to live and to flourish.

The celebration has begun and you’re all invited to tune in.

Your friend,

Robert

https://robertmcbrydeauthor.com/