my father wrote this letter to God, November 2006

my father wrote this letter to God today, originally uploaded by Susan NYC.

We were in Dr. Scarmeas's (his Alzheimer's doctor) waiting room, and I was grading papers.  Since my father used to love writing words, rhyming words, and playing with language, I asked him if he wanted to write something.  "Sure," he said.

I handed him a tablet and pen.  He asked what he should do.  "Anything you want," I said.

He wrote for a while.  When he finished writing, my father tucked these pages into the tablet.

I asked what he'd written and if I could read it. He said, "It's a letter." "It's to God," he said and handed over the pages.

I guess the visit to the synagogue the day before this day gave him something to think about. He said he wouldn't give the letter to a rabbi, though - he didn't think a rabbi had a direct line to God. 

I told him I'd save the letter.

My father said "Sure" when I asked if I could show the letter to the doctor and to the resident who was sitting in on the appointment. So I'm taking the liberty of showing it here.

I asked about the closing: "A. Zever. " He smiled and said, "As ever."

my father wrote this letter to God today

my father wrote this letter to God today, originally uploaded by Susan NYC.

11/20/06: We were in the waiting room, waiting for his Alzheimer's doctor, Dr. Scarmeas. My father finished writing and tucked these pages into the tablet. I asked what he'd written and if I could read it. He said, "It's a letter." I asked to whom. "It's to God," he said and handed over the pages.

My father wrote this while we waited to see his Alzheimer's doctor. I've been giving him pen and paper to draw or write, and he's been writing rhyming words and playing with language.

I guess that visit to the synagogue yesterday gave him something to think about. He said he wouldn't give the letter to a rabbi, though - he didn't think the rabbi has a direct line.

I told him I'd save it.

Since my father said "Sure" when I asked if I could show it to the doctor and to the resident who was sitting in on the appointment, I'm taking the liberty of showing it here.

Save me from antiquities
My body is full of them
My soul cries for renewal
And fresh goals
Doubly a new interest
In people and living
Where is there a good body shop
Doctors have increased life
of Body Parts - but not
the will to use them

Send me a Signal
that to keep trying
might be successful
and I'll do it.

As of now - its all
down the drain -
FLUSHED

Future - Ambition -
unknown -

An Angel skilled
in rehabilitation will
be welcome.
A. Zever

(I asked who A.Zever is - he said, "As Ever..." and smiled)