Join the Alzheimer’s Talks teleconference series on July 29 to hear award-winning author Jonathan Kozol, discuss his new book, The Theft of Memory: Losing My Father, One Day. After his father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Jonathan Kozol began to look back over the dozens of boxes of notes, memos and more that Dr. Harry Kozol had collected over a five-decade career as a respected psychiatrist and neurologist. His explorations became the basis for this powerful book chronicling his father’s decline while preserving the memory of his father.
While there are plenty of things that stir my emotions, music can really send me into a tailspin. I still haven’t listened to the Glen Campbell song, I’ll Be Me. One day I will, but I’m not ready yet.
Over the past day or so, I’ve seen a couple of Facebook posts regarding a new song and video by Chris Mann, a 2012 finalist on The Voice.
Remember Me is the result of a collaboration between Mann and a rather unlikely suspect, world-renowned Alzheimer’s researcher, neuroscientist Rudy Tanzi.
A recent Rolling Stone article describes how the two met and what inspired the partnership. (Call me crazy, but I feel as though this could be a game changer with regard to bringing Alzheimer’s out of the shadows! Who could have imagined uttering the words “Rolling Stone” and “Alzheimer’s” in the same sentence?)
Tonight as I was driving home, I shook off my apprehension and clicked the play button to listen to this remarkably powerful song for the first time. Within seconds, I found myself sobbing – it’s difficult to describe the raw emotion I felt as the beautiful lyrics cut into my heart. A rush of piercing grief, intense regret, and tremendous loss washed over me – body and soul. It took my breath away in every sense of the word. I couldn’t help but imagine my mom…
I know there’ll come a day, when I have gone away / And the memory of me will fade / But darling think of me, and who I use to be /And I’ll be right there with you again / I hope I’m one thing worth not forgetting / Tell me that you’ll never let me go
*Since its inception in 2004, the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization) has contributed $27.4 million to research. The founders cover all overhead expenses, and 100% of donations go directly to research. Dr. Rudy Tanzi is a key member of the organization’s research consortium.
July 29, 4-5PM ET
The Long and Winding Road... 