We had a Karaoke Practice today at The Mansion, Madeline, Ruth and Peggie all wanted to sing, I couldn’t get Kelly and Tia, the evening aides on duty,  to sing, but they are weakening.

I’ll reel them in, or the residents will.

Madeline was remarkable, she had us in tears. Madeline is in her mid-90’s, she was orphaned in the Bronx after her brother stabbed her father to death trying to protect her mother.

She grew up in a series of orphanages in New York and sang and acted in community theater for many years. She has been in the Mansion for about two years, and is a regal and gracious presence there.

Madeline always thinks Red’s collar is too tight, and she always makes me take it off and loosen it. I’ve stopped trying to argue with her, I just loosen it.

She has struggled with some memory issues, but they melted away when she sang “Over The Rainbow,” with music, and then, “Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend,” without music, lyrics or accompaniment (see below).

A number of us – including me and Maria – were in tears at seeing how music liberated Madeline, who spends many hours reading crossword puzzles she can no longer do.

She loves to sing, and she proved it today. I am very excited about the impact our Karaoke machine will have on the Mansion residents, I hope to organize (and sometimes sing) at weekly sing-a-longs.

Singing is just balm for the soul.

Madeline agreed decided to sing “Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend” and she brought the house down.

She said she wanted to sing as often as we could get to the Mansion. It was a joy to see what music can do.

I want to thank the Army Of Good once again for supporting what some thought was a mad project. The Karaoke Machines cost several hundred dollars, including big screen, and took a month to finally put together. We will officially debut it on November 28, Lo Ann Sanders and her fellow good-deeders will bring refreshments, we expect to raise the roof.

Madeline can’t wait.