new memories in this space

today i spent several hours sharing music with bone marrow patients at a hospital.  it happens to be the same hospital where my best friend lived and died.  the memories of holding her hand for the last time and hearing the familiar beep of her life-saving devices suddenly end are still vivid.  in fact, the moment i step into the parking lot elevators, a flood of memories come rushing at me.  sometimes my mind tricks me into thinking that i am going to visit erin on the 2nd floor adult intensive care unit. i could walk there with my eyes closed-the familiarity of that space is forever ingrained in my mind.
but now, this space has become healing.  it has become peace.
i walk in now, knowing i will share music with some special people-some of them unhappy, some of them cracking cancer jokes, others silent, and some jovial.

but today, one of the patients took my guitar from me within a matter of seconds and began playing for me.  the neuropathy that had invaded his fingers made it difficult to pick out complex riffs, but it didn't matter.  i sat back and smiled as he played.  i asked, "are you a classically trained guitarist?"

"no", he replied, "just an old fart."

he continues to play some of his favorite neil young songs, a few of dylan's classics, and some of his own riffs.  i tried to sing along or improvise with him on my flute, but then i realized this time was for him.
he needed the time to simply play.
to forget about the pain in his fingers.
stumble over the notes, but still play.

new memories are being created in this space.