I LIke to Laugh, Laugh, Laugh!
On Fridays, I have a regular 3:30 appointment with Luis. This is a great way to end my work week, because the only thing eleven year-old Luis loves more than music is laughter. We didn’t always know that – when Luis showed up at The Lydian Center for Innovative Medicine, he was scared, angry, uncooperative, constantly clinging to his mother, and so unstable structurally that couldn't even really sit up. But a couple of my colleagues did their magic, and by the time they sent Luis to me for music and reflex integration, he could climb up on the piano bench and sit unsupported. He could even hold a guitar and strum. And sing, of course. You see, Luis wants to be a rock star. And, despite his challenges, he might just have the personality, drive, and talent to do just that.
Luis was sitting with his characteristic posture in the waiting room, shoulders up around his ears. All he's missing is the 1920's suit and cigar. “Eve!” he says, in his emphatic, clipped way. “Let’s do it!” Lately, we’ve been starting our sessions with a Raffi song. I play the piano, and we sing, “I like to eat, eat, eat, apples and bananas. . .” But now, Luis uses the song to tell the story of his life. “I like to drive, drive, drive, drive in the car . . . “ “I like to play, play, play play with Eve . . .” None of this sounds especially funny. But facial expressions, musical riffs, even just the infectious energy in the air, can collapse you into giggles – which happens to us at least every other verse.
This week, we try something new – I play a Boogie Woogie baseline and we improvise some lyrics. The blues is a great way to get into musical improvisation, because you can always just wail on vowels, or nonsense syllables. And the last line can always be the same. Ours is, “Luis – is singin’ the blues!” Luis laughs a lot with this song, too. But when his mother comes, later, he won’t sing it for her. He’s not sure if he approves.
His world still needs to be tightly controlled. One thing he definitely approves of is “Mix it Up” from my CD/book set, Rappin’ on the Reflexes. This is a hand slap game: I like red and you like blue Let’s paint it purple through and through . . . This week, we get into a hilarious state with a gradual accelerando. By the time we reach the last line, “I’ll put an orange on my head!” our hands and voices are all mixed up and Luis can barely speak for laughing.
Luis is tired, so he lies on the massage table, and we do Walking on a Stony Beach, also from Rappin’ on the Reflexes. The leg cross flexion-extension reflex is a good one, both for balance, and for integrating information across both sides of the brain. When I push my fist into the arch of one of Luis’ feet, he has to push back, and then react with the other leg on cue. Step down on the right foot, sink in, OUCH! This also makes Luis laugh. We do this every night before bed, volunteers his mother.
After our goodbyes, I watch Luis’s slightly hunched back disappear down the hallway. I notice that I am feeling calm and happy. We tend to measure success in terms of achievement – now he can do this, but will he be able to do that? How does he rank according to his age? Will he be able to support himself as an adult? Etc., etc.
But to true life of the soul, all this speculation, judgment, worry is irrelevant. The only thing that matters is the music. And the laughter.
Comments
This has made my day. I wish all postings were this good.
I just saw Luis again yesterday, and because it was vacation, one of his wishes came true! A few weeks ago, he sang, “I want to meet, meet, meet, meet your son!” I had told him that my son was singing on one of his favorite songs from my Feelin’ Free album, “Reflex Rag” (although Luis calls it “Sometimes” because that’s the first word!) But the song was recorded in 2005, when my son was nine years old. My husband also sang on that album, and so it was a little confusing to hear my “husband’s” voice (a bass) on my son (who of course was more of a soprano in 2005 . . .) My son had a great time, with Luis, as well. Although Luis kicked him off the guitar and had me play piano on Day-O. He told me, with a deprecating gesture, that my son didn’t know it well enough (it bugged him when my son got the chords mixed up. Luis’ standards are high).
And thanks for the suggestion, Heather . . . on what album or songbook might we find “I Love to Laugh” by Ella Jenkins?
Heather Jun 04, 2011
Try using the song “I Love To Laugh” by Ella Jenkins.
It is such a great spirit lifter.