The Benefit 4 Sam was a huge success! Thank you to all of those who helped. Many people were involved in so many ways. Brad and the folks at the Loft were terrific hosts. Everyone attending had a great time. Thanks to those who donated items for the silent auction, those who helped to find items to be donated, and to those who purchased items. The silent auction raised almost $6000.
Thanks also the musicians who played.
Report from Shepherd from Wednesday
Sam was not feeling great on Wednesday. He stayed in bed until about noon. He has symptoms of a urinary tract infection. He did eat his lunch well and went to PT. PT was good. Sam met a Shepherd employee named James Johnson. James has a similar injury to Sam's. Hurt about 6 years ago, James has become very independent. He shared much with Sam. Sam understands that much is possible with time and hard work.
6 comments:
Sam3,
Sorry to hear you are not feeling so great. If you do have a UTI it is definitely no fun. I can relate. I have not been feeling so good myself recently. I had a problem with my meds and it has been really messing with me the last few days. Last night I was hurting so bad I had to get in bed and was not able to go to your auction. I really wanted to go. Glad to hear it was so successful.
I am also glad to hear you met James. Tell him I said hello. He shared alot with me too and gave me alot of hope and confidence that I would be able to do things on my own. I do live on my own with joint custody of my twelve year old. Right now he stays with me on weekends and a couple of nights a week. It took time, help from family and friends, and work to get here.
Well./... hope you get to feeling better.
ciao. Grandin
Good morning Sam,
I agree, UTI's are NO fun.I think I'd rather smash my finger with a hammer.Anyway I'm thrilled that the auction went well.We had one yesterday for our Health Dept. but it was nowhere near as successful as yours...WOW!!
I'm glad to hear your therapy is going well, but be careful with that gaseous face, I'd hate for that to be your "tell".At least you'll stand out when you are holding the muy grande of poker hands.
I hate to cut this short today, but I've got lots to do by lunch time.After work I'll go to P.C. and pick my car up from the shop.Then get ready for Kathy's bachelorette party tonight.I think a night of good old fashioned debauchery will do us all some good.It should help us realease some stresses that have been building up, especially Kathy.Poor thing; she;s been carrying the load of this wedding on her shoulders.What a trooper...but it's beginning to take it's toll.Thankfully the wedding is next weekend & it'll soon be finished.
Please take care Sam & enjoy your weekend.I'm sure you'll have plenty of visitors to keep you busy.
With my continued prayers & love,
Polly
Sam it was great to hear that you called Rachel and Randy Thursday. I wish that I could Have been there to talk w/ you. You really suprised Rachel. I thank you for the prayers that you have given to us, as we are doing the same for you.
George thank you for being there on Tuesday it meant alot to Bec and I, and the rest of the family.
Take care, Captain
Sam, Patrick just passed along the poem he wrote and performed at the last Backyard Blues, as you'll see, in Captain Pat's usual unique perspective..:
* * *
Lamplights for Sam Singer
My first memory of Sam was in a bar,
One I happened to work at at the time;
He seemed to be happy with his bass guitar,
Drinking his beer and playing 'til closing time.
Other people's first meeting with Sam
Might have been like this, or after a fashion;
As long as he was playing, he was happy as a clam,
But he played with an unmatched cosmic passion.
His zest for life can't be denied,
Seizing the days and night by the horns;
He always said his heart's truth, and never lied,
Even when he handled a rose and its thorns.
He has many friends in this town, no doubt;
It's a friendly man who has many friends.
They're on his side even when he's freaking out,
And their love and concern for him knows no ends.
Tonight we celebrate a man and his life;
The Lord still watches over him day and night.
Let's come together in his time of strife,
Knowing that what we do is what is right.
He's still here, in spirit as well as song,
So let's play with him, not for him either;
He'll be here again before too long,
And all of us can celebrate together!
Patrick W. Hopkins
"...I meant to send this to you right after the last Backyard blues, to post
on the internet and send a copy of it to Sam's family, but I forgot about it
til now. Better late than never, I guess...here it is... Please send this to
Sam's family, and who ever else wants it as a souvenir of that great
night...THANKS!" -PW Hopkins
Thank you PW Hopkins!
hay sammy boy,
Sorry you got a UTI- Gillian told me you're itchy too- Just a quick note -D@#!, nothing is quick for me if it involves typing and I'm feeling pressure following that awesome poem-I'm gonna have to go work on my Sam poem now.
-Had to acknowledge what a great time we had partying for you and i loved the shot for sam esp since bobby bought it & we toasted to you,sweetie pie. Bobby laughed when I said it tasted like cherry garcia. Now mailman give it another try and think cool ice cream flavor and not anything reurgitated.
Sam,I see what a hard time you, George and your dad have making public acknowledgments on this blog- Cause where do you start? and you don't want to leave anybody out but I'll start from the end and thank Larry (who was looking fine as you prob'ly saw in the video-Sambo& George-I need a retake on my cameo- I got stagefright.))for escorting me safely to my car. Sam, you have the coolest friends & family.So glad your mom made it!It was great to see her and meet your Aunt Sue & Uncle!He graciously offered me a massage immediately upon being introduced(I guess I should clarify that it was a silent auction item)
Rachel is VERY good at taking charge and Barbara Kennon is an excellent shopper. Will, great to actually see you but it is very hard to follow your post.I also saw Jim smiling again and met his beautiful wife and Rick.And Gabe let me buy him a beer...imagine that.I still owe Dean one.
Sam, everybody was so happy with their prizes!Kat and I were in a bidding war over the Judybug books and goodies but ended up happily sharing.Buddy got the Fender keychain-he needed it.it was all perfect -just really missing you..
Sam,
if it wasn't for you I wouldn't have gotten to meet all these folks-and remeet Buddy& Brad. I have to fast forward to the beginning and tell you how wonderful for your dad to start off the evening of great music singing your greatgreat (great?) grandmother's words and I got the shivers again and now George is great at speaking in front of a crowd in your behalf and there went the shivers again!
It weirded me out to be parking at the Loft & talking to you on the phone. If you could have seen me trying to describe things to you with my hands like you were there.. but I fit right in cause the guy on the sidewalk was doing the same thing without a phone in his hand.
And Gillian's going to let me come see you next week!
'Hours later(since I started typing)..So much for the quick note-don't know why I was compelled to narrate the evening for you but gotta go-
Have sweet dreams and feel better.ily
PS So sorry you are feeling bad Grandlin-everyone wants to meet you -especially LeeAnn but there will be another bash soon.
...its tomorrow and its me again-
I forgot to say...
Mailman- For that Sam shot to taste right,you also gotta let Bobby buy it for you(or maybe in your case one of those gorgous women you have hanging on ya).and don't forget to toast the bass man.
And Sam, just guess what Ace said about that UTI?...Yep, and if those nurses had been giving you enough, you wouldn't have gotten it in the first place.
Sam,it was so sweet for you to call Rachel and Randy. During the service,i kept picturing Carter's 'cat swallowed the canary smile'as the pastor from Atlanta described it- and ya'll tossing hoops at miss Ann & Grandpappy's house right next door with those Murray boys. It was such a sad week in Lumpkin, Carter touched the lives of so many, -(we had no idea!) and he continues to do so. It was incredible listening to all the Carter stories! We also lost Miss Ginger's dear mama and I got to hear Miss Dot stories as well(I wouldn't leave Sat pm &some family members were trying to figure out how I was related to them}. Our hearts and prayers go out to these families. It makes you want to hang on tight to your loved ones- [I just can't catch up with Miss Gillian. Oh,I have a bad idea!*(*Gabe) I'll set a trap and put shiny, sparkly things in it and then I can grab her.]
Well,hope you got yourself well and you are enjoying your visitors this weekend. I'm resting up to see you hopefully Tues(?) and Robert Earl Keen at Variety Fri&Sat nights. Wish me luck,it took me months to recover from the Dave Matthews cruise. But that was 3 nights in a row with a dozen bands as well as being on stage with Ozomatli(wild men) & virtually with the North Mississippi Allstars. We also lost Gilligan- I mean Gillian-in a tropical storm during the Dave, Trey& Tim performance on Paradise Island.(but she was with Toots safely ashore) Ah well, just can't help having perpetual misadventures..
stay strong&ily
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