Where was I?

Oh, that wonderful young man, who, through serendipity and synchronicity, came forth from the ether and airwaves with a story that linked to mine; we both knew my husband in different ways, we were both bound through threads that run from the past to the present and even to the future. The common denominator was Robert whose prescience to save and gift a history of the evolution of the CCNY School of Architecture brought the Robert of the 1960s to life.

When one gets Covid, so it has been explained by a doctor friend, one can test positive long after the virus has been  in the system. The virus eventually dies but the test continues to pick it up, hence the tests are positive, Because of those positive tests, nursing homes and rehabs refuse to readmit a patient. Robert was in the hospital close to three weeks; it could not have been comfortable with all the noise and interruption. He had no say in the food that was served and that drove him to distraction—don’t mess with his food. The Hebrew Home for the Aged, in Riverdale, The Bronx, is a complex care facility that addresses all the needs one can have during aging and  they take positive Covid patients when a bed opens, in the rehab facility. The one for Covid is an independent building.

That is where Robert is now.

He was admitted two days ago, on Wednesday afternoon. He has no clothes that I know of, no personal belongings, his little flip phone had no charger and hasn’t been charged in more than three weeks. For a man who was a reader, a collector, a musicphile, an art appreciator, a museum-goer, and a foodie, he is as naked as when he came into the world.

I have not spoken to him. I have not spoken to anyone on the floor. I was told that the team would reach out to me. I tried to initiate calls: The number on the floor rang endlessly. I gave up and called the lovely woman from admissions who connected me to the head nurse, who assured me that things were somewhat stable, that Covid patients are watched and monitored. She assured me that the calls would begin coming today from the staff. For now this is all about rehab, not nursing home.

Robert’s dementia sounds like it is progressing: he is only aware of himself. I may no longer exist beyond whatever was served last night for dinner. But speaking of dinner, I was assured that he ate his entire meal and had three glasses of water. I am hoping that the killing of his smell and taste by Covid, which had to have happened, has abated and now he can get some nourishment.

I have been posting about Robert, as the younger man, and will continue to do so: Dalton needed this information to nominate Robert for that award, but in doing so, he has caused me to look at the past and what drew me to Robert.

About four years ago, Robert decided that it was time to purchase grave sites; he was fixated on this: I believe that on some level he knew he didn’t have many more years to live in decent health. We were finally able to purchase the plots near our home in an arboretum designed by Olmsted; that was crossed of our to-do list. Within the last six months he wanted to write his obituary for The New York Times, this was very important to him. However, he had become disorganized, messy; piles sprung up everywhere, he lacked follow-through, drive. He seemed to be winding down. He never wrote that obit: It looks like it is now my job. So, in a strange way, by being forced to re-examine the past, to go through folders and files, perhaps my job has been made easier. In some ways it is a happy activity.

Gleaned from his résumé:

He taught in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. Middle school science: Biology, Physics, Earth science and Regents Earth Science. He taught science and architecture to gifted youth at C.W. Post University on Saturdays for a number of years: He taught a course called, “Buildings That Changed The World”

He attended workshops (Audubon Society, Maine) and gave workshops (as a teacher of science teachers).

He edited school year books, designed stationery for every school, created brochures and graduation programs: Graphic design was a big part of his life. He presented at The New York City Mathematics Project annual conference, he taught students to digitally create autobiographies, he was a member of the Scientific and and Educational Direction Team of The Video Encyclopedia of Physics Demonstrations, Middle School edition: he appeared in the video.

He wrote A Laboratory Resource Guide for Regents Earth Science and was a presenter and director of workshops for hands-on labs.

Some Community Service:

He was a founding member of the Board of Directors, Queens Historical Society;
Designer/editor of the community based plan for the 72nd Street Subway Station, Manhattan;
Designer of proposal for downtown Flushing Bus Terminal, Queens;
Member of the Board of Directors of two Flushing, Queens co-op apartment buildings;
Planning liaison to Councilwoman Julia Harrison, New York City Council;
Chairman of the design committee and editor of the community-based master Plan for Downtown Flushing, Queens;
New York City Council Citation for Outstanding Citizenship

What I also sent to Dalton:

What is the significance of the number 112 in the title?

It is Robert’s current weight.

📌The series starts here:
Part 1: And The Band Played On … a mother’s life, a daughter’s journey

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