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Meet Uncle Paul
Meet Uncle Paul. 62-years-young - he's a lover of The Beatles, The Monkees, and The Terminator and he just so happens to be living with Down syndrome. Tracing the trajectory of his 62 years on Earth, Meet Uncle Paul tells the moving history of Paul's life (born into a family as loving as it large) while in the current day he contends with the early stages of dementia. A powerful reminder of the power of decency and compassion, Meet Uncle Paul pays tribute to an unforgettably indomitable spirit.
Meet Uncle Paul has played to warm reception across the country in Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.
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Sir Saint King Paul Hap George Harrison
1955 - 2023
Uncle Paul passed away pretty much peacefully in December 2023. He had a Beatles Christmas Funeral extravaganza fit for the kingly, knighted, hall of famer that he and his many personas were.
Mom gave a wonderful eulogy that brought down the house and our family of musicians and orators and true hearts "talked about Paul for (more than) five minutes," one of his favorite sayings, in a way that I think he would have loved.
I used to say that when Uncle Paul died, I would only be sad for myself and those of us left behind because I knew he'd be in a better place immediately. I was right, but I miss him more than I even thought. What do you do when one of your favorite people dies?
Art and nature have been a comfort as the grief comes in waves. And I've been asking less and less, "Where are you, Uncle Paul?" My fervent hope is that he is spending eternity in a genie bottle with I Dream of Jeannie. Okay, maybe not eternity - he needs some time to travel and catch up with his bandmates, and family, and mom & dad.
Wherever he is, I am with him and he is with me.
And so it goes for anyone who has ever held him in their hearts.
An Update from Paul's sister, Susie, in 2021:
Paul is still blessing his family and community with his unique spirit while continuing to struggle with the further onset of dementia.
Up until March 2020, he continued to bowl every week and visit with my husband and me every weekend. Once the COVID lockdown began, Paul stayed with me for several months, during which time his physical and mental regression became more apparent. We found a group home a few blocks away where I could keep a closer eye on him.
Unfortunately, on his very first day at the new group home, he fell and broke his leg. After major surgery, he went into rehab at a nursing home and became more comfortable there and dependent on using a wheelchair. For his safety and medical needs, the decision to have Paul stay at the nursing home was made and I was thankfully able to attend doctor appointments with him and also visit him through the nursing home window.
In November, a wave of COVID infections hit the nursing home and Paul was diagnosed and hospitalized for a week. He went into therapy once again to rebuild his strength and made a good recovery, but still prefers to use the wheelchair.
With thanks to the nursing home staff, at least one one of Paul's siblings are in touch with him daily on Skype, by phone, or behind a window. He continues to show love and enthusiasm for his family, and has made new friends in his current setting. He tools around the entire floor in his wheelchair, drinks his regular Pepsis and looks forward to the day when we can all be together again - preferably a sunny or snowy day without even a remote chance of rain.