When I was 18, my sister Mary Ann and her husband Pudge took me with them on their summer vacation to Washington Island. I brought my guitar along and during the course of the week we had a sing-along. It wasn’t planned, it just happened. That was the start of a tradition of Washington Island sing-alongs that continues to this day. Eventually two of my nephews started playing guitar and the next generation joined in. In the last couple of years two great-nephews started playing guitar and a third generation joined in. I hope that this keeps on going. We always have a great time.
This week I had by far the most difficult and most important sing-along of my life. You see, my brother-in-law Pudge is losing a battle with cancer and is in a hospice. Kathy and I have gone down to visit a couple of times and it breaks my heart to see him lying there. On Wednesday I brought my guitar and Mary Ann and I sang songs like Figenschau Bay, Norwegian Wood, I Love My Shirt, and Puff the Magic Dragon. I had all I could do to focus on the songs and think about the good times. I glanced up during Norwegian Wood and was surprised to see Pudge’s lips moving as he silently sang along. When the song ended he slowly and silently put his hands together several times to applaud us. I couldn’t keep looking because I knew I would break down. I wanted to keep singing.
I’m not sure how I got through it. Mary Ann’s strong, clear voice helped a lot. When I got home that night I went off by myself and cried. I’ve known Pudge since I was, I don’t know, maybe 7 or 8, and the world will not be the same without him. In my mind he’ll always be at the Island, out on his boat, the Norwegian Wood.
Thanks for all of the great times, Pudge.
