vrene

Death. Vrene talks about it often throughout my visit this morning. Her thoughts wander and trail off. She acknowledges that she has become forgetful but speaks freely, eloquently, and is very direct. I ask her if I may use the bathroom. She replies “on the contrary; you must use the bathroom!” Vrene doesn’t seem to waste many words and she uses her hands and the muscles in her face to communicate with much greater depth than could be carried through sound alone. Her presence is overwhelmingly kind.

Vrene grew up in the countryside and first discovered art in the dirt. She would mould the earth into shapes and figures. As she’s describing this part of her story her hands are alive. She became a puppet-master many years ago and has maintained a love for the craft all her life. Today, the room is full of finger, hand, and rod puppets, props, and projects. As the flash fires at irregular intervals, Vrene talks about the joys of using puppets as a way of accessing people in meaningful ways. Still, she wants to go soon. In the embrace of her skeleton friend, she explains to me the circle of life.

Thanks to my Dad, who visits Vrene and many other elderly people in the community on a regular basis, for making the connection and being there.

http://tls.theaterwissenschaft.ch/wiki/Vrene_Ryser

[8] Thursday, May 20, 2021