No this is not a Christmas Nativity story. Had this story been set in a Nativity scene, then the donkey would have scarpered and the baby Jesus knocked out of the manger! This story is set on a hospital ward where I visit each week to befriend elderly and dementia patients and play music to them via a Bluetooth speaker and Spotify play lists.
Joseph was in a bay of 5 patients and was watched over be a uniformed security guard and a mental health nurse.
Joseph, in his 60's, was sat in his chair at the side of the bed. He looked like a boxer siting in the corner of a ring, waiting to come out to fight the final round. He was Irish and had slurred speech. He looked aggressive, ready to throw some punches but I thought I would try and humour him so beckoned to the nurse to take her place where she sat facing him, presumably to stop him from getting up and being a nuisance.
But I was ready for him. Fully primed. I think Joseph was glad there was someone else to banter with. He sat hunched forward, as a boxer on his stool, in between rounds, and rocking forwards and backwards. I looked him straight in the face and started talking with him. It was like talking to a drunk. Anyway, we got on to the subject of music. I said I could play him anything. He chose Danny Boy first off and I said I would play the version by Elvis. It was if we were in a pub. He stood up and sang out loud, shuffling from foot to foot. I was afraid he would fall on top of me. But he stood his ground. Other nurses in the bay paid attention! I think they were happy that he was happy!
At the end of the song, my playlist automatically moved on to “Beyond the Sea” (La Mer) by Bobby Darin. This version is a real swinging, orchestrated and jazzy with two key changes. What this meant to Joseph was PARTY TIME. He got up to dance and took me with him to the centre of the bay, linking arms with me like we were a couple of drunks fooling around, as he pulled me around with him. I was seriously worried he would crash into a laptop stand, walking frames o rinto another bed. At one point in his enthusiasm, he dribbled from his mouth onto my arm. I immediately wrestled free, gave the Bluetooth speaker to a nurse, and thoroughly washed my arm at the basin!
Joseph was still bouncing away in the middle of the bay, so I gestured to him to sit back at bedside, so that I could have some control over him. He next wanted “My Way” by Frank Sinatra. Once again, he stood up to sing this by his bed. When it got to the line when Frankie sings “and spat it out” so Joseph accidentally dribbled from his mouth. I sat well back as Joseph was really fired up. His third choice was “Let it Be” by the Beatles. Another favourite of Joseph. He knew all the words and lustily sang to the end, whilst standing to attention.
Joseph didn’t want me to leave the bay. I think he though he had found a friend. In the end I had to be quite firm with him. He shook my hand repeatedly before I left. I think I was rather fortunate. No damage was done. No cradle was rocked. Nothing spilled. And the nurses too had enjoyed some welcome entertainment.
