Last year's Annual Extravaganza Dance

Here is John Dalgren, the backbone of the band, Voices of the Village. He is a professional singer and very patient band leader. He helps everyone look and sound great - (turning their mike off and on while playing over all of them.) This was a year ago at an annual Band dance where everyone gets dressed up.

The fellow next to Joe is Jerry. He is non-verbal but is their star "Night Club Singer." He's got all the right moves and nuances. He's also a very hard worker. He assembles all the equipment at the start of the show. At the end of the gig he disassembles it, carries it wherever it needs to go, and then lifts and loads it into the van. It is a huge amount of equipment - two key boards, sound system, speakers, mikes and stands for everyone, cords that run everywhere, rhythm instruments for everyone in the band and crowd.

Susan did it, too!

Can you see the stairs and the slide and Joe's happy face? Joe did it (and so did Susan!)

Susan went up with him as you are never certain when Joe will get disoriented and not know what to do next.

July 23 - 29 in Sandy and Midway, Utah

Helen and Susan hosted Joe this summer! Helen had him from Thursday evening, Friday, and the weekend. Helen and all the Cummings threw a huge 52nd birthday bash (pictures coming) and then Susan took him for the next few days. He went bowling and swimming with her.

Yakima Gig - (New blogger!)

Here's just a clip of the gig in Yakima. (Sorry if you crank your head to see it. I'm new at this. Becky)

Apron from Mom

Mom sent Joe this apron with his name embroidered across the front. Joe usually doesn't get the opportunity to wash his dishes as he has to be somewhere soon after eating. But it was a Saturday and so he had plenty of time.

See the picture over the sink? Every so often he points to it and announces, "That's my Dad." One time, when he first arrived, he pointed to it and then to his ear and said, "Dad say he help me." Another time where things were hard for him, he again pointed to his ear after pointing to the picture and said, "Dad help me."

On the other side of this opening is a picture of Mom. His statement for her is, "That's my MOM!"

The next morning - Ellensburg, WA Band Gig - April 2009

The next morning was much better. Everyone had stayed the night at the motel and was refreshed. (That's part of the fee for the gig! The band gets motel rooms and a breakfast.) Here's the band members in the hot tub.

The night before - Ellensburg Gig - April 2009

Here is Joe providing music for dancers at a fundraiser in Yakima, WA. Ellensburg is about 2 and 1/2 hours away going east over the mountains. An organization for people with disabilities was having a fund raiser and Voices of the Village, the band Joe plays in, was the entertainment.

In the background is the band. The theme was Hawaiian Luau. The band is taking a break in the back and Joe just kept on playing. It was a bit of a hard day for him as he didn't sleep much the night before and the drive was long, as was the night's gig.