Many of you on the Pacific coast of the US between San Francisco and Vancouver might have heard (or heard of) Mary Benson, a singer with a clarion voice and a huge repertoire of sea songs and British Isles folk songs. Two weeks ago she was hit with a relatively minor but nonetheless disabling stroke. She walks with extreme difficulty and has a hard time putting together a sentence of more than five or six words. Much of what she says sounds like nonsense, but she is obviously trying to communicate her thoughts. She has been through intensive therapy for ten or so days but will be discharged from Providence (Portland) Medical Center tomorrow. (I'm not sure where she will be but will keep you informed.)

She has had an unbelievable string of misfortune recently: Her father died several months ago; she lost her job; her home is being foreclosed by the bank. (Her 22-year-old son, Max, with CP, has been accepted into a group home.) And now a stroke.

Whether she will ever sing again depends on her recovery. Right now she is unable to sing independently but can hum a bar or two (with very uneven intonation) along with a singer or recording.

But her spirits are good; she's still that irrepressible Mary!

David