My first show for the summer of 2026 was at Woodlands Memory Care located across town on the other side of Bridgton. This beautiful facility is across town from where I live, and it got me off to a good start to my summer '26 shows.

I find it interesting that these folks are there because of dementia related memory disorders, yet so many of them remember me from my last visit there six months earlier.  They may not remember where their room is, but they recognize my face.  I am not claiming some profound impact on these people and their disability, I just find the condition of memory loss both tragic and fascinating.

Just as I was about to start, my old friend, Brian, happened down the hall.  I have known Brian since college in the early 1980's, and we often competed in campus and community talent shows- me juggling, him playing Cat Stevens songs on the flute.  Brian busked around Australia after college, where he had his spiritual awakening, moved back to the states, and settle in Bridgton.  He was passing through Woodlands to meet with patients, because he is now a physical therapist.  Anyway, as he passed through the activity room, he told the folks to pay attention to my show, and it was well worth watching.  A few of the residents told him they already knew I put on a good show.

And it did go well.  I've been including my hat juggling routine (Crown Him With Many Crowns) more and more lately, and I made sure to do it here.  Anyone growing up in church would recognize this hymn, and music, I am told, is a powerful memory stimulant.  Sure enough, some of the audience sang along as soon as they recognized the song, as they also did on "When the Saints Go Marching In" and "O Come, All Ye Faithful".

The show progressed through several routines and ended with machete juggling before wrapping up just before their lunch time.  It was a fine time of witnessing and fellowship.