Beth Williams! Singer/Songwriter - Official Website

I met Memory Long in 1992 when I was singing at Hill Country Nursing Home in Dripping Springs, Texas. We became friends and have remained so through the years. Although Memory is a quadriplegic, he's constantly trying to find ways to help others.

Example: After the release of my CD, In This Old House, he had the aides and staff at Hill Country Care, along with his other friends, calling & emailing in requests for my music to be played on radio stations all over Texas. He couldn't make the calls himself but he did everything he possibly could to find ways to help in getting my music heard. He really worked hard to ensure those songs would get out there!

Rather than sit in self pity about the "stumbling blocks" in his life, Memory rises above the situation, and does his best to look around for ways to help others.

Thought you might like to read a story about him (story below) that was published in the Wimberley View. That's Wimberley, Texas!

Memory Long was born in Victoria, Texas. He was named after a family friend who had died at a young age. About his name, he replied, "It has made life very interesting. I got teased mercilessly. But, it's a blessing because there were a lot of Bobs and Joes, but only one Memory." In June 2002, he celebrated his seventieth birthday. In a recent conversation, he described himself, saying, "I'm what you'd call an incomplete quad. I have feeling all over my body, but I can not raise my arms or legs." Given Memory's personality, the phrase, "incomplete quadriplegic," is a mere medical definition.

When he was 19, he enlisted in the US Air Force, serving in the Korean War between 1951 through 1955. He was stationed in the Far East and Lake Charles AFB in Louisiana. When his military service ended, he held the rank of Staff Sergeant. Then, he attended the University of Texas from 1955 to 1959, earning a degree in the field of management. After several years at different jobs, he moved to Houston and worked as a Superintendent for two road construction companies, Warren Brothers, and Brown and Root. On his days off, he worked as a drafter for a land surveyor. "I was a busy bee," he said. In 1980, he moved back to Austin to work in construction. Then, he became an estimator for Pool and Rogers Paving Company, based in Buda.

In October 1992, Memory suffered a stroke, which severed a nerve just below the stem of his brain. He recalled, "I was getting ready to go to work when it happened. I must have blacked out. I woke up and called Joe Rogers at Pool and Rogers and told him that something was wrong. I sounded like I was drunk and my legs felt like they were going to sleep. Joe came over and called EMS to get me to Brackenridge Hospital. I ended up at Brackenridge for about a month, and then went to St. David's for rehabilitation.

From day one my sister and brother-in-law, Jo Ann and Bill Hough, Nori Haag, Lillian and Daniel Dobias, and Joe Rogers were there, giving me moral support and encouragement. I have spoken with some of my close friends and they have reminded me how emotional the first few months were on me. I recalled when the Dr. finally told me I would no longer have the use of my legs and arms. It was a VERY emotional time and I wanted to be left alone."

Memory spent the next nine months at the Audie Murphy VA Hospital in San Antonio. "I was on the spinal cord injury ward," he said. "I had occupational and physical therapy, and they took us on shopping trips. It's a wonderful place." Also, he remembered, "People were always around encouraging me and praying for me. Prayers are very important." To illustrate that point, he spoke of one night's prayer, "I prayed to God, to have the courage to accept my new life. He did more, he made me a better person."

Next, Memory recounted several difficult aspects of his recovery and rehabilitation. He said, "Three months after my stroke, I couldn't speak so my family and friends got a manila folder and drew lines, numbered 1 through 5, putting five letters of the alphabet on each of the first four lines and six letters on the fifth line. When they would visit, they would get the folder and point to a line and a letter. I would blink once for yes and twice for no - to spell out the word. However, we would usually end up laughing because it became more like a game of charades, everyone trying to guess what I was trying to spell. It was also in the third month that I had problems with swallowing and for the next three years I was fed all foods and liquids through a tube. After many years of therapy and exercise I am able to eat again, and my weight is living proof of that. When I first got to the VA hospital, I couldn't sit up, and now I move around in my wheelchair." Memory received his first motorized wheelchair from the Audie Murphy Hospital in October of 1993. He explained that he uses his chin to direct the wheelchair's remote control, which is "like a joystick." Then, he recalled, "The whole time through my hospital stay, Joe came regularly every week. He was a chairman on the Board at Hill Country Care. So when it was time for me to leave the VA, he talked the board into taking me. They had never before had a quad."

Memory moved into Hill Country Care (HCC) in Dripping Springs in November 1993. "Most of my family lives in Victoria," he said, adding, "I have two buddies, John Hudson and Jim Covington. I used to work with them, and they visit regularly. They're the ones who make sure my wheelchair is all right. They take care of repairs or anything I need. I promised them that if I went back to work, I'd be a flagman for them. It's our joke. They know what a terrible flag-man I was!"

Then, he gave his HCC home a glowing report, saying, "I wouldn't move from this place. I sure have met some wonderful people and made a hundred new friends. Everyone here does a remarkable job. It's thankless work. I get into a lot of trouble around here. They have to watch their backs when I come down the hall!" He talked of one employee in particular, Nong Weitzel, the Activity Director. In 1972, she moved from Thailand to Dripping Springs and has worked at HCC for the past thirteen years. Memory said, "If I need something, I know who to go to. She'll bug someone until I get it. She's a pain sometimes!" When asked about Memory, Nong said, "He is a joy to have around and keeps us on our toes. He still has a good head on his shoulders." Then, she explained more about the nursing home, saying, "Hill Country Care is a non-profit nursing home and belongs to the community." An annual fund-raiser at The Salt Lick in Driftwood is one example of many of how the nearby communities support HCC. The 2002 fund-raiser is scheduled for October 3. Then, Nong described another kind of community support, saying, "When Memory came here, we were not equipped with a gurney for the shower. The Blue Bonnet Auxiliary helped us out with the adaptive equipment." Then, she shared her personal experience at HCC. "Working here," she said, "I have known so many generous and wonderful people. I have learned so much from these folks. I am humbled." Besides weekly in-house activities, Memory said that HCC residents were treated to cookouts and an annual fishing trip to a local stock tank. He recalled one fishing trip, saying, "They cast out for me. I felt the rod move and said, 'I got a bite!' Nong said, 'What do I do!' I told her to reel it in. She got the line so tangled up; we had to cut the line. The twenty pound fish got away!" Then, he added, "Of course, the fish gets bigger every year!"

Putting his easy humor to work, he said, "I want to tell you about my alter-ego. It's a cartoon character of mine called The Quad. I use humor and satire to depict my life during and after rehab. I do it to let people know that life goes on." Over the years, three female artists helped The Quad achieve a cartoon life. Memory explained, "What I do, I tell the artist and she takes my words and draws it for me." The first artist to draw The Quad was Nong's daughter, Debbie Weitzel. Two years later, Erin Smith-Wright drew for him. Several years later, Stacy Whitley, a certified nurse's aid, took over the artwork. Each year since 1996, Trendsetters in Dripping Springs has produced his twelve favorite cartoons as wall-calendars. He said, "John and Jim, owners of Lone Star Paving Company, have been the biggest support of The Quad and are instrumental in the calendar's printing each year."

Aside from his own creativity, he spoke of another healing power, music. He said, "The first year I was here, I met my friend, singer and songwriter Beth Williams. Her music is beautiful. She wrote and recorded a song called Now. The song is a good blueprint for life. It says that life goes on, life is what you make of it, and be happy where you are now. That's how I feel about today." He concluded with "I like that song. It says it all." With faith, family, friends, and fun in his life, it can be said that there is nothing incomplete about Memory Long.

Memory is such a inspiration to everyone who knows him. If you're ever in Dripping Springs, Texas, please stop by Hill Country Nursing and meet this amazing man. Email Memory at CLICK HERE

Or write him at: Memory Long C/O Hill Country Care 1501 West Highway 290 Dripping Springs, Texas 78620 Ph. 512-858-5624

Memory's story was written by Oda Lisa Hernandez and published in the Wimberley View. I met Oda Lisa though my friendship with Memory, and over time, she & I have become friends too. She's been totally blind since 1995.

When I asked her about it, and how she's able to surf the Internet, write stories etc, here's what she had to say:

"My blindness is caused by Retinitis Pigmentosa(RP), a congenital retinal disease. I use the computer with the aid of a screen reader, phonetic software that outputs to a voice synthesizer. My computer's voice is called "Rocco" and he has a bass, British accent. Blindness has been the tradeoff between having visual advantages and having a chance at a fuller understanding of spiritual matters. I'm not visually distracted and that is a definite advantage. Blindness is less of a challenge for me because I trust that God continually straightens my pathway. That paternal promise is scriptural. Then more to the point, Scripture details the ultimate promise, Jesus, who has a miraculous history of restoring sight and life to humankind. I have full faith that my physical sight and more will return when I shake off this earthy body. Therefore, RP is a temporary condition."

Here's a poem by Oda Lisa Hernandez after visiting Memory in the hospital March '04

Memory Long - An Amazing Man