Alan William Noeh

December 9th, 2017

I’d like you come along on an “Alan Visit”. Say its Saturday and I’m thinkin’ “Hey I haven’t seen my “lil” bro in a while”, I’ll go today”.. Only this time, instead of going by myself I invite you, to come with,
To me it’s just my bro, but I’ll fess up here,, I’d probably prep you a bit during the hour car ride about him not hearing, or speaking (other than making random sounds). I’ll say he walks fine but needs a bit of help getting in out of the car, getting up stairs and curbs. Ill also may say “he’s really sweet”, and I most definitely will tell you he really really really likes to eat. And mostly ice cream!
So we arrive and you see he looks at me kinda blank, than a quick moment passes and he erupts in a grin, clasps his hands together, drives his chin into the back of his hands, as he howls – immediately you are drawn to him, as he just gave you a microburst of his loving soul. You have no choice but to grab his hand and return it in full force. You will give that right back to him,
We pile in the car, cruise to the local pancake house, and it’s time to eat. We order his pancakes blended with strawberries and bananas as he can’t eat solid food. Nope, you are not grossed out or sad for him, You will laugh lovingly as his alleged handicap has turned out to be a license to eat a milkshake for breakfast! Moreover by time you have completed this thought and put the ketchup on your hash browns, he has gobbled up 4 pounds of liquefied yum! No worries, you have time to finish your meal because he is relentlessly scraping his meal container for any potential remnants. However, you realize you will be leaving hungry because can’t eat your meal because you laugh along with his eating vigor and marvel at the continuous smile on this angels face as he pounces on.
We walk out to pay, and pass by several tables on the way, Maybe Alan grabs at someone else’s water, food, coke, maybe a spoon. No one is spooked or upset, he radiates this pure joy that just puts people at ease. There is only love that is directed at him, as he just throws it out in droves, no matter his actions. They are just seen for the purity they are. You see it and feel it.
So let’s pile in the car, this time drop the convertible top and go for a 1950;s style cruise to a park, You see this spot of light in the front seat grinning from the wind in his face and throwing his head as much as he can into the slipstream so he can get more wind. The perfect facial! Your heart will be lifted.
We get to the park, shmye around for a bit, hit a slide, some swings and kill time, but no one is bored, Alan smiles at you and you feel like a kid alongside him. Alan has drawn you out of your complicated world.
But I look to you and say, this has all been a set up. A setup for Alan at his pinnacle of being it’s time for ICE CREAM. Top down, over to Baskin Robbins or Dairy Queen. It’s go time. Bring you’re A Game because you will be in the presence of Ice Cream eating greatness. I cruise to the counter as you sit with him and see this smiling grin that’s says,” Look out now, there is serious stuff about to go down.” You have no choice but to smile! I deliver a large sundae and Alan digs in with all smiles. You try making eye contact with him but to no avail. He’s dedicated to complete annihilation of this treat, there is no escape from this pure innocence, I believe your heart is melting as you smile.
Time to cruise back to Ludeman, say our good byes, there are no tears, or big hugs, Just a knowing that you made the effort to see a sole, unmasked by life’s trappings, and you leave feeling rewarded. I know he sits down knowing that he is not alone, he is loved, cared for and will always be.

Epilogue. For 5 weeks in Intensive care, with mostly supported breathing, he was not able to have any food orally. His need to find his peace was imminent and we had to accommodate. So, at around noon, this past Tuesday, regardless of any eating restrictions, Alan, Ed and myself had one last ice cream party. It’s a treat that will always fill me with love and innocence. Rest Peacefully, My Brother,

~Mike Noeh
~Brother, Deerfield, Illinois

December 8th, 2017

I’d like you come along on an “Alan Visit”. Say its Saturday and I’m thinkin’ “Hey I haven’t seen my “lil” bro in a while”, I’ll go today”.. Only this time, instead of going by myself I invite you, to come with,
To me it’s just my bro, but I’ll fess up here,, I’d probably prep you a bit during the hour car ride about him not hearing, or speaking (other than making random sounds). I’ll say he walks fine but needs a bit of help getting in out of the car, getting up stairs and curbs. Ill also may say “he’s really sweet”, and I most definitely will tell you he really really really likes to eat. And mostly ice cream!
So we arrive and you see he looks at me kinda blank, than a quick moment passes and he erupts in a grin, clasps his hands together, drives his chin into the back of his hands, as he howls – immediately you are drawn to him, as he just gave you a microburst of his loving soul. You have no choice but to grab his hand and return it in full force. You will give that right back to him,
We pile in the car, cruise to the local pancake house, and it’s time to eat. We order his pancakes blended with strawberries and bananas as he can’t eat solid food. Nope, you are not grossed out or sad for him, You will laugh lovingly as his alleged handicap has turned out to be a license to eat a milkshake for breakfast! Moreover by time you have completed this thought and put the ketchup on your hash browns, he has gobbled up 4 pounds of liquefied yum! No worries, you have time to finish your meal because he is relentlessly scraping his meal container for any potential remnants. However, you realize you will be leaving hungry because can’t eat your meal because you laugh along with his eating vigor and marvel at the continuous smile on this angels face as he pounces on.
We walk out to pay, and pass by several tables on the way, Maybe Alan grabs at someone else’s water, food, coke, maybe a spoon. No one is spooked or upset, he radiates this pure joy that just puts people at ease. There is only love that is directed at him, as he just throws it out in droves, no matter his actions. They are just seen for the purity they are. You see it and feel it.
So let’s pile in the car, this time drop the convertible top and go for a 1950;s style cruise to a park, You see this spot of light in the front seat grinning from the wind in his face and throwing his head as much as he can into the slipstream so he can get more wind. The perfect facial! Your heart will be lifted.
We get to the park, shmye around for a bit, hit a slide, some swings and kill time, but no one is bored, Alan smiles at you and you feel like a kid alongside him. Alan has drawn you out of your complicated world.
But I look to you and say, this has all been a set up. A setup for Alan at his pinnacle of being it’s time for ICE CREAM. Top down, over to Baskin Robbins or Dairy Queen. It’s go time. Bring you’re A Game because you will be in the presence of Ice Cream eating greatness. I cruise to the counter as you sit with him and see this smiling grin that’s says,” Look out now, there is serious stuff about to go down.” You have no choice but to smile! I deliver a large sundae and Alan digs in with all smiles. You try making eye contact with him but to no avail. He’s dedicated to complete annihilation of this treat, there is no escape from this pure innocence, I believe your heart is melting as you smile.
Time to cruise back to Ludeman, say our good byes, there are no tears, or big hugs, Just a knowing that you made the effort to see a sole, unmasked by life’s trappings, and you leave feeling rewarded. I know he sits down knowing that he is not alone, he is loved, cared for and will always be.

Epilogue. For 5 weeks in Intensive care, with mostly supported breathing, he was not able to have any food orally. His need to find his peace was imminent and we had to accommodate. So, at around noon, this past Tuesday, regardless of any eating restrictions, Alan, Ed and myself had one last ice cream party. It’s a treat that will always fill me with love and innocence. Rest Peacefully, My Brother,

~Mike Noeh
~Brother, Deerfield, Illinois