Bud Lee, a pillar of Tampa Bay’s arts community, had a stroke August 8,2003. He resides at the Plant City Convalescent Home. His friends want you to visit him.

Here are some things you should know about visiting Bud.

He’ll want you to stand on his right side.
This helps keep his inner Republicans at bay.

He’ll probably ask you to wheel him around. This is your opportunity to be his designated driver, for a change.

Bud still likes to hear stories about his friends,
from his friends’ perspective.

The nurses have requested that we do not feed Bud.

They’re really watching his cholesterol and diabetes.

Bring art supplies. Bud likes to paint. You’ll need to take the supplies with you as some of the other residents may try to consume the paint, paper or pencils. Do not be shocked by what Bud will paint.

When walking the hall ways keep looking forward and not into any other residents’ rooms. Looking in those rooms with scare the crap out of you. You will give up cigarettes if you smoke, beer if you drink and French fries if you do drive thru.

But please visit Bud. He’d really like to see you.

Bud had a stroke August 8,2003.

He is paralyzed on the left side.

Bud resides at the Plant City Convalescent Home.

The address is:
2202 W Oak Avenue, Plant City, Florida 33563-7222

What to know when you visit:

Be prepared. Convalescent homes are difficult places to visit and leave feeling peachy about anything whatsoever.

I caution you to be prepared to see awful sights and then feel pretty rotten on the car ride home. Which leads to another suggestion…don’t go home. Go hug someone, especially someone you know.

Maybe come for a visit with a friend. A friend who is able to share a pretty depressing time and still be a friend.

Bud is paralyzed on the left side.

He prefers that you stand and speak to him on his right side. He may mention it, but after a while he won’t so he’ll tire quicker straining to see you on his left.

Plan on being there close to an hour.

He may ask you to wheel him about the place, indoor and out.

Unless you take a younger designated driver please have your morning bowl of corn flakes with extra milk because pushing his chair around is not easy. Navigating around the residents and looking out for Bud’s left leg not to hit something are the highlights.

When talking to Bud I’ve found that I can mix equal portions of our past together (he likes to share old stories) with what I believe are optimistic observations on his health and his attitude. Try to be genuine even if he looks like warmed over cheese grits.

Its been requested by the family that we do not feed him. Leave the ‘home’ to keep him in mystery meat and plastic spoons.

Sadly over the last year and half Bud’s developed a real taste bud (pardon the pun)for fried greasy shrimp from the local drive-in.

Many of us visitors mistakenly have fed that dependency.

The ‘home’ has pointed out the somewhat unhealthy nature of Bud keeping a high level of bad cholesterol in his system so out of respect of all those who still care for him we’ve cut that particular habit down to a minimum. No shrimp, no taco bell, no milk shakes.

He still likes apple pie but again that’s a no-no, due to his diabetes.

Bud will ask for money. Leaving an occasional twenty dollars is up to you. I’ve done that many a time.

But, lately I bring him art equipment and some personal hygiene / toiletries stuff. He always needs lotions, creams, toothpaste, etc.

Bud is currently in his religious phase in his art. He works exclusively in water. If you bring anything bring tempera, brushes, paper, journal books, gold/silver pens, pens (no ballpoint pens, please).

There are several ‘residents’ who live vicariously through Bud’s visitors. These include Bam-Bam, Sparky, Robert (his roommate) and the one old lady who holds a baby doll.

Please be friendly to everyone you see.

Walking to Bud’s room is a difficult proposition. Its hard not being curious about the other residents. Who are they? who left them here? how are they? How long do they have?

Most of the residents are very old people who mostly wait. They wait for visitors, they wait for meals, they wait to be helped go to the bathrooms , they wait for visitors who don’t come around and they sadly wait to die.

Bud lives everyday in this environment. Finding someone to communicate with who isn’t in nurse’s uniform can be difficult, so Bud needs stimulation.

A solution is visitors. That’s where everyone can come in to help.

Each of your visits is memorable and important for Bud and he may comment on them then the next time you visit.

Remember Bud is still the Bud we all know.

The big difference is that he is partially paralyzed and therefore has lost his ability to move independently. This is the first time in his life that he can remember that he’s not moving. I imagine that to be difficult for him.

He needs visitors. He needs friends with a sense of humor. He needs to reminded that we all love him in some form or another. That he is still important in our lives.

But my essay is not about feeling down or defeated. Bud is still Bud. Bud is still around. We all can play a small part in maintaining him being Bud. All the small parts will add up.

That’s my idea of what to do and that’s my small goal for all his true friends.