n the progression of Alzheimer’s disease that is commonly used among healthcare providers and associations related, stage 7 is the final and most critical stage. The patient is near death. With full inability to respond to the environment, it becomes only a matter of time until they forget how to swallow.

Concurrently, the narrator is in the seventh and final stage of the grieving process: Acceptance. Though Alzheimer’s is a relentless disease, the narrator is able to recognize that imbalances and lack of order cannot last forever.

While the guitar riff sounds similar to the album's leitmotif, it is not the same. Here, the notes are evenly spaced out and all on downbeats, generating steadiness and equality. The choir and the electric guitar’s effects put the music in a majestic and sacred realm to display the fragility of the senior’s mortality. Additionally, a heartbeat is heard just before the lyrics enter.

When all of the vocals and instruments cut out, a violin continuously holds the last note to depict the sound of a heart monitor flatlining. The senior has died, and a haunting instrumental section follows directly after. The progression continuously descends and is eventually taken over by a juxtaposing progression that consistently ascends. Exiting the descension and entering the ascension, the violin and cello slowly morph from their natural acoustic sound and into electronic-like sound effects. They continuously build until resolving into the song’s climax, where balance and general harmony are restored - Men and women’s vocals, acoustic and electric instruments, harmonize while moving back and forth over major and minor chords. Both long and short lasting voicings, along with individual descending and ascending runs, are performed by the cellos and violins. All together, they synchronize and unite in harmony to depict the moment of temporary balance between the chaos of yin and the order of yang. The senior has moved on from this life and no longer suffers. Ultimately, it is a reminder that nothing will stay imbalanced, tragic, and devastating forever...

...But nothing stays balanced forever either, for right when the song has ended, the senior is heard tuning his guitar and clearing his throat before playing the opening track and looping the album infinitely, solidifying the yin and yang as ceaseless with no beginning or end.

Clearly, the senior has since passed away, but this is another senior. Alzheimer’s is not over. The disease is genetic and it carries on. Perhaps it’s a relative, or maybe it’s even myself for when I reach that age, if I get it. I played the music on this album at 20 years old, who’s to say that I won’t be playing that very same song on my guitar when I’m 70?

“All things carry Yin
yet embrace Yang.
They blend their life breaths
in order to produce harmony.”

-Tao Te Ching, Chapter 42