It all started with a program I did about Elvis.
I have volunteered to speak to civic groups about various topics, mainly because I love to share information and because I am always looking for something to do to fill the hours, so I reached out to the assisted living facility last year to see if I could do a program of some sort for the residents. The activities director and I discussed it and decided on a program about Elvis since I am somewhat of an Elvis expert.
The room was packed, men and women. We played an Elvis trivia game (multiple choice), I answered questions, and some talked about their reaction to him when he became famous. I told them my personal stories (my friendship with Elvis’s nurse, how I met George Klein, my interview with Gordon Stoker of The Jordanaires–if you’re an Elvis fan you know whom I’m talking about, and if you’re not, you can look them up).
That event led to regular monthly programs. I talked about vision loss. I did a presentation about Pat Summitt. I’ve shared about books. The number has dwindled to about ten each time, but that’s okay.
Last week, I took some of my sewing projects, and it sparked a conversation about their sewing experiences. I took my old Barbie dolls (yes, I still have them) so they could see some of the clothes my Aunt Hilde had made. We played a trivia game (two teams, multiple choice for the answers) about general topics.
A side note: Because I can no longer drive, my friend Donna drove me to most of these meetings. I’ve now re-scheduled the meetings to a different day when my husband is available to drive me. Donna, I appreciate you so much!
Back to the point of this blog. My original intent was to talk about things I love and to fill my time with something to do. But now it is much more than that. I’m enjoying listening to their personal stories and laughing with them when somebody says something funny. I’m reminded of my own aging process and how I hope if I live to be in my eighties or nineties that someone will care enough about me, wherever I may live, to spend some time with me and brighten my day.
Next month, I’m going to create a playlist on YouTube of songs from their era, and I asked them which artists they liked. “Anything from the 1950s,” one woman said. “Elvis,” said another. “How about The Beach Boys?” I asked. “Their music makes me want to get up and move, so we can all dance!” They laughed at that.
When I visit them on Feb. 10, I will have a playlist ready to mirror on the TV in the meeting room. One of the ladies, who is legally blind due to macular degeneration, will not be able to see it, but she’ll enjoy the music. One of the ladies is often confused and not able to communicate that well, but music is the universal communicator. Several have some hearing loss, so I’ll crank up the volume. That may bring us a bigger crowd.
Inside each one of those women is a young woman who once loved to skate, to ride a bike, to go out with friends, to spend time with family. I know because a younger woman lives inside of me along with the maturity and wisdom gained through the years. And there’s nothing that takes me back to that young woman like music from “my era.”
So, we’ll enjoy music. And maybe, just maybe, we will get up and dance.
Life As I know it 