Friday, March 9, 2012
Every spring, the daffodils at the Soldiers Home erupt earlier than anywhere else. And every spring, they inspire me with their resilience—as do the people inside.
Today was one of those inconvenient afternoon Bingo sessions, but after my “spend more time here” epiphany at Reno Day last week, I made it a Friday priority.
I’d been trying to connect with Gary since his February birthday, but we were never in the same place at the same time. So today I stopped at his room first to deliver his card and a mini chocolate-cream pie. Gary was sleeping, but pie has a way of opening doors.
The Bingo room was surprisingly full—a good sign. Greg the Bingo caller was manning the prize cart, having been replaced at the table of power by the energetic Matt—an even better sign. I talked to Dorothy, then to Eileen of the Activities staff, to make sure it was OK for me to help out. It was.
Leo Martell was at his table, wearing a twisty key cord on his wrist that perfectly matched his khaki shirt. I snapped the cord like a rubber band. Leo perked up. “Hi ya, Lucky!” he said.
I snuck up on Ray McDade, who was engrossed in his prayer book, and told him I was on duty. “Well, bless your heart,” Ray said. He says that a lot.
There were several new people in the room—another sign that I’d been away too long—and the crowd seemed renewed and re-energized. Several Activities staffers stopped in to help out, and Matt really kept things moving—and entertaining.
I noticed Bill Crowell in the hallway and tried to talk him into playing. But first he had to kiss my hand and hand out yet another compliment. “You’d look beautiful in rags,” he said. At least I think that was a compliment.
Bill agreed to come in, and I pulled out a chair at Ray’s table and helped Bill settle in.
Eileen from Activities told me she was glad I’d come.
“I’m happy I came, too,” I told her.
“I can tell you are,” she said.
Both Blackout games played to a draw, which means the winners pick playing cards for the $5 prize. Ray and Charlie tied for the second game, and when Charlie drew a 7, Ray was feeling pretty confident. Maybe too confident. He drew a 2.
After Bingo, Doris and Harriet stopped by Ray’s table to relive the drama.
“I got a 2!!” Ray said. “Can you believe that?”
Harriet laughed out loud. Then she said to Ray, “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to laugh.”
“Oh, sure you did,” I said.
I was smiling as I said goodbye—and as I stopped outside to take a picture of the daffodils.
Every spring, the daffodils at the Soldiers Home erupt earlier than anywhere else. And every spring, they inspire me with their resilience—as do the people inside.
Today was one of those inconvenient afternoon Bingo sessions, but after my “spend more time here” epiphany at Reno Day last week, I made it a Friday priority.
I’d been trying to connect with Gary since his February birthday, but we were never in the same place at the same time. So today I stopped at his room first to deliver his card and a mini chocolate-cream pie. Gary was sleeping, but pie has a way of opening doors.
The Bingo room was surprisingly full—a good sign. Greg the Bingo caller was manning the prize cart, having been replaced at the table of power by the energetic Matt—an even better sign. I talked to Dorothy, then to Eileen of the Activities staff, to make sure it was OK for me to help out. It was.
Leo Martell was at his table, wearing a twisty key cord on his wrist that perfectly matched his khaki shirt. I snapped the cord like a rubber band. Leo perked up. “Hi ya, Lucky!” he said.
I snuck up on Ray McDade, who was engrossed in his prayer book, and told him I was on duty. “Well, bless your heart,” Ray said. He says that a lot.
There were several new people in the room—another sign that I’d been away too long—and the crowd seemed renewed and re-energized. Several Activities staffers stopped in to help out, and Matt really kept things moving—and entertaining.
I noticed Bill Crowell in the hallway and tried to talk him into playing. But first he had to kiss my hand and hand out yet another compliment. “You’d look beautiful in rags,” he said. At least I think that was a compliment.
Bill agreed to come in, and I pulled out a chair at Ray’s table and helped Bill settle in.
Eileen from Activities told me she was glad I’d come.
“I’m happy I came, too,” I told her.
“I can tell you are,” she said.
Both Blackout games played to a draw, which means the winners pick playing cards for the $5 prize. Ray and Charlie tied for the second game, and when Charlie drew a 7, Ray was feeling pretty confident. Maybe too confident. He drew a 2.
After Bingo, Doris and Harriet stopped by Ray’s table to relive the drama.
“I got a 2!!” Ray said. “Can you believe that?”
Harriet laughed out loud. Then she said to Ray, “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to laugh.”
“Oh, sure you did,” I said.
I was smiling as I said goodbye—and as I stopped outside to take a picture of the daffodils.
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