By Vicki Scott
One of our seniors here in Reeltown had to go assisted living care after her husband passed away. Knowing this sweet lady, it was probably her decision. For a while, our pastor would pick her up and take to and from church on Sundays, but she got sick and had to miss the services. The facility she is living in has a chapel, so she started going there with a friend from Chicago. Her heart is still at Reeltown, however, and Reeltown keeps in touch with her.
I sent this sweet lady a Christmas card during the past holiday season, but it was returned to me. So I decided to visit her and deliver the card personally. The place she now stays at is new, and I had never been there before. I walked in the door and she was sitting in the main room with two friends she had made at the facility. The atmosphere was very friendly and inviting.
As this sweet lady proudly showed me around the facility, I noticed that they have exercise classes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9 a.m. followed by bingo at 10. Memories of the George Wallace Senior Center in Glencoe came flooding back, as well as my new adventures in the Reeltown senior exercise classes, which were basically the same thing. While at Glencoe, I called my seniors the Golden Yellow Jackets because it made me think of them as a team, and we all function better together. At Reeltown, we are The Hummingbirds since we are doing all we can and that both teams work better together. The entrance sign to the Reeltown facility’s physical therapy room has a hummingbird on it. I took a picture and sent it in a group text to my Reeltown hummingbirds. A coincidence? I think not.
On the way back to the lake after visiting the sweet lady, I thought about holding bingo in her honor. I cannot sing or play an instrument, but I can do bingo. I’ve practiced this skill for longer than any instrument I’ve attempted to play (My parents certainly tried with five years of piano, a year of guitar and a year of chorus). A dream of mine is to perform stand-up comedy, but all I have right now is my bingo skill set.
After arriving back home, I searched the internet to find the phone number for this special lady’s facility. I discovered that their motto is, “We are better together,” which our pastor says a lot. After getting the lady’s phone number, I sent the idea of playing bingo to the hummingbirds group text. I received back several responses that let me know they were all interested in participating. When I called the facility, they said that they were ready when we were!
It feels good to know that my lack of musical ability is not a deterrent to entertaining seniors. I praise God for giving me the idea, and I pray that I do not let Him down. I also praise Him for allowing me to be a part of the Golden Yellow Jackets and Hummingbirds, who taught me that we indeed are better together!
Vicki Scott may be contacted at lily200383@yahoo.com.