Reunions
“That’s the fun of going to a high school reunion: its seeing the people who you were close to all those years ago, and re-exploring the relationships of the past.”
Jon Hurwitz
“I count myself in nothing else so happy
As in a soul remembering my good friends”
William Shakespeare
My brother Charlie and I attended our 50 year high school reunion in Green Bay, Wisconsin recently. It was quite a special event. A small committee driven by one dedicated classmate rounded up 265 of our 475 classmates. The memoriam was solemn as more than 100 of our classmates had passed away.
Our name tags had our high school graduation photos on them and it was remarkable how we had changed and stayed the same over the years. Since we were a class of almost 500 people, it was easy to say, “Oh, I don’t think we knew each other very well.” Then we would study our photos and remember that in fact we had classes together or were both in the band. Our large group was defined by many small groups.
When a new resident, staff person, or volunteer becomes part of the care center family, there are often surprising reunions. I have been able to re-unite with friends from the last century that I have not seen in a long while. One friend and I recognized each other, but honestly cannot remember how we became friends; it always makes us laugh when we try to figure it out.
Another good friend was near the end of her life when I entered her room to clean it as her housekeeper. She recognized me and held out her hand. I was wise enough to take off my cleaning glove and hold her hand for a few minutes. It was a quiet moment of grace for both of us and I am grateful for it.
A little girl grew up to become a nurse and now takes care of a close friend of her family. The friend remembers fondly the years of watching the little girl grow up. We are a small community and often have personal and family connections between us. It adds layers of kindness and history to the family feeling here at the care center.
Music
“To live is to be musical, starting with the blood dancing in your veins.
Everything living has a rhythm. Do you feel your music?” – Michael Jackson
“You are the music while the music lasts.” – T. S. Eliot
Our Music Man Tom Novotny hosted a special Happy Hour this month. Some members of his family were able to join us for the event, including his baby grandson Yves. It is remarkable how a baby changes the energy of a room, all eyes and attention were on the child. Yves has a sweet nature and expressive face; he is also a good dancer and favors the polkas. He makes everyone smile.
Our summer has been filled with music thanks to our dedicated volunteers: The Portage Band, Tom Novotny, The Sing A Long Group: Marsha, LaVona, Linda, Ken, Tammie, and others, Piano Man Doug Sanders, Piano Man Chris Gillis, and Harpist Susan McCormick. Thank you to everyone!
-- Jean Marie Modl