all you gotta do is shake it

That was the quote of the day today at Marycrest Manor, the nursing home we visit frequently throughout the year. By "we," I mean some of us at work who are part of the diversity council and others who aren't but who like to come anyways. Today was our Christmas visit and, as always, it was so very worthwhile. We bring some things that the residents need (new, white socks) and also give a little gift bag with an ornament inside and a card from "the Ford Family." But first we gather with them in the dining hall and sing carols, visit, dance (if the mood strikes), and listen to one of our employees play jazz saxophone and another play bagpipes. It's really a great time at Marycrest. Just seeing the smiles on their faces - and for those less alert, hoping that maybe our visit is lifting their spirit a little, is a good feeling.

Some people's spouses or children were there to visit and got to join in the merriment. One of my coworkers is really the heart & soul of every visit. He's very bubbly and outgoing and always leads us in signing or just gets us going. This year he had a plethora of Santa hats, Elf hats, Mrs. Claus (complete with white braids) hats, Reindeer hats and jingle bells. He passed them out to us and some to the residents - we all got to keep them. :) When he gave the bells to one woman, Katherine, she said "What do i do with this?" and he replied, "All you gotta do is shake it." We all laughed and continued to mock him, using all sorts of variations, of course: "Shake it, Baby" or "Shake what yo momma gave ya" or "shake it like a polaroid, son" ... I think the residents just liked to see us laugh and laugh with us.

We danced with Leo who sang along, singing "LA LA LA LA LA" (in the highest octave you can think of) to every song. Helen kept grabbing at her husband, who was visiting, and hugging him. Joyce tried her hardest to remember all the words, but sometimes we had to help her. ;) And (I shouldn't say this, but...) my favorite: Evelyn. She's 99 and will be 100 on May 8th of 2005. She has MANY stories and each one of them captivate me. Doesn't matter that some of them are far from true (so the director whispers), the fact that she can tell these stories so vividly, amazes me. She's also babysat for all of us at one point or another and loves to tell us how we've grown up into such nice children. She's a riot.

After a day like that, who wants to go back to the dungeon and the least Christmasy place on earth!? Not me. So I didn't. I went home.