Dred,
Now you are blowing me away.
About 2 months ago, we moved my mother into an assisted living center. My father died about 13 years ago, and after having been married to him for 46 years, my mother had always been kind of lost since his death. Her memory had been failing her badly the past couple of years. I have a brother and 2 sisters, and after much discussion, my siblings and I decided to move her out of the home she had lived in since 1964, to assisted living. Mother fought the move tooth and nail and it broke my heart when she would grab my arm crying and begging me not to leave her there.
Mother's opinion of the move, and the place we had placed her was very negative. Then one evening she called me and invited me over to the assisted living center for a thing called a music night. I couldn't make it that night because of a prior commitment, but afterwards mother just went on and on about this music. It turns out that one of the nurses there plays the acoustic, along with some of her friends, and they play for the folks that live in the center. Not only was mother excited about the live music, but she suggested that I bring a guitar to the next get together (monthly), and play and sing for her and her new neighbors. I had kind of put the idea on the back burner, but you've given me reason to reconsider. I think that is the type of audience that would appreciate you no matter how good (or in my case, bad) you are, and the fact that you simply have something to offer to break the bordom of the routine. I may just have to pack up the D25 and JF30 for the next "music night"! Don't think I'll get into any "Needle and the Damage Done" or "Illegal Smile" with that group though. Although I'm sure my audience wouldn't have a clue as to what I was singing about.
BTW, mother's opinion of her new environment has changed as she now understands that someone must be there to ensure that she eats properly, is medicated on time and has someone always there to check in on her. She has also developed friendships with a couple of ladies who knock on her door each evening to invite her to walk the grounds with them.
Your post may have made a big difference here Dred. That's a good thing you're doing there. God bless you.
Thanks,
West