Photo Book for "The Oldies But Goodies" was a Big Hit!

This Monday was a tough day, Pleurisy was bad today. I just tried to deal with the pain, and hope it would get better as the day went. Tom and I wanted to see Mom, and take her clean wash to her. We brought with us her favorite magazine, fruit salad that Tom made yesterday. We were so excited about today because we were dropping off a photo album for the Oldies But Goodies to check out
their pictures.

Mom enjoying her fruit salad and ice tea.

We took the photo book to the main area where most of the seniors like to hang out,  and Mom was so excited to show everyone.  I told the ones that were sitting down there that the book stays here so I can add more photos each time I come.

New Senior .. she just arrived a couple of days ago. She told me that her photo is not in there.

Nick and Mom. Nick is the Chef there. Such a sweet guy, and he loves Mom very much. You can tell Mom loves him too.

This Senior plays solitaire all the time when she is at the main living area.She does not talk to anyone just keeps playing cards.

 Here are some of the Oldies and Goodies checking out the photo book.

 New lady at American House... very quiet....

 She said don't forget my photo.

 Mom kept telling everyone my daughter made this for all of us.

 One of the helpers wanted her photo with Mom.  This lady gives out the medications to all the residents

 These guys were in line to talk to Kathy. They must have some thing very important to talk about.

This man is deaf, and when he saw that I had taken his photo he motioned me to take another photo of him smiling. Such a cutie....

 Roger playing with the very famous Tank.

 Our HERO.... never leaves his apartment without all his red white and blue necklace.

This lady looks mad but the poor thing does not have any teeth, and when she talked her voice was very pleasant.

This lady looks younger than me, but always seems to be starring off somewhere. I never see her smile, the poor thing.

 Love this man. He has such a great personality, and always is cracking a joke.

This is the lady that did not see her photo, (even though she was looking straight at it!) so she asked me to take another one. Look at that smile. She kept raising her voice and kept telling me that her photo was not in the book. I kept showing her the two photos I had of her and she raised her voice and said that was not her because that person was very ugly. She said I had to take another photo of her, so I did. Boy, this time she was smiling ear to ear.

The lady with the walker is the one that plays cards all the time. I never see her without a deck of cards.

 The Dot Ladies with Roy.... Roy usually falls asleep on that couch.  A very sweet man.

 This man is new to me. I asked him if he wanted his photo taken and here it is.

 Every time I see this man he is outside and starring at the ground. I think his eye sight is getting bad. A man without much to say.  He usually is setting alone when we see him.  I wonder what is going on in his mind?

Mom walked out the door with us, and said goodbye. She loves this striped outfit. I put this outfit on her Friday, and I have this horrible feeling she is still wearing it and its Monday.

It made me so happy to see all of them crowing a round the book and pointing who was who, and where the photo was taken. Tom and I made a bunch of Oldies But Goodies very happy and made them all smile on what would otherwise be a regular Monday at American House.

Mom meets Vending Machine Lady...

After Tom and I went for our Friday walk and coffee with a bagel at Panera's we went to see Mom. We took her two slices of pizza from Comparis in Plymouth, with fresh fruit and other healthy treats. She was in her apartment with air and television unplugged. Kathy said she did not want to come down for breakfast or lunch. Mom got very excited about the pizza, because she loves to eat pizza. Tom made her a fresh cup of coffee too. While she ate I showed her two photos that I had taken of her when we went to the Metro Park on Wednesday. I was so happy to hear that she remembered going.

Talking and eating her pizza. She loves her coffee in her MSU cup.  Interestingly, there was some scorched on stuff in the bottom of her cup, that was not there a few days ago.  She said she has been trying to clean it for years and it would not get clean.  When Tom showed her he got it clean, she was amazed!  Now, the mystery for us is, what did she put in that cup?

Mom and Dot won these frames from a Bingo games. Tom put the photo that I had taken of Tank in each of their frames. We made two ladies very happy.

I Shared  with Mom some more photos with stories to go with them. I noticed Mom put one album up so everyone could see it.

She was in an okay mood until Danielle came up to get her ready for a shower. She was not too happy for a teacher like her to be told to take a shower. How we got her to take one was we told her Greg may be dropping over with Rachelle to see her this evening. She went in the bathroom very quickly with a smile. When she got out of the shower, I had clothes already for her to wear, and she was upset because Danielle made her wash her hair. I told her not to worry I would blow dry her hair and she will end up looking like a dolly. She got excited and when I was through fixing her hair, she looked in the mirror and said she looked even better than a dolly.

After her shower she looked clean and very pretty. Look at that sweet smile.  Tom and I somehow got her downstairs.

Every time we walk down to the main floor we see the vending machine with so many treats that Mom loves. We both would ask each other if we had money to buy this time, and of course we both did not.

The Dot Girls..... yes... they do not smile much. Except I did see a big smile when Dot (on the left) got her frame of Tank and her photo swinging at the park.

Mom saw Dot (red hair) in the lounge who went with us all to the Metro Park.  She saw that Dot also had a photo of Tank and a photo of Dot swinging, just like the ones we gave her. Dot wanted me to bring more photos of her, and then others asked too. I told Tom that we need to get a big photo album and start putting the photos I have taken of all the Oldies and Goodies and place them in a book in the front lounge, so every one can smile and enjoy looking at them.

Then we went outside under the front porch roof. We watched the storm come in.  We met Frank from Lincoln Park, and Mom got so excited about meeting someone that lived near her.

Frank from Lincoln Park and Mom were talking downriver stuff. Seeing they lived by each other once.

Here is the most popular guy at American House, Tank.  Look at the cute guy. He has more wrinkles than most of the Oldies and Goodies do.

My Tom and Mom listening to Frank talk and watching the rain come.

Here Mom is saying hello to a lady and she asked if she could be her friend. This is not a good shot of the lady, but a good end shot of Tank.  While she was going inside a lady was leaving and Mom liked her smile. Mom told the lady at the door she would like to be her friend. Kathy laughed because the lady that Mom was talking to filled up all the vending machines around American House with candy and treats. Kathy knew how much Mom loves her candy and treats.

Then we told her we had to leave, and she decided to go inside and play with Tank the dog.  We left Mom in the big entrance room where everyone who likes to see people come in and come out, and its a very popular place for everyone to be especially if your an Oldie but Goodie. Gave Mom lots of butterfly kisses and she went to one of the big cushion chairs near Frank from Lincoln Park. This time when I heard the rain storm I did not have to worry about Mom, she is now in a safe environment with many people who will take care of her. She is much safer here at American House then in her condo in Canton.

Lower Huron Metropark with the Oldies and Goodies

Tom and I were not too excited about getting up early today, but we volunteered to help Renee at American House take a group of the residence, including mom, to the Lower Huron Metropark for a picnic and games. We knew we would have to get to American House at nine-thirty just to get Mom up, dressed and get her to eat her breakfast. When we got to the entrance of American House and saw Mom sitting with some of her friends, I was in complete shock. It was funny Tom and I appeared in shock seeing Mom dressed and up, and Mom was in shock in seeing us there so early in the morning.

I explained to Mom how we were going to have a fun day at the park, ( I reminded her of Camp Dearborn days) and the first thing she needed to do is eat breakfast. She complain throughout breakfast that she was not feeling well. I started getting concerned but then after her coffee and toast she seemed a little better.

Tom and Renee packed our car, and then I helped Renee get all the Oldies and Goodies  in the American House Bus. Mom wanted to ride with us, but I told her we had too much to take for the picnic that she had to ride the bus this time. She seemed a little nervous but she still got on the bus, but before she climbed in she told me that she did not want to sit with anyone. I told her to sit at the end of the bus which she did. When I saw her sitting at the end of the bus I thought of all my lessons that I taught about Rosa Parks.

This is Sherry and Dot sitting on the bus. Dot always kept telling me and anyone that would listen to her that her ASS was sore. Dot is ninety - one and Sherry is fifty-nine. 

 This is Jasper and his wife Mary and behind them is Franco and Bruno.

 There's Mom, sitting in the back of the bus.Yes... she does have her sweater with her, because I did not want her to complain that she was cold .

Here is Annie.. she likes everyone to be quiet...and not loud. Takes everything so seriously.

After about a half hour ride straight down Haggerty Rd. we arrived at the Park...

While we were helping everyone off the bus, Mom wanted to hold my hand. I sensed her being uncertain, but then she saw other American House Buses pulling up and she started helping those people who needed help. We got to the table that we were assigned to sit, and started passing out the fried chicken , salad, cookies and drinks to our group. Our group had the best lunch compared to the other American Houses. Renee did a great job especially when this was her first picnic outing. Boy, was Mom hungry, and she does love her fried chicken. Mom asked for seconds, and then she was trying to figure out how she could steal the balloons that were on the table by her. Everyone laughed and told her that she was a teacher, and teachers are not suppose to steal.

Mom is eyeing the balloons.

Everyone is eating and having fun chatting away, even though most of them could not hear each other.

Renee is dishing salad for Sherry.

 Dot does not like to eat chicken, fish, and would rather have a peanut butter sandwich.

 Sophie and Mom nibbling on chicken and having fun with lots of chatting.

 Franco enjoying the picnic and so are the rest of the gang.

 Here's all the American House's finally sitting down to eat. Renee is walking on the left of the photo.

Mary, Annie, Dot, and Sherry enjoying their lunch.

After lunch,  I took Dot and Mom over to the swings. They loved the swings, but did not want me to push them. They were so happy being on the swings, I guess it brought them back to their childhood memories of swinging on the swing so high they would try and touch the sky. Games were beginning, some people wanted to play the games and some just watched. Mom, Dot, Jasper, and his wife Mary went to play the bean toss. They all had so much fun, and we did have one of our group members that did toss the bean bag in the  hole...our Dot Girl. The other Dot Girl did not come and in someways I was glad she did not, because Mom got to know the other Dot. At American House Mom would not like the Dot Girls because they would stay away from everyone, but today Mom and her got a long so well. I hope Mom remembers how much fun Dot Girl was to her.

Next Renee , and I got the group ready to play Bingo while Tom took a couple of the men to the bathroom. Of course, Dot and Mom did not want to play Bingo, but I told them that I would help them both. They then got excited and played. To tell you the truth , they could not hear the numbers being called and kept forgetting how to play.The great part of them playing Bingo today, they both won. I laughed so loud, because these two complained about playing and they both won. I think they both were in shock they won too. They each got a picture frame that I told them that Tom would put Tank's photo in each frame they got. Dot and Mom got very excited because at American House Tank is a Movie Star there.

 The two swingers swinging on a summer day.These two felt like little girls swinging for the first time.

Dot trying to play Croquet. I think she was having more fun posing for her photo then playing the game. She started dancing and then complained again her ASS was hurting her.

A line for playing the bean toss. They all wanted to play and the funny part was Dot had no idea what to do and she ended up tossing the bean bag in the whole.

 Mary is so sweet, she is waiting to play Bingo.

 Mom and Dot did not want to play Bingo, and they ended up being winners.

Annie is a very serious Bingo player. She wants everyone to follow the rules and be good listeners. Dot explained she wants to be a bad girl.

 Annie won a prize and wanted me to take her photo.

 Mom won this crazy hat.... and a  frame.

 Dot won a bottle of lotion, and she was very excited.

 Mom modeling her goofy hat.

 Jasper showing me what he won.  I think it is one of those lights you stick in your closet?

Bruno is very quiet, and it took him some time to open his prize.

Jasper  had some quiet times with Tom, and he asked Tom why my mom never married after my father passed away. Tom explained that she did not want too. Jasper then told Tom that Mom always tells him that she loves him. He also expressed to Tom on how happy he is with his wife. Tom told Jasper that Mom loves everyone, and not to worry she is not going to take him away from his lovely wife. Jasper smiled and walked away. 

It was time to go back home, and to tell you the truth they all were ready to hop on the bus. Even Mom was ready and this time she sat not by herself but with Sophia. She kissed me goodbye, and the bus door closed and the motor started and off they went. I really feel Renee will be having a very quiet bus ride home because all of them will be snoring away.

Here they are pulling up and I really feel we have everyone snoring away. It was such a nice trip, and Renee did such a great job. She made several Oldies but Goodies so happy and it was fun for them just to get out on such a beautiful summer day.  Thanks Renee for being such a nice Social Director, you even put many smiles on my mom today, and she did not even want to go.

I would have to say, going on this field trip was much easier then going with my kids when I taught. The Oldies and Goodies did not hear anything to get them mad, they ate what was given to each one of them, they did not move from their spots, they walked slowly, they only went to bathroom once, they did not complain about any cheating when they were playing the games, no one got hurt, should I go on, because I could.......