ointeresting day today...our band practicies in St. Joe's

[davet]

Manor which is a "retirement home" but mostly for those who may need medical care, and all are aged..between sets we either get our music organized or talk to the people..i got in a conversation with a man whos face, you could tell had been badly burnt sometime in the past...you could also tell he was crying...He told me that he had heard music like that at a Bob Hope show while in New Guinea (sp), he even shook hands with Bob...three days later an artillary shell blew up in front of him and his buddies and he was the only surviver...sometimes i wonder if our band is doing good or not for these people...but then you see some of the old people get up and dance the Lindy with the young nurses and it makes it better.

[Mary Plummer]

...doing really good for the home residents. Why am I saying this? Well, I guess you're giving them a chance to talk about what their lives are and were, and to remember.

[momPaws]

and music and of course the attention and good company- like Mary- said is a good healer. maybe sometime you could even take Sassie- but probably not when you're playing. I can see those people now enjoying the music

[davet]

lab and a black mutt..they both have been trained as therapy dogs and if you ever want to live a good life...come back as a therapy dog in a home for old people....

[TheSkeptic]

Don't ever doubt that what you are doing is good. ... Even sadness is better than ennui and boredom. ......

[Marty]

the change in routine, would be good for them. It sounds like a neat idea, to be practicing there.

[ShelbysMom]

I think you are doing them a world of good. I'm sure you don't even know how much they look forward to your visits.
My daughter's class used to visit at Christmas and play their musical instruments (very badly, I might add) and they LOVED it! The children made paper Christmas wreaths for the residents and they didn't really know what they were for, so they were wearing them on their heads!!! It was hilarious.
It sounds like you and Corinne do a great deal of volunteer work....it means so much to have people like you who are willing to help others.

[davet]

one will bring in a child , baby or toddler etc and i swear every one (ie the residents)treat them like they were there own children and the kids love it....but there is one lady who ignorse them all, she has her own baby, ie a doll that she carries around as her child. and i guess in her own mind it is her own baby...those are the sad cases....