Our visits to the Senior Center
With Peter Thompson, Executive Director of the Senior Center
In February 2013, I contacted the nearby Senior Center, to express my interest in bringing Shayna for some visits, because she seems to have a real knack for putting smiles on older folks’ faces.
As noted in my upcoming book, and elsewhere on this blog, I’ve seen this over and over again – she can take a senior with a morose, sad or disgruntled face, and as in the Toys ‘R Us commercials, turn that frown upside down. Plus, she gets a huge charge out of doing so – of bringing some sunshine to people’s faces, and spirits. So in theory, it would be a huge win-win. And Peter Thompson, the Senior Center’s Executive Director, decided to give it a try.
I’m pleased to announce that things worked out exactly as I hoped.
I’ve refrained from posting anything substantive on this topic until I amassed some really good pics and videos, which I planned to assembled into one good blog post. Special bonus – video is located in (5) below.
So, with that introduction…
(1) Shayna on the way to the Senior Center: When I come home, all I have to do is say, “Wanna go to the Senior Center?” and she perks up, and can’t wait to jump up into the truck:
(2) Even though she’s not supposed to be standing up on her hind legs, Shayna often can’t wait to go greet the ladies who run the front desk…
(3) … Mildred and Alice, who are always at the ready with a yummy treat for Shayna (at bottom of frame):
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(4) This is Rosie, one of the sweetest ladies I’ve met in a very long time. She’s completely fallen in love with Shayna. (Unfortunately, Shayna was very distracted on this day, because another Center regular, Beverly was eating a roast beef sandwich in very near proximity, and kept moving around in an attempt to get Shayna to look towards the camera):
(5) VIDEO: While inside the Senior Center, we sometimes sit in the lobby, and let Shayna’s friends, old and new, come and visit with her. Or, we walk from room to room, and Shayna visit with the people who are working on computers, or exercising, or engaging in any of the myriad other activities that go on at the Center every day. In this case, we happened to walk by a room which four of her friends (left to right, Brenda, Berti, Jean and Joe) were playing cards, and they welcomed her in as warmly as always. Video below:
(6) April 2 update: Some more pictures with Shayna’s friends – in order: with Thelma, Elise and Bruce (Center cafe manager)
November-December 2013 videos
Precious videos of how Shayna is welcomed at the Senior Center. Feel the joy!
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