I created an interactive Google Map for your Thursday, May 3 destination, for those of you who would like a visual. Go to this link to view it:
You can zoom in, zoom out, and pan the map. If you click on the destination marker, you can “get diretions to here” by inputting any address (your point of origin). If you click on “Satellite” or “Hybrid” you can get an actual bird’s-eye-view of the buildings, grounds, streets and parking lots which you will be headed toward.
Our last week telling stories at St. Johns was a lot of fun. I was leading the story, which is always stressful. We had a picture of a large family and a donkey, so it wasn’t as easy to ask “What is this person doing..” because there was so many people. We had a lot of responses, however, and there were only a few lulls in conversation. After a while I started getting desperate for things to ask, however, and started asking what the two donkeys would say to each other , after they bought a new donkey, that is. However, I found that after the initial “Donkeys can’t talk,” we continued to tell them we could say whatever we wanted, and the storytellers started relaxing and getting more into the story. Jean also had a lot to say about squirrels, and how extremely dangerous they are. Apparently, squirrels will really lay into you if you meet them in a dark and deserted woods on your way out of your home because you were evicted for using your gun to much. I loved the story we came up with this session, and it felt great to have been the leader of such a fun and exciting last story. I also loved the way the storytellers would acknowledge each other for a great idea in the story. It was so great to have the storytellers be as accepting as they could be to each others answers.
This week, Externally, we had a story about a family of pilgrims who got evicted and were on the move to their new home in the country. Along the way they encounter some killer squirrels, but they prevail.
Internally, we had a group of great storytellers who our group has really become comfortable with and enjoy. I think they have gotten a little bit more comfortable with the experience as well, and we all worked together to create a last story that we really liked. This session got me really excited for our final party!
Mary
On our last field day what was suppose to be special turned into very chaotic. I got off from work late and so the team arrived at Catholic Home about 5 minutes later than usual. I dropped everyone off at the front door and went to find a parking spot. As I got off the elevator, I saw Mary Lou sitting. I spoke to her and she remembered me because she smiled. When I entered through the doors, I was told that the room we use for our sessions was being used for the “nurse of the year” photographs. Yeah right nurse of the year, I’ve never seen them do anything special but that’s me. So we held our last session in the dining area. Brian and I approached Mary Lou and asked her if she wanted to come to story time with us. She replied, “oh no not today and I know it will be fun but that’s okay.” She said the fun part because that’s what I had been telling her to get her to come to the sessions. Bridgette told us Gretchen was getting her hair done and so she wouldn’t be there. Right then we knew story telling would be different. Gretchen is our glue during the session and she is the one who understands that this is creative and she helps a lot with the stories. Without her, we had Ann the “they aren’t my friends, I don’t them”, Mary Lou the “it’s out there somewhere, to be with the young people” and Ruth the “I don’t know” responders. And that’s exactly how our story went. Ruth was the only one who sat in the circle with us, Mary Lou and Ann sat where they atecause we were in the dining room and they thought it was time to eat. Poor ladies, they were confused. So when Terrell and Brian asked questions they had to shout so they could hear them. Oddly enough we chose a picture of runner but the ladies thought she was a dancer. Our story was full of their usual reponses. In fact the title was what they young people want, Mary Lou’s favorite response. We had to pitch in a little to contribute to the story or we wouldn’t have had a story. Mary Lou was talking to her self about something else and Ruth and Ann were falling asleep as usual. The story was really short but without their participation there was nothing we could do. It was funny because at the end of our story Mary Lou said 99% of the people wants the story to end. She was sick of us asking her questions. Then she said 99% of the people waited for the next story time. So this was a bittersweet last field day, more bitter than sweet but we worked it out. At the end of our celebration, I will truly miss the times I shared with these ladies.
Ericka Watkins
tuesdays storytelling was not all that different from our other storytelling sessions. we did have one storyteller that talked more than usual. the only difference was that i felt that it was a bit sad that our sessions were ending when we were just beginning to get the hang of what we were doing and now its ending. I kind of wished that we had more time to use what we have learned. that it is ok we our group goes off track–just letting a storyteller talk about their lives or to keep asking the same questions until we get an answer, that its not rude.that its ok to just be ourselves and get more personal with the storytellers. that its ok to feel anxious and strange about the whole thing and that its ok if we dont know what we are doing at first as long as we keep on trying. i feel sad that i won’t be doing storytelling anymore ijust feel like we have just gotten started. now we have to do our final presentation and there is so much to do. i hope that our storytelling sessions aren’t forgotten too soon by the storytellers because it was a unique experience and i hope that we can present that in our final presentation. tanya
This last session was really interesting. We did not have Betty this week, which was a bummer, but we did have a new comer. His name was Charlie and he was fantastic. He really contributed a lot to the story, and he seemed like he was having a really good time. I went and got Beulah again this week, and she did not remember me or the storytelling session, so I was kind of sad but I guess that is going to happen. It was just kind of hard, but I just introduced myself and asked her to join the group, and on the way up I explained it all to her. This week our stories were kind of short, but everyone had a good time. On my way to get Beulah I saw Adelgard in the hallway and I invited her to come join us on the 4th floor for storytelling, and she said “yeah ok, maybe later” which is what she usually says so i thought she probably wasnt going to come, but i was really happy when she did come towards the middle of the session. Not only did she come but she really participated. It was fantastic. We also had Ruth this week, who seemed glad to be there, but was really confused. She observed a lot and every once and a while contributed. We also had June again this week, which was great. She did something really interesting. She had the polar bear with glasses picture from a few weeks ago, and she brought it and also a framed picture of two white fluffy dogs. She had brought it to show us because the polar bear picture had made her think of it. It was interesting to see her make that connection. It made me feel like we were really doing something for her. I will really miss going and spending time with them every week.
So, we had a more “normal” session today than last week. The first comment out of Beulah’s mouth was that the woman in the picture was making love to a dog- so she was partially back to her old self- last week she was sooooo quiet. It was hard to watch the rapid personality shift. At least this week, she participated with her usual spunk, just a little less frequently.
June was her same self. At the end of the session when I told her I’d walk her back to her room like I always do, she told me that “I should walk the other foagies back – they get confused!” She is really looking forward to next week. Her doggie bags for us get bigger every week. This week, Omar scored a bag of Doritos and a bag of Fritos and Katie got a whole can of shortbread cookies. Her generosity astounds me, especially to people that are only around for an hour a week.
We also had a new group member this week – Charlie. He just moved in last week, which is a shame. He fit in great with Beulah and June, and had some funny comments about the guy in the picture not being the cheating sort. He also told us all about english bulldogs and golf.
We did miss Betty this week. She was sleeping when we made our usual rounds to get the residents. It’ll be nice to see her next week.
June reminds me more of my great grandmother every time I see her. This week, when I got to her room, she was having a lunch of “shit on a shingle” (a.k.a. Creamed beef on toast). My great grandmother is a big fan of shit on a shingle, and I grew up liking it, too. June was amazed that I knew what it was, and was a fan of it, just like her!
I am looking forward to the party on Tuesday – It should be fun!
Well Today was great. We walked in an started in right away and many of the residents even asked and answered their own question which i felt was cute. Asking questions seemed to go much smoother and the residents especially Ryan this week was very vocal, which encouraged the other residents to open up. Evelynn participated with talking to her friend Caroline and they had many giggles. Evelynn also asked questions but didnt take over the whole storytime like she sometimes use to. I like that all the residents have had their time in the spot light. When the session was complete I alsmost felt sad, like we were never get the chance to see all the special storytellers again and work with. I cant wait to see their faces at the presentation when we give out the book of their stories in which they can share with their families. I hope they will display or cuddle up with the quilt and get giggles from the pictures. Hope everyone had a great week
Tiffany
Today was our last field day and I must admit that it was probably one of the most successful sessions we have had. Everyone was participating and happy. Jean, a regular among the group, we found out today is terrified of squirrels! We were discussing what the Pilgrims in our picture would eat on their trip from Georgia to Florida when someone mentioned squirrels. Never before have I seen Jean speak so passionately about something. She went on to tell us that they may look cut but they’re dangerous and mean little buggers. Apparently at one point in time she had been bitten by a squirrel which obviously jump-started her fear of squirrels.
Our story ended up being about a family of seven who had been evicted from their farm in Georgia and were moving to Florida or the country. Along the way they get attacked by squirrels, “Yip!” Eventually the two youngest children will own a shop when they grow up and the other two will be farmers.
Though it has been time-consuming and exhausting at times this has been an educational experience. In high school I was required to do so many hours of volunteer work with the elderly (I went to a parochial school) and I think that may have also helped. But today I definitely learned that, “Squirrels don’t like you, squirrels don’t like me, squirrels don’t like anybody!”
This week was a very successful session. We had a decent amount of participation and creativity. I noticed that weather seems to effect the residents moods. On Tuesday, when it was nice and sunny, there was a lot of participation but on a day that we had a couple weeks ago when it was gloomy outside the residents seemed very subdued and not too interested in any of the questions we asked them.
We had a picture of a man painting the sky and discussed his girlfriend, his children and what they all enjoyed doing together. i found it extremely humorous when we dubbed the man on the ladder ‘Stupid Robert __ Plus’ and then said he and his girlfriend enjoyed making out, that’s just what they like to do. Overall it was a very rewarding and enjoyable session and i will miss them when these sessions are over.
Becca
