#48 – Visit a Nursing Home

We can learn so much from our elders.  I find it interesting that those who often have the least amount of time left on earth, seem to be the least anxious and are never in a hurry.  Older folks are always willing to tell a nice long story with anyone willing to listen, sit on the porch and just watch the birds, drive an hour to that one place across town with the best breakfast, or take their time in deciding on a purchase.  As adults, we often fill our days with manufactured urgency and overwhelm.  So, we hurry from place to place like the world will end if we don’t make that one meeting, or we miss that one activity.  Or, we try to get involved in too many things for fear of missing out.  We even do this to our kids with overlapping activities, sports, clubs, and instrument rehearsals perpetuating the cycle.  But the current retired generation grew up in a world without the level of instant gratification and ever-present social media time bandits we now must face.

Older folks also tend to have fewer belongings once they transition into a retirement community.  This can teach us that we really don’t need all those things that we fill our houses with.  We too can find beauty in simplicity.  Instead of a big movie collection, all we really need is a deck of cards and some friends to keep us entertained.  These retirees can teach us the value of patience, the importance of seeking quality over quantity, the benefit of accumulating memories instead of things, and the blessing of youth and good health.

When Mister Molson visited the Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community, we met several of these wise elders who shared some stories.  We pulled into the parking lot and saw all the people lined up to greet Molson.  They smiled and waved at the big crazy dog with his head hanging out the window.  He hopped out and the staff gave Molson an official volunteer badge.  This was his first real job since becoming an emotional support animal.

He wandered up and down the sidewalk greeting everyone and taking in all the attention.  Hands of all sizes and ages from the residents, employees, and volunteers took turns giving him a pet.

He enjoyed every bit of it and would have stayed there for days.

The residents put together a gift basket for Molson with lots of treats and toys.  It even had a shirt for each of the kids and a coffee mug for me.

Molson even got to ride on an elevator.  I’m pretty sure it was a first for him.

Thank you to Bonnie and the other staff at Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community that allowed us to visit.  It was a fun day for Molson and our family.  It was also a reminder to me about living and aging gracefully.  Its easy to forget whats really important sometimes when you’re caught up in life’s challenges.  Mister Molson’s adventures have all brought valuable lessons in one way or another.  This one was no exception.