We are still luxuriating in the warmth of one of Cooperstown’s finest summers.
Our memories will have to hold us through the winter months, or perhaps that is our excuse for lingering over picnics on the patio and sipping our special mix of lemonade and iced tea while sitting on the porches in the afternoon.
It was just such a day on Aug. 17 when we were visited by two new medical students from Bassett Medical Center. They were eager to meet us and we shared our stories as they sampled a day at our gracious home.
They met several of the residents, taking time to see their rooms and learn about their lives, their dreams, and what they value most.
On Aug. 19 we had a special surprise activity hosted by Janet Saporito. Janet invited a few of her friends to join us on the porch. The resident’s smiles and laughter were all the thanks needed by our furry friends. We would like to thank Janet and Sophie (shar-pei puppy), Fred Werkmeister and Mia (bulldog), Celeste Gray and King Arthur (chow mix), Sandy Gray and Jake (standard poodle), Linda Hotchkiss and Mae (border collie), Vivian Beckmann and Socrates (Australian shepherd), Rosemary Throssel and Nena (Rodesian ridgeback), Eric Mazarak and Morgan (beagle/collie mix), Kimala Clark and Saydee (laborador retriever) and Cindy Ploutz and Mason (Labrador retriever).
The dogs were all very calm, well behaved, affectionate, and they brought much joy to residents and staff alike.
Nancy Rackmyer LPN led the Birdwatcher’s meeting on Aug. 19 with Wanda Noyes, Dottie Bly, Peg Hage, Jeanette Hansen, Bobbie Mook, and Art Laidlaw.
They read several articles and discussed the mocking bird and European starling. They also discussed the return of the Puffins to the coastline of Maine, thanks to work by biologist Steven Kress.
Our exercise classes continue to grow in popularity along with our relaxation and meditation sessions on Fridays. Activity is important, especially to allow us to continue our quest for the best ice cream in Cooperstown. Dottie Bly, Jeanette Hansen, Pat DeBaun and Melissa Bard, personal care staff, went to Jerry's Place and enjoyed their many flavors of ice cream!
We had a sing-along on Aug. 25 with Art and Natalie Laidlaw, Ellen Hankin, Fannie Navarra, Frank Rollins, Hilde Parr, Leon Rathbun, Peg Hage, Ralph Veenema, Wally Pickhardt, Wanda Noyes, Carol Affourtit (personal care), Judy Pooler (personal care), Frank Miller (Facility Manager) and his daughter Lauren, and Administrator, Laurie Blatt. We all enjoyed singing the songs of the 40s and 50s.
Janet Saporito shared some humorous laughlines with Ellen Hankin, Fannie Navarra, Hilde Parr, Martha Quinn, Maureen Micek, Pat De- Baun, and Wanda Noyes. On Thursday, Aug. 26 we enjoyed afternoon tea and sweets in the Dining Alcove with a lively discussion of summertime rituals, including husking corn.
The Eden Thanksgiving Circle was led by Laurie Blatt on Friday, Aug. 27. We discussed the Eden Principle of creating a human habitat where life revolves around close relationships with each other, children, animals and plants to make a life worth living.
We divided the group into five teams of residents and staff.
The teams created posters of their vision of the Home, including the importance of relationships with caregivers, family, and friends, images of gardens, pets, children, music, art, exercise, health, and other valued aspects of our shared journey.
The posters were presented by each team as beautiful collages depicting the joys and treasures of life at the Clara Welch Thanksgiving Home.
``Happiness comes of the capacity to feel deeply, to enjoy simply, to think freely, to risk life, to be needed.’’ — Storm Jameson
Columns
Home Notes: Residents enjoyed a great summer at the Home
- Columns
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Local Voices From Around the Globe: Mother's visit was a benchmark for this year
Last week, my mother made the 25-hour plane trip out to Thailand to visit her son, me, after nine months of having only choppy Skype sessions and scattered emails to give her an idea of what I look and act like since having left home last August.
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Local Voices From Around the Globe: World traveler calls Euro-Tour experience of a lifetime
While I've had a great time throughout my entire exchange, I can say hands down that the month of April brought me the best memories of my exchange if not some of the best of my entire life. What kind of wonder would bring me to say this? Simple. Euro-Tour.
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Maryland port attacked
Havre de Grace, May 3. "This morning, a little after the break of day, a British armed force, under cover of armed vessels which anchored in front of this town ... landed below a small breast work which had been roughly thrown up, and in which were one 9 and two 4 pounders, manned by 50 militia.
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Memoir reflects on 'roller-coaster life and career'
Apparently, the third time wasn't the charm. The way Reynolds described him, the third husband was worse than the first two combined and that's saying a lot. Eddie Fisher literally walked away from Reynolds and their two infant children to chase a sex goddess. At least he got his just desserts when Elizabeth Taylor tossed him aside for Richard Burton.
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Imagine what might have been ...
A while back we got a telephone call from a reader of this column wanting to know why we had not written a column in support of Otsego Manor continuing to be owned and operated by Otsego County. And even though we have followed the debate over this issue in the newspaper, we readily admitted we did not feel we knew enough about the situation to take a stand.
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Herpes virus brings harness racing to a halt
I've been going to harness horse race tracks my entire life. My family has been in the business for years.
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Time, if not traffic, moves on ...
It is with sadness we note the passing of two people who we have known since moving to Cooperstown in 1982.
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Canadian capital captured
Dear Sir, I have just returned from Fort Niagara, where I saw a Captain of the United States' navy. He is just from little York, the capital of Upper Canada, and gives the following account, which is confirmed in official dispatches from Gen. Dearborn to Gen. Lewis ...
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Local Voices From Around The Globe: Exchange is like a life in a year
All exchange students realize the credibility of this statement. Like all lives no exchange is the same, all are incredible unique exchanges. The metaphor of life, from baby to old age, extends to every part of the exchange.
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Movie depicting legendary Jackie Robinson does not disappoint
Going to the movies is not something I do often. I can count the number of times I have gone on my fingers, unless you include trips to the drive-in. And even so, it took me years before I made it to one of those -- going for the first time two summers ago.
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'Dubious' about weather, Hawkeyes 'suitable' nickname
Unfortunately, it seems to us that this spring has, thus far, been anything but spring like. In fact, we are still more than happy to stay bundled up in our polar fleece.
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'Who's on Worst?' reveals the ugly in baseball
The Baseball Hall of Fame celebrates the greatest players, managers and owners from our national pastime. Any of us who have watched Major League baseball have inevitably seen some of these immortals practicing their craft. But we have also likely witnessed a sample of their opposite brethren, players who shouldn't have been in the Major Leagues. Has there ever been a definitive source that "celebrates" the non-accomplishments of the worst that Major League baseball has to offer?
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Swallow talk and bluebird vigilance
I assume the swallows have returned to Capistrano. They have returned to Hawthorn Hill as well.
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Local Voices From Around the Globe: Life in Hungry has taken a turn for the better
I can truthfully say spring has finally arrived in Hungary. It's almost time to wear shorts and sandals, for summer will be just around the corner. This brings me great happiness and great sadness, my adventure is coming to a close. Really what a time it was, I don't think I can compare it to anything else.
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The importance of speaking up ...
Over the years we have come to understand that, in writing a weekly column, it is not possible to always please everyone. And such was the case with our column that ran at the end of March in which we wrote about our experience as in inpatient following a total hip replacement.
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Public schools created
The Common School Act of 1812 marked the start of New York's public school system. Much of the credit for this was due to the radical Otsego County politician Jedediah Peck (1747-1821). To quote the NY Education Department:
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Book takes readers on path for equal rights
One of the most troubling aspects of our history is race relations. It takes a long time to achieve true equality in a society when the heritage of one ethnic group is slavery and Jim Crow laws. Even today African Americans are more likely to be stereotyped as athletes than doctors, lawyers or entrepreneurs. The path to a "color-blind" nation is still a work in progress.
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Local Voices From Around the Globe: Experiencing India at every new turn
Come, sit down. Hold this and, wait ... ah, there you go. Obeying these commands, I found myself seated on the pavement, wearing a turban and attempting to make sounds out of a recorder-like instrument for the black cobras in the baskets not two feet away from me.
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Local Voices From Around the Globe: Will I be American or will I be Thai today?
When would someone have the ability to present themselves as a native of a country of their own choosing? When they’ve lived eight months as an exchange student, of course!
Continued ... - Second host family makes Hungary feel like home
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Local Voices From Around the Globe: Mother's visit was a benchmark for this year
