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BY JUDY POOLER
When I was a young girl in the early 50’s my family would often take rides through Cooperstown and the Cherry Valley area.
I was born in Utica and at that time these areas seemed so far away. Little did I know that someday I would be working in Cooperstown.
In 2004 I moved to Richfield Springs after marrying David Pooler. A friend of mine, Sue Winne, suggested that I go to The Clara Welch Thanksgiving Home for a job. I had always been in the office end of employment and knew nothing of Personal Care. When I went to fill out my application, I was immediately interviewed by Pat Donnelly and my future boss Laura Black. I was hired before I left the building. I started work the Saturday after going to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. My husband David, my daughter Stephania, Christ my son-inlaw and I attended the parade and all had a wonderful time.
David had never been to New York City before.
November 27, 2004 was the beginning of my life as a Personal Care Aide.
First let me tell you this is the most wonderful and gratifying position I have had in my entire working career.
Monday’s through Sunday’s there is always an activity to be enjoyed by all. Whether it be bird watching with Nancy Rackmyer, fun n’ fit exercises, the weekly movie, Bible Study, Communion of various faiths, shopping downtown, manicures, pedicures, hairdresser, jewelry making that I host, rides with various staff members or gardening with Carol Affourtit, who incidentally harvested our first veggies from the resident garden which were used in a salad. What a wonderful feeling to eat your own veggies.
A picnic was on July 2 in celebration of the 4th of July. Cindy Moore offered her porch as a viewing area for Patsy DeBaun, Bobbie Mook, Wanda Noyes and Vivian Allison to view the parade on the 5th. Thank you Cindy.
After the parade some of the residents shucked corn for their dinner. Laurie Blatt has implemented a Surprise Activity for Wednesdays, which has been a great success and gets everyone over Hump Day. On July 7th Peg Hage’s son Gordie arrived with the Cooperstown Trolley for a ride up the lake.
A good time was had by Art and Bunnie Laidlaw, Maureen Micek, Bobbie Mook, Ralph Veenema, Jeanette Hansen, Sue Stevens, Doris Blomquist, Wanda Noyes, Patsy DeBaun, our newest addition to CWTH, Dudley, our faithful companion, Vivian Allison and Laurie Blatt.
Mary Butler and I hosted a Treasure Trove on Sunday July the 11th, and what a treasure it was. Alberta Bowes brought jewelry and various items from all over the world that she acquired during her travels as a military nurse.
Janet Saporito brought shoe buttons from her great grandmother’s shoes. Can you imagine buttoning your shoes? Mary Butler shared her wedding photo. I shared a civil War Cameo that was a gift from my maternal grandmother. Bunny Laidlaw presented a sterling silver comb and a huge frog pendant.
Jeanette Hansen shared her Battleaxe Cross given to her by her husband after a trip to England. If you run into Jeanette ask her to tell you the story of her cross. She is hardly without it.
I would like to extend congratulations to Dan and Kristin Butler and their entire family for the new addition to the family, a beautiful baby boy. This new addition is resident Ellen Hankin’s great grandchild, and Mary Butler’s grandchild.
I have now come to the end, but before I go I would like to give tribute to Bert Kull- Chapin, a former resident of the Home. A Memorial Service was held for Bert on July 10.
Bert was a wonderful, beautiful and endearing woman who is greatly missed by all who knew and cared for her. Your eyes will shine and sparkle forever. Finally two quotes I would like to share with you:
``Unless life is lived for others it is not worthwhile’’ - Mother Teresa
``Do not confuse the pleasure of pleasing with the happiness of loving’’ - Coco Chanel
Columns
Home Notes: Personal Care is a rewarding occupation
- Columns
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Passing along advice of seeing the humor
The best advice given to me many years ago when I started teaching had nothing to do with my discipline, English. Rather, a former mentor insisted on the necessity of having a sense of humor
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The week that was ...
For a number of years now, we have not been in Cooperstown for the spring season. And we must admit that we had quite forgotten what it is like. But since we decided that travel was not on the docket for this year, we have become reacquainted with the Cooperstown spring. And we must say we rather enjoyed it with the possible exception of occasional uncalled for snow and seemingly frigid temperatures.
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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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Passing along advice of seeing the humor
