The Fall Festival is finished - not in my home as there are still boxes and left over materials lurking around - but as an annual day where the community comes together to work as "caring friends" to secure possible needs in the future.
What a day or should I say month. Committee meetings, sub-committee meetings, finishing projects our crafters have been working possibly since the day after the last festival, digging into the piles of donations of "beautiful junque" and household treasures for Gramma's Attic, baking, preparing food from kettles of bean soup from a common recipe to homemade sausage and all else in between.
Since the common rooms are always in service, this miracle was put together, room by room, in less than a day by busy resident volunteers and dedicated staff . The "Attic" went from piles of presorted "stuff" to a dazzling array of items for sale ~ jigsaw puzzles piled like Mt Everest hovering over boxes of outgrown toys gathered from grandchildren, china, glassware, trinkets, TV's, electronic items, furniture, holiday items, pots and pans and we should not forget the jewelry that drew ladies like moths to a flame looking for the perfect accessory. And this chaos to clarity was completed in two hours after the dinner hour in the lovely dining room. Whew - there were many weary "senior" busy bees flying from all corners of the facility to get a bit of rest. After all - all that needed to be done in the morning was to get up early, man their tables to sell goodies and feed the public (and each other). Many thanks to my daughter who came early to help dear "old" Mom with her table.
I had a wonderful lesson on "getting older" when I was a teenager. My aunt invited me to go to the Boston Flower Show. It seemed important to her so I agreed even though I felt very uncomfortable going off with this group. After all, I was 15 and these ladies were old - gasp, all over 30 and some in their 40's. This was the early 1950's so there were no such things as seat belts but since we seven jammed ourselves into the two door sedan, I don't think any one would have had whip lash if bumped. Also there were no highways, no high speed on the slow winding countryside roads with few cars. The passengers were just a mass of giggles and I was totally in awe that they were having so much fun - at that age! By the time I got home, I was convinced that getting so old was not going to be such a traumatic event.
I faced each decade with the same attitude as this group of friends still had such fun through those life passages. As a matter of fact I threw myself a great party on my 60th birthday. I invited everyone by asking them to help me celebrate the "31st Anniversary of my 29th Birthday". There were friends from Grammar School, High School, 4 of we 5 roommates in Boston came together, friends that were close as our children were growing up together and yes, a few relatives. Such a great day!
Then came 70. How did that happened? I was not that thrilled facing the 7th generation, especially since my dear doctor reminded me that it meant I had entered my 8th generation. My aunt was still a vibrant woman well into her 90's but I had seen what age had done to many of her "group" - seems to me that 70 was not kind to many. I didn't jump but was pushed into the 70's and I did not see any need to celebrate the fact. If I had known what I know now, I would have thrown myself another party - a 41st anniversary.
In the business plan of this complex, I read they wanted to plan a place for active seniors. I'd say they have done a good job at it. My peers here are in the their 70's, but more so in their 80's, 90's with a bit of 100's - this is in the Independent Living residences. And many of them run circles around me. Perhaps, things are done a bit slower (but that is where I shine). What I thought at one time would be impossible is not that at all. With the right attitude, I see that most dreams can be possible. After all Grandma Moses did not get her start until the 90's.
Writing this BLOG this morning has also been a way to procrastinate digging into the refuse of the festival that still remains within my own sanctuary. I am good at that - the procrastination and creating the mess. I need to pull myself together to get ready for our granddaughter to spend the night while her parents go into Philadelphia to go to the World Series. As a lifetime member of the Red Sox Nation - I repeat my mantra - GO Phillies.
How lucky for my husband and me that we are healthy enough to get this enjoyably tired.
