Volunteer Work

A senior park has a paid staff but actually runs on volunteer work. In my park it's the volunteers that see we have group meals, games, and bus tours. It's the volunteers that see we have an ice cream social on Sunday evenings and it's the volunteers that decorate the clubhouse for every season. Without the volunteers we'd have a pretty dull park.

One of the ladies (Canadian)here will turn 90 in April so this is her last winter in the park because she won't be able to get out-of-country health insurance after the age of 90. What a shame because she is the 8th wonder of the world. She is witty, loving, and has a zest for life that we can all aspire to. Dorothy has been coming to this park for the past 28 years and it has become a second home to her...as it has to many of us. After her husband passed away her son and daughter-in-law began driving her down along with a small camper trailer which she'd happily occupy until they returned in April to drive her back. Last year they bought a permanent trailer which she'll stay in this year, her last year, and they'll use when they retire.

Dorothy uses a walker to get around but it doesn't stop her from being out every day visiting neighbors, playing card games over at the clubhouse, or joining a group for dinner at a restaurant. She's always the life of the party and loves the attention. She is my idol.

My sister-in-law and I have decided that part of our volunteer duties this winter will be to do a bit of housework for Dorothy once a week. One of the neighbors cooks meals for her already and a few others check on her regularly and make sure she gets home safely every night. Like a lot of us, she usually doesn't get home till after dark.

Dorothy will never read this because she's of an older generation that missed out on the joys of a computer. My wish for her is that she have the time of her life this winter and carry the happy memories with her to warm her in the coming years when she has to stay in Canada.

P.S. I finally got some sympathy of sorts for my sore knee from a lady who just arrived at the park. She nodded and looked quite sad as I described my injury in full detail...then said her husband had been foolish enough to do the same thing at the New Year's eve dance 2 years ago. It's not much but it's better than I've been getting.