Well hello everyone. It has been awhile since my last post so I thought I was due to write something. This post will be small but something bigger is soon to come. Today I went too Eden Nursing home with my brothers from A.P.O. We were volunteering to help with the Alzheimer's ward. Today we got too play with Balloons!
Circled around a big screen T.V. was around 11 of some of the sweetest old people you could find. Sure not all of them were awake but most were. Though the movie, "Mrs. Doubtfire" was on, no one seemed to notice. The entertainment for the day was two colorful balloons and some kind of squishy toys. Now the scary thing was that after I joined in playing I didn't know who was having a better time, me or the old people I was playing with. Really I was having a blast. So much so I almost pulled my right hamstring. It was kind of sad because all of the old ladies were moving quite well for their advanced age and I was filling tightness after five minutes of play.
My group and I were there for about 2 hours and the entire time we just played with balloons with an occasional dance or two. Normally it's not the greatest idea to think that these people are reverting back to a kids mentality but in some instances it is. The fact that a balloon can keep them busy, entertained, and happy is actually really cool. When we grow older we loose innocents in many ways. We start to see that everything won't end up ok, we noticed that everyone is not the same as we are, and we start to see the world in a much bigger and deeper way. No longer can a Balloon hold our attention for long, we need something more stimulating or more thought provoking to keep our attention than preventing the balloon from hitting the ground. When we were kids we didn't notice what the other kid looked like or what was going on around us. Neither did we really care. When we are having fun that's all that mattered. Old and young folks couldn't care less about anything going on as long as they got a balloon. They don't care about the big screen T.V., no need for video games,don't need to go out, and need no outside stimulus as some fuel for fun except maybe another person. We get so wrapped up in our own world that sometimes we forget just how cool and fun a balloon is. I took a step out of my daily life and just marveled at the beauty of the whole thing.
Now I've been frequenting Nursing homes ever since I can remember, having various family members in a few, that this was not an entirely new experience for me. I have a easiness or a sense of familiarity whenever I'm in a nursing home that is not shared by everyone. It's actually interesting to see people who aren't use too the experience. Its an unknown that is scary because there is the prospect of ending up in that situation. But given time you'll quickly realize that these people are just that. People. They don't care hold old you are, what skin color you are, where your from or who your with. Just coming to say "hi" puts a smile on their face. Even if they won't remember you in five minutes, it doesn't matter. Bringing joy to someone is always worth it.
I apologize. This has gone a bit different than I had imagined and I'm not sure where this is going so I'm going to bring this to an end. I have written a story about a nursing home called "Record Store" that I might post up if anyone would like too read it. All in all I guess I just want everyone to just remember when all it took to be entertained was a Balloon. Its simple, only costs a few cents, some free air and you could have hours of fun. It is truly a beautiful thing. I think that since I'm still entertained by balloons so easily, if I have to make my trip too a nursing home than it won't be that much of a transition. Also, just because someone is old are can't remember who or even what you are, doesn't make them any less of a person. Actually the more I write about people in nursing homes I see myself describing myself. Forgetful, frail body, and easily entertained by balloons for hours. Maybe I'll be making my trip there sooner than I think. Hope you all come to visit me and bring a balloon. I'll leave you with this link that is a small snippet from George Carlin talking about balloons. He hits the nail on the head with this one. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siSsB_apB8U I apologize also for the worser grammar. At one point I had 4 tense changes in one sentences. Thanks for reading everyone hope too see you soon. Take care and stay safe. And remember
~Love~
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