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It might have been dreary outside most of the week, but the sunshine and warmth are abundant in the lobby. On Monday, we celebrated Chinese New Year. What’s nice about working and living in a multi-cultural setting, is you get to learn and appreciate different things from different cultures. The 4- Reservoir neighborhood celebrated with a Chinese luncheon in the Hastings fireplace area. You could smell the scent of ginger, egg rolls and fried rice in the air. It really looked yummy.

The most talked about topic this week in the lobby is Kodak. I have several retired Kodakers who visit the lobby regularly. They worry about their pensions and health care. It is surprising to many of the older adults that Kodak is filing for bankruptcy. Let’s hope for the best and believe that Kodak can make things work and make a come back. Xerox did.

The Day Break adult day program kicked off their new fresh dining experience on Wednesday. Casa del Sol, House of the Sun, is the name participants and staff adopted to capture the warmth of dining together and the good, fresh foods they see prepared before them. Their choices are many. I have to confess that Monday and Tuesday, the lobby gang volunteered to be taste testers for the cooks. Yum, yum, the samples were delicious

Although we didn’t have any sun this week, Friday we had Dr. Bill Thomas, founder of the Eden Alternative, visit us. He always brings sunshine with him. He teaches us to honor our elders and respect them for how they have lived and for what they can still give us. When we honor our elders, their wisdom blooms. What a beautiful way to end our week.
Hopefully we can blog about some sunshine next week!
‘Til then,
~The Happy Hastings Lobby Blogger

Well, this week started out another week of warm, snow-free weather. I did feel sorry for all the snow lovers in Rochester and the skiers too! I personally, and many of the elders here have been loving the “no snow” winter. It’s easier for them to go out with loved ones with nice weather.
On Tuesday night, the St. John’s Band hosted a coffee hour. The turn out was phenomenal. Many elders and family members attended and really enjoyed the 50′s & 60′s music.

Wednesday the Meadows residents reconnected with the elders at our home who use to live at the Meadows. These relationships continue thanks to the efforts of dedicated workers from the Home and the Meadows who arrange the reunion. It’s nice to see your former neighbors don’t you think?

Ok – hold on to your hats! Friday the 13th brought us the long over due snow and high winds. I can tell you we had plenty of parking that day!

We observe many things in the Hastings Lobby. I have to share with you something that made me smile. A male employee was in the lobby when another male employee came through the main doors. They stopped and began discussing an item one of them brought in. I heard them cooing over a restored antique shaver. It was so precious to me. Two grown men sharing their passion for this beautifully restored shaver. They had such emotion in their words. I guess this is something we don’t often see between men. It again shows how we embrace relationships and how these two employees discovered and shared this interest they both had.

We end the week with the snow flying, blowing and not many visitors. Stay warm and safe.
~The Happy Hastings Lobby Blogger

“Jingle bells, jingle bells…” We are living good here at SJH and most of us around here have had too much sugar! As we get closer to Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, the excitement is in the air. Carolers made up of staff and residents, travel through our neighborhoods singing joy and love to all who live and work here. The many out-of-town visitors visiting Grandmas and Grandpas. The weather is certainly cooperating for those out-of-town travelers.

Friday, Santa (Elder Carl Grant) greeted everyone coming into our home giving out candy canes. What a joyful delight to children and young at heart grown ups. Truly a person who has Christmas in his heart all year round, Carl was a perfect Santa. Thank you to him and thanks to all who make our home a loving and caring place.

The Happy Hastings Lobby Blogger is wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
(The Blogger will be on vacation till 2012.)

What a beautiful start to our week. Sunshine is plenty. The Auxiliary gave every single elder (resident) in our home a sun catcher for his or her window today. Isn’t that the nicest thing? What a perfect day to do it, with the sun shining through the window on them.
Last year they gave everyone warm, toasty, footsie socks. You can still see the elders wearing them today. The Auxiliary has been around a long time and they do wonderful things for the residents. God bless them.

The week continues with holiday parties all over and merriment throughout our home. It’s wonderful to see the children, relatives and out-of-town company come in to visit. It is a very special time of the year and our elders feel it too!

The Happy Hastings Blogger

Sunday’s Illumination of Love in the courtyard was so breathtakingly wonderful. It makes you feel like a child on Christmas Day. The big count down 3, 2, 1 – then bravo – beautiful lights everywhere! So majestic and illuminating. The elder who turned on our lights, Anne Giglia, was featured in the D & C on November 30th by Jim Memmott. (Take a look at the story in the “In the News” section of our site.) He captured her essence just perfectly. What a joy she is and how she enjoyed the celebration. It brings warmth to our hearts.

There are no fewer than four holiday parties here this week. Each neighborhood has their own party and it’s usually whatever and however they want to do it. Because I have a family member here, I was lucky enough to attend one such party this week. Besides the delicious food, we had great entertainment and fun with those sitting at our table. It’s fun meeting new people and sharing stories.

One of the many nice things about working at St. John’s is that throughout the year we have “Chats with Charlie.” This is time that the CEO talks to the employees about what’s going on with our organization. I appreciate knowing our “state of affairs” and I’m sure I’m not alone. It’s a nice way for the boss to connect with the employees and it’s the employees opportunity to clarify and ask questions about what’s going on. Wouldn’t you agree that’s pretty special? How many employers do that for their employees? So thanks, Charlie, for giving us the scoop about what’s going on.

I’d like to close this week with a story my mother-in-law shared with me. A four-year-old boy, whose neighbor lost his wife, was weeping in his back yard. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard, and climbed onto his lap and just sat there. When his mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, “Nothing. I just helped him cry.” It brought to mind how sometimes we can just be and find comfort.

The Happy Hastings Lobby Blogger

You can tell we’re gearing up for the holidays! Christmas trees began to spring up around the Home Monday. The Auxiliary works hard decorating the common halls and lounge areas. They make it look so festive. I have to admit, without snow it isn’t feeling much like the season. Here we are in one of the warmest Novembers on record.

This week we had visits and photos with Santa. He arrived here on Wednesday and many of our elders enjoyed having their picture taken with him. The Brighton Symphony Orchestra also played that evening. A nice way to kick off the holiday season. They are one of the largest groups to perform in our auditorium. Their performance here is one of several and a good example of how we interact with and appreciate community talents. They sound great and play loud -a nice feature for our elders.

The SJH Auxiliary started the holiday parties on December 1st. Linda Taggert performed a historic and musical performance explaining the hammer dulcimer. This was quite interesting.

The lobby has been busy with residents loading up on the bus and heading to the mall for Christmas shopping. It’s so delightful to see the residents excited about the holidays. A lot of hussle and bussle going on. You’ll notice no one around here is singing, “Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow,” but I am hopeful!

EnJOY the season!
The Happy Hastings Lobby Blogger

What incredible weather we’ve been having. I was waiting for my ride after exercising in the SJH staff fitness center Monday when I stepped outside and found the mild temp and steady rain delightful, so I pulled up a chair. There was some lightening and thunder, a soft rolling storm. I couldn’t help but think how this is just what I would do if I was home. Sit on my front porch and watch the storm. So I enjoyed it. It was amazing that on November 14th, I could sit outside and enjoy such a wonderful moment. The next time I wait for my ride it could be snowing, or blustery, or who knows what? So, that’s how I started the week, enjoying a wonderful rain storm sitting on the elders’ porch on November 14th.

This week brought us cocktail hour where the SJH Band played. What talented musicians we have here! An elder from the Meadows has joined the group.

A sock hop was enjoyed by many in the 2 South neighborhood. They were “cuttin’ up the rug” – Check out the pics on our web photo gallery. In the afternoon, many SJH folks were entertained by the Oasis Tappers, a group of tap dancers ranging in age 63 to 81! They tapped their way into our hearts and were pretty snappy for their ages. Another example of how age is soooo much an attitude. I hope to join that group some day!

If you’re walking through our halls these days, you can smell the aroma of pies baking. Many neighborhoods are preparing for Thanksgiving and some of the neighborhoods have already been enjoying the tastes. Pie night, Harvest pot luck (all day) and decorating too! As they say, “Tis the season!”

Our week ends with a friend and colleague retiring from our home. We will miss him. Thanks for making us feel safe and secure. The best part of his retiring is that we are all celebrating this afternoon at the Distillery. Cheers!

The Happy Hastings Lobby Blogger