Friday, October 24, 2008
9:50am-noon
Observation
Today the trick-or-treaters came. The children from Head Start came and sang silly Halloween songs to the residents. They were adorable and dressed in costumes. After they were done singing, the kids went up to the residents and gave them hugs and kisses and told them “Happy Halloween!” It was interesting because in the room, several different age groups were represented. There were the small children, plus a few older grade school kids. There was me, a college age student. There were quite a few middle-aged adults that came with their children from Head Start plus the staff at Cardinal Hill. Finally, there was the older generation, scattered around the room in wheelchairs. Seeing the interaction between the age groups was interesting. One thing I mentioned in one of my first journal entries was the observation that most of the older residents reminded me of children in their thought patterns and actions. It shouldn’t surprise me then, that while the parents stood awkwardly back, unsure of what to think of these drooling, muttering patients, their kids walked right on up and gave the old ladies a kiss. The children and the elderly seemed to be on this similar wavelength. Both are simple in their thoughts, taking each day as it comes. There was an unexplainable bond there. The adults, on the other hand, stared and stood at least five feet away from any resident. I don’t blame them or claim that is says anything about their personal character, but it was interesting to observe.
Introspection
Honestly, I despise going to Cardinal Hill every Friday, and I cannot wait until the semester is over. At the same time, though, every time I go to Cardinal Hill, there is always something that pushes me to the bridge of tears. Sometimes it’s Ruth telling me a story and sobbing in front of me. Sometimes it’s thinking about the beauty, wisdom, and stories these people hold within them. Today, it was seeing the pure happiness spread across the residents’ faces as the children would walk up to them and give them a hug or a kiss. Ruth had the biggest smile on her face, and grouchy Betty wasn’t so grouchy afterwards. This simple act touched these people in a profound way. It showed them love. Maybe the planners of the event saw it as a cute promotional activity (a lot of posed pictures were taken with the kids and residents), but for the children and the residents, it provided a moment of happiness that the residents will hold onto as long as their memories will let them. How many times do I overlook the small actions that show love? How many times do I pass them by, waiting for my big opportunity to “show love”? The adults didn’t really see it, but there was such beauty in the interaction between the young and the old. The young have so much love they’re willing to give, and the residents crave that love. Such a simple act, and yet it spoke volumes to the receivers. God, teach me to view love like that.
