It was time for part II. After a rainy car ride, we arrived to see the seniors finishing up their lunch. The Gary and Mary West Center certainly has a different vibe than that of Casa de Manana, and it is a bit difficult to explain. Perhaps it's the shape or color of the room, or most likely the people make the difference. Whatever it is, there is merit in both places, and I knew that the dances held in the two communities will be significantly different simply out of this reason. In addition, the theme this time was St. Patrick's and the music was to be played on a playlist instead of performed by a live band.
What I did not expect was a group of seniors singing in a choir. I really loved their performance and valued it in many regards; in the audience I saw numerous people singing along. I personally never heard the songs before, but the seniors must have known them from their days. As I did in Casa de Manana, I thought about the nostalgia these songs must have incited in the seniors and wondered what they must have been thinking while listening to the songs.
The raffle prizes and Oscar prizes were full of laughter and happiness. Every senior who won a prize had a big smile on his or her face, and it brought a smile on my face too. It was fulfilling, rewarding to see them enjoy what we had brought for them. This was a time for these individuals to forget about current, past, or future troubles and enjoy the moment, which is what the dance was for. They enjoyed the intergenerational interactions and danced and took photos with the students as well. I was thankful for their gratitude towards our efforts at the end of the event, and they told us about their desire to have another dance next year. I certainly wish that this will become an annual event and that future students can experience and learn invaluable lessons as we are all doing through this program.
What I did not expect was a group of seniors singing in a choir. I really loved their performance and valued it in many regards; in the audience I saw numerous people singing along. I personally never heard the songs before, but the seniors must have known them from their days. As I did in Casa de Manana, I thought about the nostalgia these songs must have incited in the seniors and wondered what they must have been thinking while listening to the songs.
The raffle prizes and Oscar prizes were full of laughter and happiness. Every senior who won a prize had a big smile on his or her face, and it brought a smile on my face too. It was fulfilling, rewarding to see them enjoy what we had brought for them. This was a time for these individuals to forget about current, past, or future troubles and enjoy the moment, which is what the dance was for. They enjoyed the intergenerational interactions and danced and took photos with the students as well. I was thankful for their gratitude towards our efforts at the end of the event, and they told us about their desire to have another dance next year. I certainly wish that this will become an annual event and that future students can experience and learn invaluable lessons as we are all doing through this program.