Community Events – Get Involved

RESIDENT MEMOIRS

MY FRIEND ARLENE

BY HARRY HABER

A piece written by Harry Haber in Memoir Writing Group After moving in and getting settled at All Seasons, Elaine and I introduced some of the residents to a card game called threes and fours. It was a simple game, played by four to ten people which was fun and enjoyable. The first hand everyone was dealt 6 cards. Each player would need to accumulate two sets of three in the same number or picture. Three fives and three tens in different suits. Upon obtaining the needed combinations the player would lay them out on the table and work on discarding all other cards. Each hand would have different combinations. Seven cards dealt would require a straight run in one suit and one set of threes. As the game unfolded the combinations would increase until each player received thirteen cards with different combinations.

The game was played every Friday at 1:00 P.M with the participants laughing and yelling. It was an afternoon of fun. We eventually had two tables with about eight to ten players at each table. One afternoon a new lady wheeled herself into the room. She asked if she could join us and play. “Of course, you can join us. Everyone is invited." She introduced herself as Arlene and she lived in the assisted living wing of All Seasons. She explained that she had a problem hearing and seeing. I assured her that she would fit right in with our group. I told Arlene she could sit next to me at the game and I would help her. After a few weeks she caught on to the game, even winning some of the hands. She was friendly and a delight to have her playing with us. One day, after finishing the game, I was getting the cards and the card shuffler together to put away. Everyone had left except Arlene and me. I asked her if I could help her with anything. She replied no, but asked if we could sit and talk for a while. I guessed that being alone in a one-bedroom apartment she missed having conversations with other people. We sat there for about 45 minutes. We had something in common. We both came from Brooklyn and had a Jewish background. She told me a little about her family and life and I shared similar information with her. It was a delightful time spent with Arlene. I felt good that I could share this time and I now had a new friend, Arlene. Arlene is a charming woman with a smile and a gleam in her eye. Every time we see each other she smiles for me and I give it back to her. So, if you open yourself up to someone you can give that person a little joy, and the rewards for yourself are even greater. My new friend Arlene.