Melody Keller - Editor June 2012 Volume II, Issue 6
(Story written by Shelley Stutchman, Marketing Director)
The mission statement of the National Ambucs service organization is, “Creating independence for people with disabilities.”
Shorty is the first one to hop on and try ‘er out!
Buster demonstrates adjustments are easy!
Kent shows how easy it is to accommodate Amy’s long legs on the AmTryke!
“Smile for the camera!”
The First Seniors Ambucs club of Enid, Oklahoma put that mission statement in action on May, 24th, 2012 when they held their regular monthly meeting at Golden Oaks Retirement Village. At the close of the meeting, they presented our facility with an AmTtryke. AmTrykes are therapeutic tricycles that are made for both children and adults and assist with muscle development and mobility. Club president, Buster Keeton, along with the Ambucs National President, Kent Clingenpeel, presented the bike to the Golden Oaks physical therapist, Amy Meeks. Immediately, the AmTryke was put to use as resident after resident gave the bike a whirl. You could see the joy in the faces of the seniors that tried it. Even with legs that were weak and had failed to allow them to walk without the assistance of a walker or use of a scooter, they could propel the AmTryke forward. Their faces lit up and the years washed away as the AmTryke allowed them mobility that they had long forgotten. The grins were ‘ear to ear’ as they put on the bike helmet, also a gift from the First Seniors Ambucs. In the faces of the residents, it was evident they had memories of riding a bike on a sunny day and the way their first bike had given them the feeling of independence and freedom. With the AmTryke that feeling was back for those that braved their fears and mounted a bike once again. It made me feel humble at how I take my own mobility for granted. Thank you, First Senior Ambucs and all Ambucs for bringing a chance, for those with muscles that have betrayed them, to get strong again because of your generous donation. The First Seniors chapter meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. They meet at the Santa Fe Station, at 200 W. Walnut. Their meetings consist of informative programs, fellowship, and fun. The members dedicate themselves to helping their community by providing financial aid, manpower, or simply moral support.
It’s quite obvious, Amy is having way too much fun here! She did share though - I heard several residents took a turn riding the AmTryke!
No matter where you live there is an Ambucs club close to you. This national organization works, “Shoulders Together,” to make life better for those members of society who sometimes get overlooked.
Emmanuel Christian Show Choir 4th & 5th graders - directed by Jana Maly
Always a delightful program to both the eye and the ear!
Dorothy Kroeker was especially excited to have the OBA music students come to perform at Golden Oaks...her granddaughter, Saige is one of them!
Unlike many schools, OBA emphasizes the development of the student’s gifts of music and the arts - not strictly athleticism.
Oklahoma Bible Academy brought soloists, various ensembles, and instrumental musicians, from their 6th grade program all the way up through their senior high students. What a wonderful experience it was as group after group shared their talents with us. We want to thank OBA, Mr. Dennis Lauderdale, vocal music director, and Mr. David Holland, instrumental music director, for delighting us with their outstandingly performed contest and Tri-State numbers! Hurry back!
Recently, Babe Brown didn’t get the report he’d hoped for from a biopsy. A good friend and neighbor, Forest Redding, thought perhaps Babe could use a lift, so Forest planned an impromptu surprise party on Babe’s birthday at suppertime, May 25th. Forest ordered a beautiful cake, and since Babe is diabetic, a yummy seedless watermelon for him to enjoy. Lots of Babe’s friends and neighbors showed up to help him celebrate and it not only lifted his spirits, and everyone had a great time as you can see in the pictures. At Golden Oaks, we’re not just a neighborhood or a retirement village, we’re family!
Babe!
One of our future residents, Harold Peak, is a all-round talented dancer and has agreed to set up his impressive “DJ” equipment and hold an exhibition on Tuesday evening, June 26th at 7:00 pm in the Atrium. He and his partner will demonstrate several types of dance for us and then, it’s our turn! Harold is anxious to begin a regular class, once or twice a month, where he will instruct anyone who interested in learning various types of dance. This first session will be focusing on country line dancing—it’s fun, it’s easy, you don’t have to have a partner, and it’s great exercise! So, mark your calendars now and dust off your boots if you have any. There’ll be great music, great dancin’, and a whole lot of great fun! (We may even be able to get Rhonda to rustle up some refreshments for afterwards when our energy’s all spent!) See you at the dance!
“Heck if these old codgers can do it, I’m shore we can, too!”
“A Gift…” Old age, I’ve decided, is a gift. I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body...the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the various other sagging parts. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror, but I don’t agonize over those things for long. I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I’ve aged, I’ve become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I’ve become my own friend. I don’t chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn’t need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant. I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging. Whose business is it anyway if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4:00 AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 50’s & 60’s and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love...I will. I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body and will dive in to the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set. They, too, will get old. I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things. Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody’s beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect. I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughter be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver. As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don’t question myself anymore. I’ve even earned the right to be wrong. It might surprise you, but I like being old—it has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day if I feel like it!
~ Submitted for use in the Crier by Misty Stuart ~
~Anonymous~
On Tuesday, May 15th at 3:00 in the chapel, JoAnn Phillips did a presentation and actually read from her recently published book about Phillips University. “Lil Hay” basically covers more than 100 years of Phillips University history but told in a very light-hearted way by the school’s ‘skunk’ mascot. Though we were few in number that day, nearly every one who attended purchased a book and now are the proud owners of a numbered and signed copy of a bit of Enid history! We so appreciate Ms. Phillips and the staff of the Phillips Legacy Foundation who accompanied her that day for taking the time and effort to come to Golden Oaks and keeping us informed about things happening in our community. Everyone in attendance got “pinned” - with an adorable skunk pin and there were stuffed skunks and the recognizable Phillips ‘columns’ for sale. All proceeds from the book and other merchandise sales go to the Phillips Legacy Foundation which funds scholarships to students wanting to attend Christian universities. Thank you to those of you who made the effort to attend. I appreciate my “faithful few” so very much!
JoAnn Phillips, author of both these books, donated a signed copy of each to our library! Thank-you, Jo Ann, for your kind and generous donation!
You may have seen a familiar face when you’ve enjoyed a meal in the Golden Oaks Village dining room recently. Yes, Rhonda Robinette has returned to manage our dietary department! And, can you keep a secret? (Shhhhh!) I hear in the very near future she’s bringing back everybody’s long-asked-for-favorite— the buffet line! Rhonda, you have been greatly missed and it’s wonderful to see your friendly smile gracing our dining area once again. Welcome back! We’re so glad you’re here!
Rhonda Robinette Dietary Manager Resident Council Meeting
The regular monthly meeting of the Resident Council for June has been changed from Monday, June 4th to Tuesday, June 5th at 2:00. This change was necessary to make it possible for anyone in our new management team to be to able to attend, as there were scheduling conflicts if the meeting were to be held on Monday. Thank you for your cooperation in this small change on the June calendar. Root beer floats will be served after the meeting on Tuesday, in the atrium, as has become the custom.
Forest Redding, was fortunate recently to have enjoyed some extensive traveling in Europe. Shorty asked him to share some of his experiences and he has agreed to do so during chapel on Wednesday, June 13th at 3:00. He is calling his presentation “Austria: Churches, Culture, and Cuisine.” He has lots of beautiful pictures and a wealth of interesting information about Austria to share with us that day, so mark your calendars to be sure and attend. Even if you aren’t in the habit of coming to mid-week chapel services, you won’t want to miss this one! Then, in July, at a date to be announced, Forest has agreed to share a special program about a few of the many other wonderful places he visited during his travels this past April. We really appreciate your willingness to share, Forest, and look forward to learning some of what you learned about God’s wonderful and beautiful world during your spring travels.
You asked for it, and you got it! “It’s high time” we have a pizza party at Golden Oaks again, so that’s just exactly what’s going to happen on Monday, June 18th, at approximately 5:00 in the atrium. (We ask that everyone participating sit together at the tables reserved for this purpose, to make it easier on those of us serving.) There will be a sign-up sheet at the Welcome Center where you will also write down your pizza preference, 1st and 2nd choice, please. The deadline to sign up is Friday, June 15th and it will also be necessary to pay in advance (non-refundable.) The cost is only $6—sorry, cash only this time—and that will cover the all-you-can-eat-pizza plus a ‘bottom-less’ soft drink. (We will try as hard as we can to fill everyone’s requests, but your flexibility will be much appreciated!) See you at the Pizza Party!
Gaslight Theater’s Summer Musical “The majority has spoken”...and the consensus is to attend the Sunday afternoon, July 29th 2:00 performance. We are just two tickets short of having enough for the group discount price of only $10 per ticket, so if there are any of you who are planning on going but just haven’t said so, please let me know as soon as possible. There are a couple of residents who plan to attend an evening performance and are driving their own car, but will still get the group discount by purchasing their tickets through me. So be sure to do the same if you are considering going on your own—we can still help each other out this way! I have reserved 20 seats in the 1st and 2nd rows for the 29th. The payment for your tickets needs to be cash and is due no later than Wednesday, June 20th. Thank-you! Every Tuesday afternoon at 1:30, a fun group of ladies gets together in the Golden Oaks library to knit or crochet and just plain visit! They would love for their small group to become a bigger group and are extending an invitation for you to join them! If you enjoy needlework of any kind, or even if you’d just like to come get acquainted, please feel free to just show up on Tuesday afternoons and join our “Busy Hands” group! You’ll be so glad you did (and we will too!)
as well as for the safety of others, we kindly ask that you do not park your scooters, wheelchairs, or walkers in front of the access to elevators or fire extinguishers. You can imagine what problems this could cause in the event of an emergency! Thank-you for your cooperation.
It looks just like this one, only much smaller! Did you find the ever-illusive acorn in the May Village Crier? (Some of you thought I was a little too easy on you this time...really?) Check out the big red bowl of popcorn in the bottom right corner of page 7. I thought the acorn was pretty well camouflaged among the big fluffy buttered popped corn. (Maybe I need my glasses checked...I do have an appointment June 8th.) Hope you have at least little fun hunting for June’s acorn. Happy Hunting!
to Doddie Semrad for omitting her birthday from the birthday page in May’s newsletter and from the list of birthdays on channel 96 as well. I am so very sorry for this unfortunate mistake when I was sorting for May birthdays. You are very special to me and I would never overlook your birthday intentionally. Forgive me? I sure hope so!
Mary Ann Thurston Doris Wofford JacK Weston Ada Newsom Mickey Nokes Dorothy Harbaugh EileenSnowden Clayton Voth
2nd Charles Bland
15th
Barbara Quillin
15th
Margaret Lake
18th
Dee Taylor
18th
Ray Meier
20th
Beth Randall
21st
Wilma O’Quinn
28th
2nd 7th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th
So sorry to Denise Krausse...we know your birthday is May 2nd, not the 5th. Typo! : (
Jerry & Dru Bahm ~ 14th ~ Delbert & Mayre Schrader ~ 26th ~
1:30 Worship
1:30 Worship
1:30 Worship
First Day of Summer June 20th!
Sun
24
17
10
3
Wed
Thu 1
Red Shirt Friday! 9:30 Art Class 2:00 Computer Class 7:00 Games
Fri
20
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26 27 28 29 Grocery Shopping 9:30 Art Class 9:30 China Painting 10:00 Ladies Bible 7:30 Big Breakfast 1:00 Hand & Foot Red Shirt Friday! Study / chapel 1:00 GOV Chorus 9:30 Art Class 3:00 “Golf” 9:30 Art Class 1:30 “Busy Hands” 2:00 Steering 3:00 Chapel Oak Room 7:00 Games 7:00 “Shall We Comm. 7:00 Pitch 7:00 Bingo Dance?- Atrium
25
9:30 China Painting
Grocery Shopping 7:30 Big Breakfast 9:30 Art Class 9:30 Art Class Red Shirt Friday! 2:15 GOV Chorus 10:00 Ladies Bible 1:00 Walmart Trip 2:00 Melody Girls 9:30 Art Class Study / chapel 3:00 “Sing-Along” 1:00 Hand & Foot 3:00 Chapel 7:00 Games 5:00 Pizza Party! 1:30 “Busy Hands” 7:00 Bingo 7:00 Pitch
18
19
Red Shirt Friday! 9:30 “Donuts & Dominoes!” 9:30 Art Class 7:00 Games
10:00 Ladies Bible 7:30 Big Breakfast Study / chapel 9:30 Art Class 9:30 Art Class 1:00 GOV Chorus 1:30 “Busy Hands” 1:00 Hand & Foot 3:00 Chapelby Forest Redding 6:00 “Classic 3:00 “Golf” 7:00 Pitch Movie & Popcorn Oak Room Night” 7:00 Bingo
9:30 China Painting
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15
12
Happy Flag Day!14
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Courtesy Grocery Shopping is every Tuesday morning. Please have your list turned in no later than 1:00 pm on Monday. Thank-you!
Tue
6 7 8 10:00 Ladies Bible5 Red Shirt Friday! Study / chapel 9:30 China Painting 7:30 Big Breakfast 9:30 Art Class 9:30 Art Class 1:00 GOV Chorus 1:30 “Busy Hands” 9:30 Art Class 1:00 Walmart Trip 3:00 2:00 Resident 3:00 “What? 3:00 Chapel 1:00 Hand & Foot “Scattergories”Daytime Bingo?” Council Meeting Oak Room 7:00 Pitch 7:00 Bingo (no dimes needed!) 3:00 Root Beer 7:00 Games Floats
Mon
June 2012
7:00 Games Oak Room
7:00 Games Oak Room
7:00 Games Oak Room
7:00 Games Oak Room
7:00 Games Oak Room
Sat
30
23
16
9
2
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Residential cottages and apartments 9-hole golf course and practice range Fishing lakes Indoor pool and spa Atrium Dining Area Large game/social rooms Private party facilities & catering Chapel and chaplain Shuttle services Covered parking spaces