Parsons Community Matters - August 2022

Parsons Presbyterian Manor

AUGUST 2022

Editor’s Note: In a nod to our Presbyterian heritage, we regularly feature a column from a PMMA® chaplain in our newsletter. This month’s column comes from Dinah Dutta, chaplain at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor®.

Pause, Breathe, HOPE At the movies, residents revisit the ‘king of rock ’n’ roll’ Parsons Presbyterian Manor residents gave “two thumbs up” to “Elvis,” the Baz Luhrmann biopic about one of the most influential musicians of all time.

Virginia Allison, David Guartney, Robert Keener, and Bette Whetzel attended a screening at The Parsons Theatre with Becky Nash, life enrichment director, and Babette Collins, social services director.

The residents were excited to see the movie because they grew up listening to Elvis Presley tunes.

Bette Whetzel is a fan of both Elvis’ David and Bette are fond of the 1956 music and his trademark dance hit “Love Me Tender.” The song was moves. Her favorite parts of “Elvis” featured on the soundtrack of the the movie are the musical western movie of the same name, numbers. which was also Presley’s first film role.

David and Bette aren’t alone: “Love Me Tender” was a huge hit. It reached number one on the charts and made history as the first single to sell more than a million copies. The lyrics were co-written by Ken Darby and Elvis to the tune of the Civil-War-era ballad, “Aura Lee.”

Elvis performed “Love Me Tender” during his first appearance on the Ed Sullivan show. He performed on the influential TV program three times at a rate of $50,000, an astonishing sum at the time. These appearances are some of David’s favorite memories of the superstar. Bette best remembers his distinctive dance moves, which were first introduced to

Elvis – continued on page 2

By Chaplain Dinah Dutta

I can’t help but share this beautiful song with you as my thoughts are wrapped around 4th of Dinah Dutta July as I write my love note to all of you: The patriotic song, “America the Beautiful.”

In spite of all the chaos, hatred, fear, and much more, I want to sing this song with all my heart.

Each word reminds me how privileged and blessed I am to live in this great country.

Please join me in singing: O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain!

America! America!

God shed His grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet Whose stern impassioned stress

Pause, Breathe, HOPE – continued on page 4

Get the latest on visitation and COVID-19 at our campus at ParsonsPresbyterianManor.org/covid-19.

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Elvis – continued from page 1 the American public during TV performances in the mid-1950s.

Virginia’s favorite Elvis song is “Trying to Get Back to You.” Where “Love Me Tender” was one of his first hits, “Trying to Get Back to You” was recorded in the late 1960s, when Elvis was mounting a comeback after a period in which he focused on film roles. He performed the country-tinged tune on a television special that aired in December 1968.

Throughout his career, Presley recorded gospel tracks and other songs that reflected his Christian

Virginia Allison says Elvis’ music helped her through good times and bad. She liked that the film “Elvis” included clips from his first and last concerts.

faith and upbringing. These are Robert’s favorites, and they include 1957’s “(There’ll Be) Peace in the Valley (For Me)” and 1972’s “Amazing Grace.” His ninth studio album, “How Great Thou Art,” is devoted to gospel tracks.

Released in 1967, “How Great Thou Art” won a Grammy for Best Sacred Performance.

The residents said they enjoyed the “Elvis” movie. David appreciated the depiction of Elvis’ rise to stardom, and Bette’s favorite parts were the musical numbers. Virginia liked that the film includes clips from his first and last concerts.

Robert Keener was impressed by how the movie “Elvis” depicted the superstar’s Graceland estate.

David Guartney thought “Elvis” did a good job of telling Elvis’ rags-toriches story.

Robert’s favorite part of the film is its portrayal of Graceland, Elvis’ famous Memphis estate. It’s just one of the lavish sets the production designer recreated for the filming, all of which took place in Australia.

Virginia, who has been an Elvis fan since the age of seven, speaks to the enduring power of his legacy — and one of the reasons the new biopic has done so well at the box office, grossing well over $100 million.

Though the star often drew controversy, Virginia says he was always respectful of his fans.

“His songs helped me through good times and bad times,” she said. u

Parsons Presbyterian Manor residents and staff enjoyed an outing to The Parsons Theatre to see “Elvis,” which everyone enjoyed. From left: David Guartney, Robert Keener, Babette Collins, Bette Whetzel, Virginia Allison, and Becky Nash.

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Community Matters 620-421-1450 u Fax: 620-421-1897 3501 Dirr Ave. Parsons, KS 67357-2220 ParsonsPresbyterianManor.org

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COMMUNITY MATTERS | August 2022

is published monthly for residents and friends of Parsons Presbyterian Manor

by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

To submit or suggest articles: nnash@pmma.org Maegen Pegues, executive director Natae Nash, marketing counselor

OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.

Get ready for National “Tell a Joke” Day You may not know this, but August 16 is “Tell a Joke Day.” No-one can quite figure out where or how the day started (or why it’s not a national holiday yet) but the idea behind it is quite simple – tell a joke and share a laugh. It’s good for you!

Laughter is considered one of the greatest medicines – it can improve your heart health, release endorphins and reduce your stress, even work your abs.

So, we wanted to take the opportunity to share a few jokes – as presented by an anonymous resident at one of our communities who enjoys walking around, making people laugh. Some of his jokes are good, some bad, some corny: Q: What do you call a pallbearer in Oklahoma?

A: Karaoke (“carry-Okie”) Q: What resort’s grand opening received very little coverage?

A: The nudist colony’s Q: Who wore the first Arrow shirt?

A: General Custer Q: What do you call a cat that ate a lemon?

A: A sourpuss Q: Why couldn’t they play cards on Noah’s Ark? A: Because an elephant stood on the deck

The history of the joke While the origin (and creator) of National “Tell a Joke” Day are a mystery, many “experts” have tried to find the origin of the “joke.”

But as it turns out, that’s a difficult task as well.

Some suggest that the joke was created by the Greek hero Palamedes, who outsmarted Odysseus during the Trojan War but there’s no evidence to support that claim.

But there’s another claim for the Greeks.

In 350 BC, the original Friar’s Club met regularly in the Temple of Heracles in Athens to tell jokes but “none have been passed down.”

In the 1600s, Shakespeare included lots of humor in his plays, some funny one-liners, and many jokes that were actually insults such as “Thine face is not worth sunburning” from Henry V (Act 5, Scene 2).

A classic joke that endured the test of time was first published in 1847 in the monthly New York magazine Knickerbocker: “Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side.”

In modern times, stand-up comedians brought humor to clubs and on the radio, TV and the internet. In 2002, an English professor held a contest for the world’s funniest joke. The winner was from comedian Spike Milligan: “Two hunters are out in the woods when one of them collapses. He doesn’t seem to be breathing and his eyes are glazed. The other guy whips out his phone and calls the emergency services. He gasps, ‘My friend is dead! What can I do?’ The operator says, ‘Calm down. I can help. First, let’s make sure he’s dead.’ There is a silence, then a shot is heard. Back on the phone, the guy says, ‘OK, now what?’”

The above dates and information are from Stop Me If You’ve Heard This A History and Philosophy of Jokes

by Jim Holt. u

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Pause, Breath, HOPE – continued from page 1 A thoroughfare for freedom beat Across the wilderness.

America! America!

God mend thine ev'ry flaw, Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law.

O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife, Who more than self their country loved, And mercy more than life.

America! America!

May God thy gold refine Till all success be nobleness, And ev'ry gain divine.

O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears.

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America! America!

God shed his grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea.

I invite you dear ones to take time to pause, pray, breathe, and continue to live in Hope because hope, love, and

COMMUNITY MATTERS | August 2022

JOY are contagious. Let us plant the seeds of HOPE all around us.

Galatians 6:8: For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life (NKJV).

Enjoy the Summer! u