Rolla Community Matters July 2017

Commun ty Matters Rolla Presbyterian Manor

July 2017

Three steps to reduce trouble

By Allen Teal, chaplain Rolla Presbyterian Manor “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” (James 1:19-20, NIV).

Every now and then, I hear someone say that they always seem to be in trouble from somebody. When I was in high school, I kept a sticker on my headboard that said, “Start brain before engaging mouth.” I have used it as my personal mantra for communication ever since that time. James the Just, the head of the church in Jerusalem and brother to Jesus, wrote to the early TROUBLE, continued on page 2

Independence Day then and now Meet longtime medication tech Linda Adams, just one member of our outstanding staff

As we prepare to celebrate our nation’s Independence Day, we asked residents to share memories of celebrating this traditional summer holiday. Mary Ellen Bailey obliged with two tales of tense moments with fireworks and a look back at a simpler time.

When Mary Ellen’s children were very young, her husband took a job in El Paso, Texas. She and the children stayed behind in Missouri with Mary Ellen’s father while they waited for their house to be built.

Mary Ellen’s brothers had recently returned from serving in World War II, and not surprisingly, they were not fond of fireworks. The kids wanted to do some, but their grandfather was recovering from surgery, so he couldn’t help. Their uncle, one of the veterans, graciously agreed to help after dinner.

INDEPENDENCE, continued on page 3

TROUBLE, continued from page 1

church advising them to follow a three-step plan to steer clear of creating problems with other people.

What the map did not show was hundreds of hills and what seemed like thousands of curves on that small two-lane road. That missing information cost us hours of time.

We made it through, but it was not a fun trip.

3. Rein in your emotions

Too much adrenaline flowing can cloud your good judgement. Many of our responses are driven by emotion rather than by knowledge.

1. Pay attention—get all of the facts When you feel anger rising, it is first best to walk away for a moment or 2. Plan your response Really knowing something trumps two. Leaving a tense situation is a thinking you know every time.

When my children were growing sign of strength.You are not running It is too easy to leap to wrong up, I drummed this thought into from it.You are giving yourself time conclusions before you know all them, “You can always say it later, to prepare in a calm and realistic of the facts.Years ago, we were but you can never truly take it back.” way. With Independence Day in travelling with friends across West Most of us have had to remove a foot Virginia. Our map showed excellent July, let’s determine to make sure from our mouth because we spoke highways in the state, but it was easy the only fireworks in our lives are too soon. In reality, we do not have to see that shortest route was to take from celebrating our freedom and to say everything that we think. It a state highway that connected the not from trouble with friends and two legs of the interstate highways. is better if we think long and hard family. before we speak.

Community Matters

is published monthly for residents and friends of Rolla Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org Ann Caudill, executive director Joelle Freeland, marketing director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Joelle Freeland at lfreeland@pmma.org.

Telephone: 573-364-7336 Fax: 573-364-7336 Address: 1200 Homelife Plaza, Rolla, MO 65401-2595 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.

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Krystal Grisham, Judy McKibben, Joy Parker, Valerie Eades, Ann Parson, and Robert Sloan enjoy a good juicy hamburger during our first resident and staff picnic of the summer.

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Community Matters July 2017

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INDEPENDENCE, continued from page 1

“Believe it or not, in Missouri then you could have any (kind of fireworks),” Mary Ellen said. “We had a cool front come through, so we put my father in a lawn chair with a quilt. My brother was shooting off fireworks, and he had some kind of whirligig thing that was supposed to go in a straight line. But it went every which way!

It went over my father’s head, and he was trying to get out of the quilt he was wrapped in, and the rest of us went running in every direction trying to get out of the way.”

When Mary Ellen herself was young, she remembered how her grandfather loved to light firecrackers. But as he grew older, his hands became less steady. His

favorite thing was to take a punk and light one firecracker at a time.

“And he would throw it, and then he would die laughing,” Mary Ellen said. “We held our breath every time and worried he would hold it too long and blow his finger off!”

In spite of those close calls, Mary Ellen has other fond Fourth memories. When her family lived in Kirkwood they had friends come over to have dinner together, and then they took lawn chairs to the park a few blocks away for a professional fireworks show. “We thought, boy, was this something. It was something very special.”

Resident Maxine Shults shared this recollection of a favorite holiday from the 1970s:

“The best Fourth of July is when me and my mother spent the day together grilling steaks, talking and later watching fireworks. I am not sure where everyone else was at the time, but I really enjoyed spending time with my mother. She spent the day and the night with me, and we enjoyed being by ourselves and doing what we pleased.”

In a small town like Rolla, those neighborhood celebrations are still a favorite, even though the city has a Fourth of July celebration that lasts several days. Now the whole town can come together for fireworks, carnival rides and food, and enjoy our national holiday as a community.

And, we hope, safely!

Above right: Joy Tucker and Swee Stevenson share a cup of coffee and enjoy the beautiful weather at our May picnic.

Above: Glee Harvey, Muriel Hodge, Carol Baker, and Mary Ellen Bailey enjoy our first Summer Picnic in May. Right: Jim Payne and Martha McCallam relax in the shade.

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Rolla Presbyterian Manor 1200 Homelife Plaza Rolla, MO 65401-2595 Return Service Requested

Post Acute to Home® profiles We will be featuring people who have received therapy through our Post Acute to Home (PATH) program in an upcoming issue of Community Matters. If you have a story to tell about your experience in our PATH program or know someone who does, or if you just want to tell the world what you love about living in your senior living community, we want to If you’ve got a story to share, contact Marketing Director Joelle Freeland and your story could be featured in an upcoming edition of Community Matters.

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Community Matters July 2017

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