In the cards

For the past two years, I’ve had the privilege of talking to a group of Ms. Haynes’ eighth-graders at Northpoint Expeditionary Learning Academy about senior and assisted living in this community, sharing a few stories about what it is and why some people end up living there.

I was invited because several of the students were creating homemade cards, inspired by the “Love for Our Elders” project started by a young man in 2013 after his grandpa died. It has grown into a nonprofit with 50,000 volunteers in 70 countries helping write letters “to fight loneliness with love.”

The students wanted to know a little bit more about who they were writing to and a few wondered if the seniors would understand some of the hobbies and favorite bands they were sharing in the cards. I was the lucky one who got to pick up the cards when they were done creating them and, I’ll admit, I got a kick out of reading through all of them first before I handed them out. And while not every card recipient was able to write back, several of our residents wrote cards and letters for me to share with the students. Our seniors had a few questions of their own, including wondering whether the students would be able to read their cursive handwriting.

I convinced Anita to join me in talking with the class. She shared first-hand experiences of what it’s like to live in a senior apartment, how she ended up moving in after her husband died, and why her neighbors feel like family. The students asked good questions, and we were surprised to learn one of their favorite activities is playing cards, especially UNO. We invited them to bring their UNO cards along when they visited, and since their field trip day coincided with the monthly residents’ birthday party, to stick around for some cake and ice cream.

When the school van pulled up at the apartment building a few days later, I wondered how this would all turn out. Would everyone talk to each other or would we lapse into awkward silence? I shouldn’t have worried. Anita invited the students to tour her apartment. Then the group walked to the dining room and met a few of the seniors ready to test their card-playing skills. We spent a few minutes trying to figure out how we were going to split the students and seniors into UNO teams.

Someone brought sticky labels and markers, so everyone made a name tag to wear. Another resident, Liz, brought homemade apple cookies and goodie bags left over from Halloween to pass around. Someone else contributed orange juice and soda to the party and, before I knew it, there were three tables of people dealing UNO cards, laughing, talking and sharing stories with each other, teaching those who didn’t know the rules how to play and helping the ones who needed a little extra help.

It’s been a long time since I’ve played UNO, but I was able to squeak in a game before I had to run to my next appointment. The two young men playing cards with me asked questions about my life and I asked about theirs. We talked as we threw down wild cards, skipped, reversed and drew from the deck until we found a card we could use. One of them said, “This doesn’t feel like school, it feels like vacation.” I hope they come back again. I think we could all use some more vacation time with them.

Prescott-area resident Kelly Paradis is a community liaison for Good Samaritan Home Health, Hospice & Marley House. She loves listening to and writing stories about life.