Residents Council Meeting Zoom Discussion

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by Bob Buddemeier and Joni Johnson

On January 19, Residents Council President Gary Crites and Vice President Gini Armstrong introduced an innovation: a Zoom discussion group as a follow-up to the Residents Council meeting on the 18th.  A dozen residents talked for an hour about RVM and residents Council issues of mutual interest, ending with a consensus that it had been very worthwhile, plus a commitment from the officers to make it a monthly event.

The first topic to come up was the Plaza dining area renovations. An issue that attracted general agreement involved management of walkers and wheelchairs – there were concerns about the use of “walker garages” with servers as valet parking attendants.  Would there be enough servers to avoid delays in either food service or walker parking?  Would there be enough pedestrian space to avoid congestion as diners, servers, and walkers moved about?  How would wheelchairs and scooters fit into the mix?  The consensus was that these questions needed to be addressed from actual experience, by getting enough residents and servers to actually simulate the process and look for possible problems.  Gini and Gary will talk to Stan about the wheelchairs, and those participants at the meeting with walker issues agreed to inform Stan, Eric, and the DSAC of this need, and to participate in tests to identify potential problems.

Discussion then moved on to issues regarding institutional support of resident needs.  The opinion was expressed that, although we are fortunate to have some very caring and supportive staff members and executives, this seems to be a matter of good fortune rather than policy or organizational structure on the part of RVM or PRS.  There was general agreement that there needed to be more reliable ways to meet resident needs such as in cases of illness, or death of a partner.  Some central and reliably available source of sympathetic information and assistance is needed to make sure that RVM is a consistently caring community. It was agreed that Gini and Gary would help form a small committee to look into existing policies and organization at other communities and to suggest how we might implement a more meaningful approach here.

Participants also brought up the need for supportive assistance in terms of integration of new residents.  Currently, newcomers are somewhat on their own and fairly isolated, not having the chance to meet people on campus as typical in pre-Covid days.  The Ambassador program seems to have temporarily died during Covid, although it is being considered again. A new online Newcomers group has been formed to help RVM newcomers meet one another during the Pandemic.  This new group, started by one of our own newly arrived residents, has already had one Zoom meeting and a second one is planned for February.  If you are interested, please contact Asifa Kanji at asifakanji@gmail.com.

What’s New for December?

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6-word novels (see examples), inspired and edited by Eleanor Lippman,
are scattered throughout this issue (read everything to find them all)

 

NEWS & VIEWS

Talking about Religion…, by Joni Johnson and 12 other RVM residents

Craft Fair Review, by Connie Kent

A COVID-19 Xmas, by Asifa Kanji

in Comments, Letters, and Notices

The Complement’s compliments

in Big, Borrowed, or Both

3550:  the Portland Mirabella quarterly magazine (most recent issue)

Mirabella Monthly, Newsletter of the Seattle Mirabella (most recent issue)

in In the Community

From the Foundation!

What Do You Know About Your Neighbors Part 2, by Claudia Macmillan

 

ARTS & INFO

Adventures of Ralph, by Tom Conger  

Three Poems, by Faye Isaak, Richard Finch, and Anita Sumariwalla

Three More Poems, by Ray Teplitz, Jackie Parrish, and John Reimer

Holiday Poem 2020 by Joni Johnson

in Events & Opportunities

RVM Dec-Jan Entertainment Schedule

 

PREPARE

Progress in Preparedness, by Bob Buddemeier (with Bob Walden)

in Tips, Tricks, Hacks, Hints

Black (Tape) Magic

The supposed history of the six-word novel is that Ernest Hemingway was challenged to compose something as he was sitting at a bar with friends. On a napkin, he scribbled: “For sale, baby shoes, never worn.”  –E. L.

 

I have found my calling: hermit.                          (Wes Freeman)

Justice at last!  Introversion is rewarded!            (Bob Buddemeier)

Alone finally appreciating being an introvert      (Lynda Hansen)

Multiple months inert. Possible to revert?          (Don Vermeer)

Back to Top

Delft Blue Houses

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A Collection

by Grant Koch

In the year 1952, KLM or Royal Dutch Airlines began a tradition of giving their first class,  and later, business class passengers, Delft blue ceramic replicas of famous houses from cities around the Netherlands.  As the collection grew, KLM added one house for every year the airline has been in business (plus some additional specials) and there are currrently 101 different  miniature houses.   Some of these contain Dutch gin Jenever (Genever), however certain countries don’t allow alcoholic beverages, hence the empty ones.  The pictured houses were collected by resident Yoka Koch during her many visits to the Netherlands to visit family and friends.

(interested in more information?  Check https://www.klmhouses.com/)

 

House #1 unidentified house in Amsterdam

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                    Houses # 2,#3,#4

  #2, Restaurant D’Vijff Vlieghen, Amsterdam, #3 Unidentified House Amsterdam, #4 Keizersgracht 127, Amsterdam

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House  #48 was Rembrandt’s house Amsterdam built in 1606

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            House # 75 was the KLM former headquarters in The Hague built in 1914.

 

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Group of houses from left to right:
#29  Leiden built in 1612  /  #28  Rotterdam  /  #35  Delft  built in 1631  / #26  the Hague  built in the 18th century  /   #32  Delft built in 1536

Word Play — The Sequel

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by Tom Conger

            Tom Conger

Moving on in the world of words, we offer more amusing contrivances which may or may not be in the common lexicon. For this installment we are indebted to Weird And Wonderful Words edited by Erin McKean (illustrations by the estimable Roz Chast), Oxford University Press 2003.

You may want to designate this writer as a nihilarian – a person who deals with things of no importance . . .
batie-bummil – a useless bungler (obsolete Scottish word) – (see: this writer…)

bromatology – a treatise on food, the kind of cookbook with recipes for food that is good for you, instead of food you actually want to eat. (bromo, btw, is Greek root for food)

cockagrice – “an unappetizing dish (to modern palates) made of an old cock and a pig boiled and roasted together.” Grice = old word for pig. (not sure if the recipe could be found in your kitchen bromatology…)

longicorn – “a kind of beetle with very long antennae, The word comes from Latin words meaning ‘long’ and ‘horn,’ and it is a good example of a word with a perfectly serviceable etymology that still sounds made-up.”

nippitate – obscure word meaning “good strong ale,” sometimes found with faux Latin endings such as nippitatum and nippitati—but rarely found in modern discourse (nor saloons) . . .

pishachi – “a female devil or ghost, especially one that dislikes travelers and pregnant women.” These rarely beset RVM residents, but we suspect possible connection of the latter propensity to current shelter-in-place strictures . . .

snollygoster – “a dishonest politician [possibly redundant], especially a shrewd or calculating one.* A connection has been proposed between this word and snallygaster, a mythical monster in Maryland invented to frighten freed slaves. However, the first evidence for snallygaster follows snollygoster by about a hundred years…” but thought you oughta know.
*(see exauctorate – “to depose or oust from office, to deprive of authority”—from the Latin)

woofits – “an unwell feeling, especially a headache; a moody depression; a hangover. In one citation this is called ‘that dread disease that comes from overeating and underdrinking”… possible connections with the year 2020 have not been ruled out . . .

Readers are encouraged to submit to The Complement their own weird/wonderful selections, including any which they may have made up themselves

The RPG — A Summary Description

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RESIDENTS’ PREPAREDNESS GROUP (RPG)

Reviewed and accepted by the RPG Leadership Team and associates.

Definition, goal, and mission:

The RPG is an independent organization of Rogue Valley Manor (RVM) residents.  Its goal is to protect and enhance the safety, security and welfare of RVM residents.  Its primary mission is to support and assist RVM Management in preparing for and responding to emergencies.

Primary activities and operations:

  • In an actual or anticipated emergency, RPG will work to ensure that all residents have the most up-to-date and accurate information and instructions from RVM.
  • RPG will communicate to RVM Management information about emergency-related problems or resident needs (e.g., injuries, damage, failure of procedures).
  • RPG will provide residents with information, and training if appropriate, on how to prepare for and respond to emergencies and disasters.
  • RPG will support community-building and mutual assistance activities among residents in the interests of increasing emergency preparedness and the effectiveness of responses.
  • Other activities may be undertaken by agreement or as need arises.

Organization:

Activities are carried out within a hierarchical organizational (and radio communication) structure.

  • Each tower floor, and each cottage neighborhood (typically about 10 residences), has one or more volunteer coordinators who take responsibilities for the activities listed above.
  • Tower Floor Coordinators (FCs) communicate with Building Coordinators (BCs). Neighborhoods are grouped into Areas (typically 2-4 neighborhoods) with an Area Coordinator (AC) connecting with the Neighborhood Coordinators (NCs).
  • Building and Area Coordinators are the communication link between the local coordinators (Floor and Neighborhood) and the volunteer-staffed emergency radio room, which is in turn linked to the RVM Emergency Incident Commander, and to other resources as appropriate.
  • A team of Coordinators and other volunteers provides leadership and management of RPG activities, and liaison with RVM.

Staying Sane and “Relatively Happy” during Lockdown

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How to avoid Feeling Isolated and Depressed

Interview with Linda Bellinson, Licensed Clinical Social Worker at RVM

 

by Joni Johnson

           Linda Bellinson

Linda Bellinson, our RVM Licensed Clinical Social Worker, has been working with various groups on campus to alleviate the feelings of isolation and depression that can often affect residents at the Manor because of aging and loss of a loved one. However, these feelings have intensified and affected even more residents since the beginning of the Covid-19 series of lock-downs and protection measures.  By the time this article is available for publication, it will be almost 10 months of serious isolation for many of our RVM residents.

While hope is on the horizon with vaccination shots and eventual freedom from all of these restrictions, we really don’t know how it will be implemented. So increasing our strategies for overcoming the loneliness brought on by the pandemic is still of great importance.

I asked Linda about her experience and suggestions in working with clients who have been feeling the pains of isolation.  She cites the plethora of articles that form a real scientific basis for the efficacy of caring for animals and plants and how they help lower heart rates, improve cognitive function and the ability to sleep. Caring for others lowers the rates of anxiety and depression and provide an improved outlook on life because it helps us focus on something other than ourselves.  Just the act of stroking a pet has benefits.  And, oddly and luckily enough, there is also quite an amazing benefit to having a plant to care for.  While not everyone has, wants or can keep an animal, almost everyone can care for plants. And there is evidence that plants not only improve the environment in a room by increasing the quality of air in a room over a twenty-four hour period, but that caring for plants also increases mood levels and lowers rates of anxiety and depression.  The key is caring for someone or something else.

From anonymous: Give a smallish, very hardy, potted plant, with very easy-to-follow care instructions [“put me near a sunny window and give me 1.5 oz of water every Sunday” – that way you could include a fancy shot glass as a gift reminder.  Or some other volume.  Or a marked very small calendar.]  You could explain that you love the little green fellow but you’re running out of window sills and then you have an excuse to call up to check on it and talk about your photosynthetic babies.

Linda cites computers and smart phones as having the potential to improve our connection with others through Zoom, Face-time, Skype and just the sheer act of telephoning others. People who have scheduled regular family conversations, grandparents calling children and grandchildren pay an enormous dividend in feeling connected to the outer world.  We so often wait for people to call us and if they don’t, we feel ignored or forgotten.  But why should we wait for others to call us.  Why not be proactive and call others.  If you have been part of a group that met before Covid but then stopped meeting even on Zoom, it gives you a wonderful source of people to call. It makes you an active participant and makes the receiver feel valued and considered.

The Wellness committee has a group that is sending cards to residents here at the Manor.  But why not do the same with your friends and neighbors. There is evidence that shows that getting cards from others, even complete strangers, helps people feel connected.  And those who write the cards feel good by doing something for others.  It isn’t simple.  It requires thought, time and energy.  But little acts of kindness go a long way!

Many people at RVM have lived through all sorts of difficult situations and through them have learned to be resilient and patient.  This pandemic is just one more SNAG along the way. And so our residents have been creative in navigating through the bleak times.  This is another moment when our creativity can bring us new experiences and new relationships.  The question is how can we challenge ourselves to be open to new things rather than shutting down and saying no.  Our residents who have had to dig deep in past times, have the capacity to find creative ways to help each other and themselves now.

Another important point is that this is also a time to reach out for help.  Seek it out from friends and family, your churches and synagogues, but also from the services that RVM provides like Linda Bellinson (x7157) and Father Joel (x7296).  The important thing is not to go it alone!  Reach out for support.  This is a community.  It is our community! Take advantage!

Articles with information on how pets and plants help you to deal with Isolation and Depression:

https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/national/companion-dogs-help-with-pandemic-anxiety

https://adaa.org/learn-from-us/from-the-experts/blog-posts/consumer/alleviating-anxiety-stress-and-depression-pet

https://www.newportacademy.com/resources/well-being/pets-and-mental-health/


https://greatist.com/grow/plants-mental-health#They-remind-you-to-keep-moving

https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/plants-self-care#The-extra,-life-enhancing-benefits-of-loving-a-plant

 

 

Getting to Know You! One way to avoid the feeling of Isolation!

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RVM New Letter Writing Project joins with

the “Senior Ninja Project” to Celebrate the Holidays

By Joni Johnson

 

What do you get when you mix the creativity and desire to be of service of 5-15 year olds with the creativity and that same desire to be of service of us older folk who have been around the block a time or two?  Especially during this difficult period of separation and seclusion. You get lots of love and virtual cuddles!

Jane and Steve Harris, with the support of the Wellness Advisory Committee and along with a core of writers (many of them from the same committee), created a card writing project here at the Manor soon after the Covid crisis began. The purpose was to alleviate people’s sense of isolation by letting our residents know that they were being thought about and supported.  As Jane said, cards can be a healing gift to people.  Cards can be held, displayed and re-read, a reminder of the warm and caring feelings of the sender.  It certainly helps people deal with the depression that can come with this long period of isolation.

Completely separately, Willow Wind Community School in Ashland set up a “Seniors Ninja Project” to have students provide support to seniors in the community as a way to promote outreach and service to others.

Initially, the RVM writing project had twenty-eight participants sending cards featuring photographs by Bob Carter to RVM community recipients.  By now, well over 100 cards have been sent for all sorts of reasons — Thanksgiving, holiday and “just because”.  And from these beginnings, new relationships have formed with distanced meetings, phone calls, walks and e-mail correspondence as well as plans for getting together after restrictions are lifted.

 

So how did the Ashland Senior Ninja Project get involved with the RVM writing project?  By serendipity and good will.  Our own Sarah Karnatz’s former OSU advisor now has a son who goes to  Willow Wind Community School,  and she offered to connect Sarah with The “Senior Ninja Project”.These students provided over 150 cards made by participants from all grade levels. Most of the cards went to the writing project and the rest went to residents in the Health Center, Care Suites and the Memory Support Center.  The principal of the school even brought the cards herself to Sarah on the Monday before Christmas and the rest is history. Look at these cards and let them bring a smile to your face.  Remember, there were 150 of them, each different, each made by hand.

Lillian Maksymowicz- Sankta Lucia Celebration in Sweden

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Lillian Maksymowicz

I remember it very well.  It is celebrated on December 13 the shortest and darkest day of the year in Sweden according to the old Julian calendar.  And when the Western world switched to the current Gregorian calendar, we still kept to December 13.  The folklore tells us that Sankta Lucia came from Sicily and was a patron for the blind and she travelled to the northern land to spread light and warmth to the dark, cold times there. The Swedes love to celebrate Lucia and she appears in all public and private workplaces, schools, hospitals, retirement homes, actually everywhere imaginable on that day.  She is dressed in a white gown with a red sash tied around her waist and on her head she wears a crown of live candles. Sometimes she appears with a train of maidens and star boys all dressed in white holding live candles in their hands while singing the Sankta Lucia song.  It was magical and so beautiful.

I remember as the eldest daughter getting up early in the dark morning with my other two sisters.  We would dress up in white gowns getting the candles lit and proceed down the hallway to my parents room waking them up to our singing the Lucia song, bringing them a tray with coffee, saffron buns and ginger cookies. Then we would go to school where there would be another celebration.   And finally, at night, we would go to the center of town where Sankta Lucia and her maidens and star boys would be riding in a big parade ending up at the town square where the Mayor would honor her with a speech and present her with a necklace.  Who then was the town’s Lucia?  Well, early in the fall the newspaper would announce that you could send in a photo of a pretty young girl, which would be posted, limiting the number of contestants to eight.  The girl with the most votes would win.  Although I never was the winner.  I remember that one year after I had moved from my home town to a University town up north where I was working as an Intern at the Medical Center, I was on duty on the 13th of December, and I was the Sankta Lucia on my ward.  I remember how thrilled my patients were that the Lucia had visited them.  So it is that now, living in America, every year at this time my thoughts  go to Sweden and the Sankta Lucia celebrations there.

 

 

Anita Sumariwalla- Protestant

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        Anita Sumariwalla

I remember, when I was very young (about four or five years old), on December 24th afternoons my sister and I had to wait in a bedroom while our mother prepared the Christmas tree in the living room. The afternoon seemed endless. Around five o’clock it was getting dark outside. About at that time our mother rang a bell indicating that we were allowed to come to the living room. There, the Christmas tree, adorned with real candles and shiny ‘Kugeln’ reflecting the candle lights, stood majestically in the middle of the room. That moment of seeing this silent magical splendor remains with me!

In the weeks before Christmas (Advent) we had to learn Christmas poems and songs by heart. Before we were allowed to open our gift, we (that is – for me) had to endure the boring reading of the Christmas story – frequently interrupted by having to recite a poem or sing Christmas songs… In later years, I knew the Christmas story by heart. I had to recite it with my classmates at various hospitals and ‘old people’s homes’! When I was in the second grade, I was asked (as before) to recite the Christmas story… I surprised the audience with my own – more lively and picturesque – version of the Christmas story. I remember the amazed eyes of people in the audience – I expected to get into trouble later by my teacher… Instead, from then on I was asked to repeat ‘my version’ for several years to come. — I still remember it!

 

Jere Scott- Protestant

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               Jere Scott

 A Christmas Pageant to Remember: I have had the joy of taking part in Christmas Pageants large and small during over forty plus years as a pastor.  All were  joyful celebrations of the birth of Jesus Christ the Lord.  There is one that stands out from them all.  Twenty years ago I was pastor of a mission church in Alaska. We had a small congregation of about 45 people including children.  We had practiced for several weeks for this pageant, about 20 men and women made up the choir.  There was a ”large” audience of about 30 members and guests attending.  As we began the Pageant, I read the opening scripture and sat down. The choir sang the opening song and were sitting down as I stood to read the second passage of scripture, and then, it happened!    In the choir there were two very large ladies seated together on the back row.  As the choir gracefully took their seats,  the pew collapsed on that end throwing everyone to the floor.  No one was injured, thankfully.  There was shock, concern, relief and then, laughter, for a couple of minutes.  Dignity restored and the laughter now quiet, we were able to complete the Pageant ”standing” with great joy and grace!  No one there will forget that event.  One of our guests said as he was leaving that he would be back the following Christmas if we would repeat the events.