The Mayflower Community hosted one of its regular “Story Circles” on Tuesday, May 7th. In honor of Mothers Day, the theme was “Memories of My Mother.” A number of interesting stories were shared by residents after a supper of soup and sandwich. (Unabashed plug for Mayflower’s homemade soups: They are outstanding and can make a complete meal!)
The Story Circle idea originated with Mayflower residents, Warren Reinecke and Anne Sunday, in 2013. Residents and guests come together to tell and/or listen to personal stories and memories. The “Ten-Minute Tale” is loosely based on an announced theme. The story time follows a light supper in the Buckley Dining Room when residents form their chairs into a semicircle around the microphone. Hearing is enhanced by the hard-wired “hearing loop” imbedded in the walls that enhance sound pick-up by hearing aids.
The Story Circles are offered approximately quarterly under the leadership of resident Harriet Adelberg, who can always fill a void with an enjoyable story.
At the May 7th event, Anne Sunday, who is also Mayflower’s Independent Living Activities Coordinator, told about her mother’s talent, resourcefulness, and creativity in sewing, crocheting, knitting, etc. (which Anne says she did not inherit!). Mary Sunday, a Harrisburg, Pennsylvania native, was a Mayflower resident who died in 2014 at the age of 92.
Anne shared, “I remembered a time that her quick thinking and creativity came in handy. I had planned a birthday party for one of my friends, and my mother baked a rectangular chocolate cake with white icing. The table was pretty, and the girls were set to arrive any minute when Mimi, our Siamese cat, jumped up on the table and walked across the top of the cake. ‘Oh, no!’ I thought in dismay, as I saw the line of cat paw prints across the center of the cake.”
“My mother said, ‘I know what to do,’ and brought out a bunch of little pink plastic swans she found in a drawer. She had just enough to cover up each paw print, and it looked like an elegant bevy of swans were gliding across in a line. Problem solved; creativity at its finest.” Mothers are great!
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