Retirement Home: What's on the minds of folks this morning?

One is expecting full service from staff to be provided on the Thanksgiving holiday. "Why not?" they say .

Another expresses a desire to explore the remaining fine old houses in the district.

The Activities Director explains she is trying to break in a new pair of shoes - very sophisticated high-heal ones - for a special occasion.

One nods off as usual.

I stare at the basket of fruit.

The pair of birds make no comment. They’ll wait to interrupt later on with their twitterings. The QUIZ session begins.

A dainty sparrow is standing in the water that had settled on the flat roof after last night's rain.

Now the bird begins to flutter its wings, and dip under for a quick bath. Then it flits forward to the dry ledge before flying off.

I say to myself: ‘Would you like a towel?’

.

While waiting for traffic to clear, I had time to notice a heavy set woman sitting on her door sill, where her body could prop open her storm door. Her thick short legs hung down over the two steps of her frame cottage, painted a cream colour. Her home was a perfect example of what a young child would draw, a house with a centre door and a pair of windows, one on each side.

Later I wondered if this commercial area, happened to swallow up her place for development, she might find one with a porch.

The delicate-looking lady wearing a mauve sweater, left her room, gently closing her door.

As she moved carefully down the hallway, I noticed her timidity. Why couldn't she walk with enough confidence to show that she thought herself to be a worthwhile person? How would she react if confronted with some large blustering passerby? Would she cower against the wall?

No doubt she will live to tell her tale another day, but why not be a somebody today. ‘You’re worth it,’ as they advertise.

How could this happen?

The woman seated beside me in the auditorium made the very same comment at the very same time as I did.

The Steinway grand was being moved centre stage for the Piano Concerto, when the piano received a noticeable jolt from some flaw in the stage floor.

We both said together: ‘There goes the tuning!’

The professional musician played the running accompaniment to Bach's well known. ‘Jesu Joy’ on the piano in such a methodical manner with no rhythm, only the correct notes being plunked out.

Even a serious amateur could have done better. Must have been his off day; or day off.

Is that really a disembodied head showing above the back of the organ console? The head looks as if it might belong to a teenage boy. It must be alive, but all one can see is this pale face framed with thick black hair. What an eerie appearance!

The things you see in church!

TENDER MOMENTS

        the hand placed on your shoulder by a friend passing your chair.

the fireman patiently stooping: down to administer oxygen to a
family pet rescued from a fire scene.

a child rescued from some disaster being handed down to the
waiting arms of a huge officer below. The gentle smile on his
face at the sweetness of life.

someone remembers to acknowledge a special effort you have made.
The unexpected bit of praise doesn't swell the head so much as
provide a springboard for trying again, but even better.

MORNING SOUNDS THAT BRING COMFORT

the early morning rumble of the city bus on its daily route -
all's well and dependable.

        hearing the newspaper plop down on the doorstep.

the steady voice of the usual radio announcer, preparing us for
what we need to know for the day.

hearing the toaster pop up the bread slices at last - thought
it must be stuck.

sound of the spoon clattering around the bottom of the nearly
empty marmalade jar.