Orange Memories Musings: Thanksgiving Dinner
Greetings, friends. If this news column looks new to you — it is. It’s new to the residents of Orange Memories, too! This will be a monthly submission to let readers know that we, at Orange Memories, are alive, well and busy.
October was an interesting month. On Oct. 2, a band, Alternate Route, entertained. The group was once named Highway 31 because most band members had at one time lived along Highway 31. Now they have retired and taken an “alternate route.” You might recognize the names Glenn and Joan Julseth, Ian Campbell and Doug Robertson. The vocals and instrumentals had us “wiggling in our walkers” and “tapping our toes.” We hope to have them back.
Residents and their families gathered for Thanksgiving Dinner on Oct. 10.
Bea Perratt’s birthday was made special when her son’s band from Meadow Lake came to entertain. Their hillbilly/western melodies and close harmonies delighted us. What a special treat for Bea and for all.
The senior choral group sang for us on Oct. 8. Thank you for brightening our day with your joyful singing and fun skits.
Friday, Oct. 10, was the scene of a joyful event when residents and their families gathered for the annual Thanksgiving dinner. The entire staff had “pitched in”* to prepare the event. Kitchen staff spent two days preparing the meal, while others transformed the dining room into an elegant eating area with linen-draped tables and Thanksgiving decorations.
Manager Morgan Dinsmore opened the evening, welcoming all. She read some of the “thankful” thoughts she had gleaned from residents. Following grace, guests were invited, by family table, to the buffet line while residents were graciously served. After the meal, Dinsmore expressed thanks to all who attended and to the Orange Memories kitchen staff and workers for their part in the event. Thanks were also expressed to management for the effort she put into the successful evening.
The gathering was much more than a shared meal. It was a time of fellowship, recollections, laughter and renewing friendships. The youngest attendee was not yet two years old, the oldest 100, with every generation in between represented. The next family gathering will be the annual Christmas dinner.
*The expression “pitched in” dates back to the mid-1880s when hay was handled with pitchforks. In past times, much manual labour was needed to put up hay. Many residents of Orange Memories well recall the days of “pitching in” to put up hay.
When Jim Robertson visited from Edmonton, we took advantage of the occasion to have him take on his “Bud Phoenix” persona and tell cowboy stories from the early days. The stories, the cowboy hats and the little brown jug brought many chuckles. Familiar old singalong melodies were interspersed throughout the program.
Note: The stories are authentic and written by “Bud” Phenix, who lives in seniors’ accommodation in southeastern Saskatchewan. He posts his stories on Facebook. Robertson uses them with Phenix’s permission.
The little ones from Kid Kare visited twice during the month. The first time was to sing and perform for us. At the end of their performance, they individually presented each resident with a little painting they had done. They came again in costume on Hallowe’en. Come again, little friends — we love you!
On Oct. 24, we watched a video of The Pull of the Land, the first of three three-act plays that toured Saskatchewan for eight seasons. Written by friends Elaine Kowpak and Beth Robertson, then both living in Harris, it captured the hearts of Saskatchewanians. Comments heard after the showing were the same as when the plays were first written — “I just saw my life acted out on stage!”
The Alphabet Owls, preschoolers, entertained on Oct. 28.
The Alphabet Owls, preschoolers, entertained us on Oct. 28. They delighted us with their costumes, songs and stories.
Our Hallowe’en party and the trick-or-treaters on Hallowe’en Day rounded out the month’s activities. What a great month we’ve had!
A heartfelt thank you to friends and family who come to visit and take us on special outings. Thank you, too, to the churches that bring us a weekly service. You help make our days meaningful.