if you want to have fun, take Peggie along. She is up for life, and loves almost every minute of it. This was her first time in her life that she was on a boat, and it was a big one. She was anxious and unsteady at first, but found her footing soon enough. She danced for half an hour and she said she never wanted to leave the boat. She’s game for another trip. Her fun and enthusiasm are infectious, she never gives up on life.
After lunch, we got everyone who wanted to go on deck, the rain stopped, the sun crept out, the Lake George is actually quite beautiful when you get past the totally junked-up downtown. Alice, my date, loved seeing the water again – she and her husband had been on this same boat 25 years ago.
Gail (staff) made sure everybody saw what they wanted to see and do what they wanted to do. She has an easy and loving way with her.
About half of the residents decided to dance, Joan, who decided to come at the last minute, was a fiend out there, clapping, dancing, whirling. The look of joy on her face was infectious, it made everyone happy.
Jean adores Red, she holds him for a long time when she sees him, she has a stuffed dog in a dog bed by the side of her bed. She was quiet today on the boat, standing off by herself, watching the water, and waving to the people on the shore, many of whom waved back. There was something poignant about it.
More than a dozen game souls from the Mansion Assisted Care Facility came to Lake George, N.Y. today to board the Lac du-Saint Sacrement for a two-hour boat ride with lunch, supported by the Army Of Good. We just had a blast, the boat ride was one of the tackiest ventures I can remember – it made Disney World look like Paris – but it was perfect for us. And I loved it.
We danced to the awful music (we rode around the lake to deafening disco, Twist, and Texas stomp music), were jammed into seats, struggled with huge crowds, waited in lines for buffet wood, were blown off by a diffident captain, dodged hundreds of dolled-up women in Red Hats, struggled to speak with all the booming music.
I would think a boat ride on a beautiful lake might have a moment or two of silence, but then, what do I know?
Peggie had never been on a boat before in her life, and she made the most of it. She danced till she nearly dropped. We got a lift to go up three stories in search of the Captain, who was out on the deck eating a giant salad and wouldn’t get up to pose for a photo.He wanted us to go away.
Peggy gave him a hug anyway.
We could not have possibly had more fun. We all voted to make it an annual event.
For the residents, this was a needed change of pace, they so loved standing out at the deck, looking over the water at the beautiful mansions, breathing the fresh air, and they even danced up a storm, clapping and waving and stomping across the dance floor (and shamed me into moving my butt out there), all of which surprised and delighted everyone.
I so appreciate the effort it took most of these people to get there and navigate the jammed-pack boat without complaint, and with great joy and appreciation.
We were a tired crew when we staggered out of the boat into the hot sun two hours later. It took a van, an SUV and a sedan to get everyone there.
Before the ride, I went to the even tackier Steamboat General Store before the ride and looked hard for something fitting to give the residents. I bought a huge sack of pins, placemats and stretch bracelets, the only thing I could think of as souvenirs.
I was in awe once more of the Mansion staff – Morgan, Julie, Bonnie and Gail – and the brutish work of getting people on walkers and in wheelchairs and fed and helped through a thronged boat, and seated and escorted wherever they want to go. It’s interesting to see people who constantly make more work for themselves, not less, they are always urging the residents to get up, have fun, see this.
They were so vigilant, the minute anyone needed anything, they were right on it. It takes very special people to do that work so well.
Alice (center in the pink sweater) asked me if I would be her date today, she is 91 and has a hard time walking. She is a sweetie, I happily accepted. I took her hand and we went everywhere together, we walked around the boat and on and off. I so admired her and the others for wanting to come.
What I saw from the staff was patience, love and warmth of a kind I have rarely witnessed in my life. It is stirring, and they have as much fun caring for the residents as the residents had being on the boat. They are happiest when they see happiness.
There is something heroic about the Mansion residents to me, for some it was a constant struggle. There were also poignant moments, many of them managed to get out on the deck and just soaked up the air and the passing water and the beautiful hills and mansions the boat chugged on by. Some seemed lost in thought, Alice spoke softly to me of her trip on this very same boat with her late husband a generation ago.
Robert, whose wife Shirley is ill, and who is struggling with his own health issues, asked if he could pose for a photograph with me. I was honored. I hoped I captured the feel of the place.
I’ll put up some more photos on a Facebook album and post some more here. It was one of the richest and happiest experiences I can recall, I am so glad we did it, it meant so much to these good people, and we are all grateful for your support.
