by Barbara Booras
I surmise that many can recall their first day as a new Resident at Cadbury Commons. Maybe there was great sense of excitement, a feeling of joy to be close to a family member in the area, or back in the community they lived in for years. Perhaps, a Resident’s inner ‘great explorer’ was eager to venture out into the city to visit one of our many spectacular museums or to go on a long walk in the vast neighboring Danehy Park.
At the same time, I wonder if some of those same Residents might have felt anxious or overwhelmed. Not dissimilar from one’s first day at school, many Residents may just yearn to feel accepted and at home. As the former Dining Room Manager, I frequently observed that ‘first arrival’ of new Residents in the Dining Room.
A few months back during an intimate Food for Thought meeting, a fairly new Resident suggested the formation of a Welcoming Committee. I saw this as a great opportunity to smooth what can sometimes be a tough transition. In my new role as Director of Hospitality, I can assist with that transition.
Ideally, I would love to hold a casual Committee meeting within the week of a new Resident joining Cadbury Commons. Then, when the new Resident arrives, he/she will be invited to attend a ‘Welcoming Social.’ This will be an opportunity for a small group of current Residents to meet the new arrival and introduce themselves. The more seasoned Residents can share what they feel might be pertinent information and pointers for living in the community.
I look forward to facilitating these socials and to making our new Residents feel right at home. Our first social will be at the beginning of this month. I would greatly appreciate Resident participation and feedback as we develop this concept further. If you have any ideas or suggestions for the Welcoming Committee, please contact me directly. Cheers!
by Stanley Kunitz
I have walked through many lives,
some of them my own,
and I am not who I was,
though some principle of being
abides, from which I struggle
not to stray.
When I look behind,
as I am compelled to look
before I can gather strength
to proceed on my journey,
I see the milestones dwindling
toward the horizon
and the slow fires trailing
from the abandoned campsites,
over which scavenger angels
wheel on heavy wings.
Oh, I have made myself a tribe
out of my true affections,
and my tribe is scattered!
How shall the heart be reconciled
to its feast of losses?
In a rising wind
the manic dust of my friends,
those who fell along the way,
bitterly stings my face.
Yet I turn, I turn,
exulting somewhat,
with my will intact to go
wherever I need to go,
and every stone on the road
precious to me.
In my darkest night,
when the moon was covered
and I roamed though wreckage,
a nimbus-clouded voice
directed me:
“Live in the layers,
not on the litter.”
Though I lack the art
to decipher it,
no doubt the next chapter
in my book of transformations
is already written.
I am not done with my changes.
-Stanley Kunitz (1905-2006)
“The Layers” is from “The Wild Braid: A Poet Reflects on a Century in the Garden” by Stanley Kunitz (1905-2006) with Genine Lentine and Marnie Crawford Samuelson, published by W.W. Norton (2006).
by Milton Sutton
From the New York Times to books on crime
From Newsweek, The New Yorker, The Economist and Time
From biographies of the rich and famous as well as novels galore
When you finish laughing and gasping, there is plenty more.
Yes, read the papers in your comfortable library chair, or take out a book or two from the varied shelves for reading in your apartment. The Cadbury library puts at your command a world of pleasure and wonder. And you may have noticed this: the people you admire most at Cadbury often have a book at their bedside day and night. Supplementing these volumes is our magazine rack, kept up to date and orderly by the dedicated efforts of Roberta Selleck.
Ed. Note: Each month a different group of books is featured on the library table for reading. Residents interested in joining the Library Committee are invited to contact Milton Sutton..
Welcoming Wine & Cheese Social
Cadbury Commons Welcomes
Dana Fisher
August 11, 2010
4:00 p.m.
Natural & Manmade Environments:
Watercolors of Janet Hobbs
JULY 18-AUGUST 10, 2010
Cadbury Commons Art Gallery
Open daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Save Thursday Evenings for
SUMMERTIME JAZZ CONCERTS!
~6:30 – 8:30 p.m. in the Courtyard Patio, Weather Permitting with Refreshments ~
AUGUST 5
FRED LIPSIUS QUARTET
Cool jazz standards & more by the original saxophonist of Blood, Sweat & Tears, together with three of Boston’s finest jazz musicians. Prepare to enjoy !
AUGUST 12
THE DIXIE COOKBOOK
Well-known tunes played in a hot Dixieland style for over thirty years—
in Cambridge!
AUGUST 19
THE CLAUDIA ELIAZA TRIO
Drawing inspiration from Jazz, Blues, Gospel, Funk, Haitian, Latin and African rhythms
AUGUST 26
THE MOODSWINGS QUINTET
Five members of Boston’s all-women Big Band Orchestra share their love of music, camaraderie and performing.
IN THE CADBURY ART GALLERY!
Natural & Manmade Environments:
Watercolors of Janet Hobbs
JULY 18-AUGUST 10, 2010
Please join the artist at the Opening Reception
SUNDAY, JULY 18, 2-4 pm
______________________________________________________
Take TIME OUT for JAZZ : Thursdays in August, 6-8 pm:
AUGUST 5: FRED LIPSIUS QUARTET
AUGUST 12: THE DIXIE COOKBOOK
AUGUST 19: THE CLAUDIA ELIAZA TRIO
AUGUST 26: THE MOOD SWINGS QUINTET
by Barbara Booras
With the steamy Summer upon us- try cooling off with a simple and refreshing drink like Paula Dean’s Watermelon Cooler. This sweet treat is perfect to share with watermelon lovers of all ages.
Watermelon Cooler
Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds (4 cups) sliced seedless watermelon pulp
1 1/2 cups cold water
1 cup lemon sorbet
1 lemon, zested
Watermelon wedges and mint, for garnish
Directions:
In a food processor, blend watermelon, sorbet, and lemon zest until very smooth. Stir in 1 1/2 cups cold water; cover and refrigerate until very cold. Serve over ice and garnish with watermelon wedges and mint.
by Barbara Booras
The reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, from the Old State House Balcony has been an annual tradition for ages. The Captain of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company reads this extraordinary document, from where it was originally read in 1776 after its completion. Just above the balcony on the rooftop edge stands two symbols of British power, the lion and the unicorn. These symbols serve as a perfect backdrop for the speech: a reminder of what exactly the crowds had gathered to commemorate.
I specifically recall one muggy Fourth of July a few years back, when I worked as a National Park Ranger in the city. My forest green, polyester uniform and distinguishable hat made it impossible to blend even in the sea of people surrounding the Old State House and the downtown area that day. Thousands had gathered to celebrate our Independence and to marvel at the city’s rich history.
As a park ranger I gave daily lectures on the pre-revolutionary history of Faneuil Hall up to present day. That Fourth of July, I vividly remember walking down the long center aisle to the front of the Great Hall prepared to give my speech. I glanced side to side at my audience. Hundreds of tourists from around the world and locals were sitting packed into rows of rickety wooden chairs from days gone by.
“The Cradle of Liberty was Boston’s nick name,” I said, as my voice echoed throughout the mammoth hall. “This is where it all began.” The eve of the famous Boston Tea Party started there at Faneuil Hall. The crowd protested and hollered that night. It stirred and grew so large it spilled out into King Street (now State St.). The mob marched feverishly to the closest space that could accommodate the colonists, The Old South Meeting House. It was that night the outraged Bostonians went on to heave over three hundred chests of tea into Boston Harbor, an act of defiance that would change the course of history. Our patriots would continue to fight tirelessly against unfair taxation all in the name of liberty and justice for all.
Recounting the long, remarkable history of Boston and the building we occupied, I couldn’t help but be filled with a sense of honor and privilege to be sharing such a powerful story. Not only was I becoming a part of history but it had become a part of me. You too can become a part of history by listening to the Declaration of Independence this 4th of July at 10:00am in front of the Old State House. Come celebrate your independence in the cradle of liberty with your fellow patriots.
by Marie Curcio
Our Cadbury Commons Community Enrichment calendar continues to include the wide variety of quality programs and events developed over the years. There is, however, a renewed dimension to our calendar planning that is invisible to the Calendar reader. At least once (and more often twice) a month, Cadbury residents gather to review and discuss the merits the programs/events of previous weeks. Following considerable discussion, Committee then decides about the timing and/or inclusion or omission of future programs/events. We have come to appreciate this as an opportunity to “fine tune” the enrichment programs to the prevailing interests and needs of our residents. We have doubled the number of our fitness classes each month in response to resident choice!
We recognize that our Cadbury Independent and Assisted Living Community residents mirror the varying abilities and interests of seniors in the greater community at large and our monthly calendar of events must reflect this wide range of interests and abilities. Indeed, more and more, we find ourselves scheduling concurrent programming so that we may serve a greater number of our Cadbury Community residents in a given day. In any one month, for example, one hour of one day might offer residents an opportunity to take advantage of a program to “Maintain Your Brain”, a Classical Music Appreciation Hour or a Coastal Drive. On another day an hour might include concurrent programs such as a “Great Courses” Lecture and Study Group about the Islam Religion, a Swing Dance Group and Garden Planning. Some of our residents enjoy trips to local museums, lectures, concerts and conferences while others find pleasure in the offerings right here at Cadbury.
Abilities and interests vary. Our Enrichment Programs reflect this. We have in place a process for assuring that the Enrichment Program planning at Cadbury Commons is a participatory process– A Calendar Planning Committee. It is open to all residents and, while the committee members might not always be in agreement, each member respects the effort put forth by the participants to assure that the varied interests, needs and choices of our community residents are acknowledged and honored to the best of our ability.
by Barbara Booras
This past month Cadbury Commons gave me the fantastic opportunity to visit San Diego, California for Assisted Living Marketing and Sales Training. Will Nowell, master sales trainer, speaker, and author, was the facilitator of the training session. “We need to learn to stop selling the house, and start selling the experience,” said Nowell. Throughout the intimate three-day training session, I got to meet Mr. Nowell and hear personal stories and tips from his 25 successful years in the housing industry.
My time spent in California training was an invaluable experience for me as I take on my new role as Director of Hospitality. Not only was it an excellent intensive practical course in marketing and selling techniques for our industry, it was a time for me to replenish energy to allow for a successful and productive return to Cadbury Commons.
In training we learned ways to build rapport and trust in an honest and genuine manner. Techniques to discover urgency and to skillfully close a sale were discussed and practiced through many hours of educational role-play. Lastly, our group focused on understanding empathy and matching the values of prospective residents and family members with that of our own Assisted Living Community and its unique offerings.
I look forward to applying the knowledge and skills I gained through Will Nowell’s Value Match Program to my position. Well aware of the challenge that lies ahead, I approach these next few months with focus and a new positive dynamic.
by Marie Curcio
We are so excited to be taking advantage of the wonderful space throughout Cadbury Commons. Our daily exercise group has grown to include twenty to twenty-five residents throughout the community and now takes place daily in the Activity Center. This affords Morningside residents an opportunity to walk greater distances each day, several times a day, as well as increasing socialization opportunities. Our capable Program Enrichment Staff members all use the same work out model each and every day of the week and really get residents moving! We have invited guests to our Kitchen Korner (Cooking Classes) and music programs in the Activity Center each week. And we look forward to the bi-weekly Cook-Outs with members of the Cadbury Community at large. Now that the warmer weather has arrived we are once again venturing out, taking trips twice a week and spending more time in our Courtyard. We look forward to starting our garden once our Courtyard renovation project is completed. All in all, we are off to a great start to the summer!
