Over the last semester I have been volunteering at The Glebe Centre once a week. So every Monday afternoon I would arrive a little after 1:30 (Fox time, of course) after the long but beautiful walk from my house to the Glebe (a funky area of Ottawa, that can perhaps be equated with The Drive in Vancouver).
The first couple of weeks I was starting to get to know the residents. To say the least, there were a few that I never got to know. On my first day I was told to "bugger off" by a lovely lady, sitting in her wheelchair looking out her window, when I was merely trying to introduce myself and ask if she would like to play bean bags (and yes, you are correct, I did play bean bags... but more on that later). So she was obviously a no go. And then I managed to get into a long conversation with a gentleman that told me about all his aches and pains; the fact that one shoulder was longer than the other, his left foot was 2cm shorter, and that his urination problems explained his close proximity to the toilet at all times. Thus the reason why he wouldn't be able to come out and play. All said in quite the conversational tone, as if I were asking about the weather.
But bean bags, dont let me forget to tell you about the bean bags (because it would truly be your loss if I did...) You see, I wasn't quite sure what I was supposed to be doing, so I followed their advice; Beans bags were supposedly quite the hit on the fourth floor, so bean bags it was. I would wheel the residents (at most 5 would be willing to participate) and there they would sit, half asleep, almost dejected, but when it was their turn they would perk right up. They would then attempt to throw the bean bags into one of the 9 holes. And attempt IS the operative word here.
Over time, I transitioned from bean bags to card games. Despite the seemingly boring and mundane games (which proved to be much harder than I anticipated) I managed to get to know them a bit better, as the same ones would come out each week.
Kay was my favorite. She always had her finger nails painted red, and she was rather nice. As I left today, I noticed a sign right beside the elevators that said "Kay's corner" with a little drawing of sunshine. And I thought, yes, that is very much Kay; The person who would blare classical music in her room, who would remember things, recognise me even, and had the cutest smile. She was a pleasure to get to know.
Then there was Hilda. Quite the English women (But contrary to popular belief she does NOT have sugar in her tea. And she calls herself an Englishwoman, eh?). But today, as if she were a broken record, she repeated over and over again, "I'm not very good at cards. You see, me and my husband used to play games, oh you know, but they were quite simple. I'm going to be the dud of this game". It made me think of all the elderly people in my life, and everything that they are going through. I dont think she realised that she had already told me this merely a minute earlier. It breaks my heart.
And last but not least there was Bob. He was always up for a game of cards despite poor eye sight and bad hand mobility. But today, I must say, I saw the kind of person he must have been many years ago. I was telling Hilda and Bob about school and that I was studying Political Science and Women Studies (although I prefer the wording of gender studies). And then he looked up at me, and he smiled mischievously and said "oh, I always study women" and then he laughed. It was worth it all to hear him laugh, and smile a little bit longer than usual.
So my time at The Glebe Centre has been relatively short, but I got to meet a bunch of wonderful people, full of their own quirks and stories. And although I know that in a few hours or a couple of days they will forget me, and perhaps, if I'm lucky, they will remember that "someone" used to come and play games with them, I can leave knowing that at least for a few hours each week I would put a smile on their face, and be a part of their lives.
So goodbye dear friends- I wish you all the best!
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