I marked my 80th birthday with 5K walk for charity with my daughter, my trainer at my side. I realized this when I crossed the finish line and received a medal. The big smile on my daughter's face gave it away. She had walked with me and set my pace. She spent three months prior to the walk training me when to sit down on my walker, when to drink water, and how to build endurance. She was smiling because she felt Mom's happiness for finishing the walk. The other reward was she new her Mom was in better physical condition and a happier person.
The walk gave me inspiration and motivation to find ways to keep our seniors from being isolated. There are many seniors who are lonely and need someones help to keep them in the loop of daily living. The idea of reaching seniors through new technologies turn the light bulb on for me. I love connecting on Facebook, Twitter, Google, Linkedin and Pinterest. I learned to blog and share my thoughts and ideas.
For my 81st birthday I founded a book club at the Mt. Juliet Senior Center in Mt. Juliet, Tn. The Imagination Traveler's book club held its first book discussion March 23,2013. Ten members discussed the "Shack" by William P. Young. Each member received a special notebook to store book club minutes and club related materials. On April 25th, two days before my birthday, the book club discussed "The Black Chokeberry by Martha Nelson. This was a special event because Mrs. Nelson join the members for the discussion and signed their books. She presented each member with a membership certificate.
The excitement is building. The book club participated in a special Senior Center event May 11, 2013. They collected and sold used books to support their club activities. All books, notebooks, bookmarks, certificates, and supplies have been donated. We are looking forward to planning a tour of the big Nashville Library and box lunch soon.
This month, Nancy Armstrong, Librarian from the Mt. Juliet Library in Mt. Juliet, Tn. will discuss library services: including audio books, digital books, and other services.
The reaping of rewards have already started. Club members are smiling, talking and enjoying each others company. They showed great pride in their participation in the book sale. And, for me the boomerang blessed me with these new friends. They are a special group and together we will share our of love for reading. Start a book club at your senior center in your neighborhood.
