Around New Market
If you haven’t had a chance to visit New Market yet, there may be no better time than the fall. As summer winds down, local festivals and events really get rolling. September, for instance, will bring a parade, a puppy pool party, and two festivals in just one month!
The New Market Heritage Days Festival, put on by the town’s Chamber of Commerce, is especially good for getting to know the New Market community. The festival is on September 23 this year, and will be held in our historic downtown. Local vendors will sell crafts, food, and more. Live music and other entertainment will run throughout the day, which begins at 9 AM.
To learn more about Heritage Days and other happenings around New Market, check out the events section of the town website at: https://www.newmarketvirginia.com/visitors/festivals-events/.
Resident Announcement
Since our last newsletter, we’ve been privileged to welcome six new residents. Please say a warm “Hello” to Paul S., Courtney W., Schollay P., Katherine C., Bill and Mae G.
We would like to thank the Women’s Auxilary of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, New Market, Virginia for their generous donation which will be used to enhance the quality of life for our residents.
Activity Spotlight: Toss and Move Game
When a game makes our residents move, think, and laugh, it’s a real crowd pleaser. “Toss and Move” is that sort of game! To play, we write a different action on each section of a beach ball-type ball. One part might say “shovel snow,” while another says “play a guitar” or “flap like a bird.”
Our residents toss the ball to one another, and act out the actions as they catch. Everyone is a good sport about making the silly motions, and the game usually takes a funny turn or two!
Games like “Toss and Move” benefit our residents in several ways, but we especially like how they make physical activity fun. When seniors are focused on having a good time, instead of performing a boring or redundant drill, they can enjoy exercise without even thinking about doing it.
There are so many positive effects that daily exercise provides, particularly as we age. With that in mind, we try to include simple activities for our residents, every day! Stretching, walking, or a game of catch can go a long way to improve quality of life in our community.
Letter from Mother to Daughter
We hope you enjoy this piece that we found. It speaks to many of the rewards and challenges that come with loving family and friends as they age.
Letter from a Mother to a Daughter:
“My dear girl, the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If when we talk, I repeat the same thing a thousand times, don’t interrupt to say: “You said the same thing a minute ago”... Just listen, please. Try to remember the times when you were little and I would read the same story night after night until you would fall asleep. When I don’t want to take a bath, don’t be mad and don’t embarrass me. Remember when I had to run after you making excuses and trying to get you to take a shower when you were just a girl? When you see how ignorant I am when it comes to new technology, give me the time to learn and don’t look at me that way... remember, honey, I patiently taught you how to do many things like eating appropriately, getting dressed, combing your hair and dealing with life’s issues every day... the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If I occasionally lose track of what we’re talking about, give me the time to remember, and if I can’t, don’t be nervous, impatient or arrogant. Just know in your heart that the most important thing for me is to be with you. And when my old, tired legs don’t let me move as quickly as before, give me your hand the same way that I offered mine to you when you first walked. When those days come, don’t feel sad... just be with me, and understand me while I get to the end of my life with love. I’ll cherish and thank you for the gift of time and joy we shared. With a big smile and the huge love I’ve always had for you, I just want to say, I love you... my darling daughter. “