by Carolyn Brown of our Riverside Court location in Woodstock, NB.
So, the move is on at MacLeod Riverside Court. Today is the day!!! You could easily say the “ big yellow house” is a bee hive of activity. And yet, when I rolled in early this morn, I was greeted by 8 deer peacefully grazing on the grassy slopes as if nothing else mattered and not a thing was happening. Note, I said grassy slopes because as I look out here on this 6th day of March we have no snow and feel blessed to be welcoming an early spring. Now we are smart enough to know we will see more white fluff, but this is a bonus and we will take it.
So, many hours later I am back to write with the move to the new dining room done for the private side of our home and the move of our Level 2’s to their new spaces. I will not say it has been without its challenges but with team work and patience we are getting there. Two words that seem to get things stirred up are “changes” and “moves” but the world, whether we like it or not, seems to evolve around both. With a move such as this the challenges lie in not only moving furniture and belongings , along with people, of course, but switching life lines and telephone lines plus the related testing and smoothing out all the wrinkles! But it is happening and we appreciate those who have exhibited such patience and understanding as staff have fed, entertained, comforted and kept residents” on the move” as calm as possible amidst the bustle of continued activity.
I ventured down to the first floor room next to the Activity space on Wednesday for a few minutes just to, yes, I will admit it, escape for a few minutes to settle myself, look out at the river and breath in the quiet of the moment. Well, what do you think I discovered there? The table next to the window was covered with amaryllis bulbs planted and growing, clear evidence that our Gardening Club never quits. I saw a few small spider plants mixed in there too making me smile and calmly take comfort in new growth, the struggles involved but also the knowledge that struggles are what lead us to progress and growth in the first place. The amaryllis bulbs are all different sizes, different stages of growth, and yet, each will have a beauty all its own. Like us, they will grow and change and, if lucky enough, have a chance to start all over again. If we too keep our face toward the sun, the shadows will fall behind us. Happy Spring everyone!!