Midgies Christmas Party at Ashton Gables

Thursday December 15, 2005

Dear family and friends,

Yesterday was an interesting experience seeing my mom participating in the Christmas party with all the residents at Ashton Gables. I got there about 1:30pm and the parking lot was full and I had to park next to the curb on the side. Bobbie and I came last week thinking the Christmas party was then, but we were wrong. I lucked into hitting this one right.

I got to the center living room and it was full to capacity. All the residents were dressed as Christmas presents with a vest that looked like a Christmas box and a big bow in the middle. On top of each resident's head was 'reindeer' antlers. They were each holding a song sheet with words to over a dozen Christmas carols and Fiona, the resident activity director, leading them in song. She was in a black dress, with Christmas ornamants around her neck, and she too, had the reindeer antlers on her head. She had a cordless mike to the amplifier and lead all of us in song.

They had brought all the chairs out of the dining area for the guest to sit, but Jeff got the piano bench having arrived just a little late. After they sang all the songs on the song sheet, soon up the hall came a big "HO HO HO HO"! It was Santa! Midgie was one of the first to get a present and she smiled big time. Santa had a gift for each of the residence and afterwards, we watched them open them like little kids. Mom got a silver picture frame, some very nice hand lotion, and a Christmas Angel Pin for her to wear.

Fiona then said refreshments would be served in the ice cream parlor! They had a table set up with a buffet of all kinds of finger food for a Christmas party along with a nice punch. Mom ate Chicken Salad and Pimento and Cheese sandwiches and two or three stuffed eggs. She drank her nice punch and I soon got her a cup of coffee (x2) to drink with her cake for dessert. I had ham and cheese sandwiches, taquitas (sp?), fruit, grapes, strawberries, and one each of all the varieties. Mom is pickey about her food and I got her only what she recognized.

Mom and I then went to her room with her presents and we visited and talked and had a good time. Soon it was close to 5:00pm and I could not believe it. The time just flew bye during the party! It does that when you are having such a good time.

They took pictures and Stephanie promised me a picture of mom! So ends this story of a wonderful afternoon with mom at Ashton Gables. I was so glad to see her reading the song sheet and singing along. Somewhere back long ago, she remembers these tunes and it was a thrill to see her interacting with Fiona's directions. A good day! No, a great day!/Jeff