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You're Welcome at UBBC! Sunday Worship Service 9:30 AM Sunday School for all ages Coffee & refreshments at 10:30 Adult forums at 11 411 South Burrowes
Street 814 237–2708
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In Our Church Family
Christian sympathy is extended to Charlotte de Lissovoy and family upon the death of her husband Val, Jan. 2, 2009. A memorial service celebrating Val’s life will be held 2 p.m. Jan. 31, 2009 at the Unitarian Fellowship on Waupelani. Christian sympathy is also extended to Peg Sherman and family upon the death of her husband Don, Jan. 10, 2009. A memorial service celebrating Don’s life was held Jan. 24, 2009 at Foxdale Village Retirement Center. New Members ReceivedOn Sunday, June 15, five people were received as new members at UBBC. Please read their introductions and take the opportunity to get better acquainted. Charlene Miller is a full-time school bus driver for the State College Area School District. When she isn't driving children to school, Charlene enjoys international travel, has interest in real estate, is a volunteer tax preparer, and enjoys time with granddaughter Kayla. Charlene transferred her letter of membership from the Lick Creek Church of the Brethren in Bryan, Ohio. David Miller recently completed a 7 1/2-year pastorate at the Lick Creek Church of the Brethren. Prior to the pastoral ministry, David was an educator for 30 years, working as an elementary school teacher and counselor. David enjoys cycling, traveling, and studying history. He is the main caregiver for granddaughter Kayla and he is also considering interim pastoral ministry. Carl Nagy is enjoying retirement after having worked as a chemistry teacher, banker, and hardwood lumber salesman. He enjoys hunting, fishing, and working on his children's homes. Nine years ago at a PSU football weekend, the extended Nagy family decided to move to State College and all relocated within a year. Carl transferred his letter of membership from the State College Presbyterian Church. Dottie Neff retired from teaching home economics for 21 years in middle schools in Connecticut and Chicago, Ill. In retirement, Dottie enjoys reading, flower gardening, gourmet cooking and traveling. Dottie transferred her letter of membership from the Stone Church of the Brethren in Huntingdon, Pa. Bob Neff retired from serving the church as an Old Testament seminary professor, denominational administrator, and president of Juniata College. In retirement, he continues to work part-time for the Village at Morrisons Cove, while teaching, reading and writing. Bob also enjoys crossword puzzles, Sudoku, and time spent in the Caribbean. Christian SympathyFormer Interim Pastor Donald "Doc" Buckley died on Wednesday,
July 23. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Aug. 2 in the Slatington
First Baptist Church, Slatington, Pa. The family asks that memorial
gifts be given in "Doc's" name to the church you attend,
to Habitat For Humanity or to the National Wildlife Federation. Remember in prayer Polly Daniels and her family upon the death of
her 92-year-old mother, Dorothy Ostbry. Funerals services were held
in Hudson, Wisconsin, Friday, July 25. Christian sympathy is extended to the family and friends of Elizabeth
Mills who died April 19, 2008. A memorial service celebrating Beth¹s
99 years of living was held at Koch¹s Funeral Home, April 24.
Remember her stepdaughter and husband, Janette and Charlie Meyer,
in prayer. A Thank YouDear UBBC, On behalf of my mother, Peggy Pierson, I would like to thank you
for all that you did to make her Christmas so special. She continues Susan Groff (Peggy’s daughter) George Etzweiler made the record books again.
Puerto Rico Work Camp, 2007 - The Hardest Thing to Put into 250 WordsBy Emma Gregory As we were preparing to leave the airport, we crammed ourselves into
in the vans that were taking us up the mountain. Glances and smiles
were exchanged amongst the youth, as we made sure to sit next to at
least someone we knew from our own youth group. Then, Vilma Padilla
(our wonderful helpful hand that lived in the mountains there) hopped
into the bus and exclaimed to the van driver, "Ooh! Es frio!"
She giggled and rubbed her hands against her arms, and wiggled in
her seat. All of the youth members laughed together and once again
looked around at each other with a bit of a twinkle in everyone's
eye. Already, "Puerto Rico" was bringing us together. Vilma
proceeded to introduce herself, waving her hands in the air with a
grin so full of joy and excitement that our smiles widened along with
it. Inspiration occurred at the very beginning of the very first hour
of the Castaner Work camp. My Work Camp AdventureBy Shannon Daniels My work camp adventure began by sitting in a van for almost seven hours with some of my closest friends. I was so excited to be going to Virginia. I could barely sit still in the van. We began to make friends with the other work campers once we arrived, which made it a lot easier to work together. While we were working, we got to know some of the people that we were helping, like janitors, people of the community, and maintenance workers for the parks. When we were working at the school, we started by plotting a garden where the Fairfield Community would later grow vegetables and other plants and cleaning up litter on the play ground. Later we went inside to wash walls, tables, help get stuff sorted for a garage sale, and clean out some closets. The janitors were very thankful for our help. We got a lot done according to the janitors, even with all the breaks we took, because of the heat. I think that the Fairfield Community was very thankful for our help, too. The next day when working at the park, we cleared out some weeds,
trees, and other vegetation that was blocking the gorgeous view of
the James River. We also painted wood posts that surrounded the entire
park. Even though we only got a small portion done, some of the people
that live in the area commented With all the thank you’s we received, we understood what a difference we made in the community. That made us feel great!!! Along with accomplishing a lot, I feel that I made some lasting friendships. I have kept in contact with some of the other work campers that I never knew prior to work camp My Innisfree Village Experience By Emma Gregory Clayton Barkman, Shannon Daniels, Emma Gregory, and Liz Kline-Smeltzer along with advisor Kathy Bieschke participated in this summer's Church of the Brethren work camp at Innisfree Village, VA where they worked with adults with mental disabilities "Hello! What's your favorite color?" asked a resident at the village. I smiled and replied, "Blue! What's yours?" Eagerly, he told me his favorite color was red, and then gave me a huge bear hug. I couldn't help but feel a little bit uncomfortable by this interaction that had no boundary of where your personal space is and where his is. This concept was hard for everyone at first; no one was quite used to the instant friendship. But throughout the week I realized that they were only showing love. These people, with mental disabilities live a life of love and acceptance, something that people without disabilities find to be an impossible goal to achieve. We started our week of with a tour of Innisfree. As we strolled around the mile-long loop path I gazed at the towering trees, the bright blue skies streaked with pink and orange clouds and the Blue Ridge Mountains encircling us, giving us the sense of security. As we continued the tour, we stopped by the work stations, first the woodshop and the Weavery, then the bakery and kitchen and last the herb and vegetable gardens. The co-workers worked at these stations and excelled at what they did. They grew amazing vegetables and made the most delicious granola I've ever tasted. Their day was explained to us: they had four periods a day and each of them spent there time working in either of the stations. Their products went to a store a town away where they were sold. We moved on throughout the village as this was being said. I took pictures of every flower, cloud and mountain I saw. Yes, Innisfree was beautiful, but so were the people. As we continued the tour we met John, a tennis player who that weekend was going to Italy to compete in the finals of the Special Olympics. Apparently, I was told, that John could easily kick my butt in tennis. I certainly believed them, especially after I was introduced to all the other wonderful things that the co-workers could do. After John said farewell, we moved on and met Chris, a co-worker that made my stay there unforgettable. He was thrilled to see us, and greeted us all with hugs. He then positioned himself in front of us to say something important. "It is wonderful to have you! I am overjoyed in my heart…" He proceeded to tell about his appreciation for us. No one I had met before had said opening words like that with such sincerity and compassion. Because his heart was so filled to the top with love, mine expanded with love also. Throughout the week, I met more and more co-workers, each of them
teaching me a new lesson about love. It still bewilders me what ease
they have finding the heart in everyone and embracing it. I learned
also, that even though they are different, they are people also, people
that all of us should look up to. They live life in happiness and
joy even though they are impaired with a mental disability. Why can't
we do that also? I wondered. Isn't this what all Christians strive
for? To love everyone, even your enemies? My working with these people
was life changing. When I walk through the halls and see the kids
with disabilities, I immediately think first of Innisfree, the village
where everyone was welcome. Now, I look at those kids and think what
big hearts they must have and how I wish I could be as good at that
as they are. Reflections on Pensacola - A Brethren Disaster Response ProjectTen Middle PA volunteers departed from the New Enterprise Church of the Brethren on March 18, 2006, for travel to Pensacola, Florida, where we would repair homes that were damaged by hurricanes Dennis and Ivan. This was my second disaster response trip and I wondered what we would encounter in this Brethren Relief Project in Pensacola? What would we see in the damaged homes? What would we be asked to do to repair these houses? How would I feel working in the poorest counties in Florida? Would we be welcomed in this black community?
After traveling two days, we arrived at the apartments furnished by the Baptist Hospital in Pensacola, and were warmly greeted by Ed and Bonnie Bryan, Project Directors, from Northern Indiana District. I immediately felt connection as we heard work plans for our next two weeks at this project. Ed, a retired school teacher, principal and part-time farmer, stimulated our anticipation as he explained our work on two houses that were significantly damaged from Hurricane Ivan on September 16, 2004. His wife, Bonnie satisfied our hearty appetites as she and Anita Loxley prepared breakfast and supper each day. At the start of our first work day, we were welcomed by John Cocking, Project Supervisor, for Rebuild Northwest Florida. We were stimulated by John's powerful and inspiration message as he thought each of us were called by our Christian faith to be here, in Pensacola, at this time; to bring our varied talents to improve the homes of persons who had no other options for help. He saw our volunteer group as a body with many parts and talents, who would work together to make significant improvements to the homes and lives of those we would serve. John explained that Rebuild Pensacola Florida was created after Hurricane Ivan as a non-profit organization to assist with repairing and rebuilding all of those homes that were damaged during the last two years. John reflected that we were working in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties where 50,000 homes had been damaged by Ivan in 2004 and Dennis in 2005.
On day one, we arrived at a dilapidated house on "I" Street, and were astounded by the conditions of this old structure that many thought should have been demolished. While the Atlantic Northeast District had removed the entire water damaged interior and replaced the roof the prior week, we were faced with a deteriorated shell of a house that would require lots of work to restore to a livable condition. What I didn't understand at the time, was that this old,
run down, and worn out house was in fact a "home" for one
family; a home that had been in the Padgett family for over 50 years.
I learned the importance of our disaster response service as Willie
Mae Padgett, a robust; women of color visited us on Wednesday and rejoiced
at our efforts to rebuild her house and return her to familiar surroundings.
With that visit, I came to a new understanding of the meaning of "home"
and the underlying value of Brethren Disaster Response. And so, our
Middle PA group replaced windows, hung doors, replaced wiring, installed
siding As I returned home from this two-week project and reflect on this experience and work project, what did all of these emotions and events mean to me? What shall I take from this experience to enlighten my life and faith? Did our work group really make any difference to the enormous disaster needs in Pensacola, Florida? I think, I understand that life is much more complex for many who are recovering from disaster situations, than I can comprehend, living in a comfortable and secure home in Central Pennsylvania. The impact of natural forces and human nature can be very frightening and discouraging. Yet, I know and feel that there is a body in the church that is led by Jesus' message and example that assures us that we can make sense out of turmoil in our lives. I am reminded in PSALM 103 (v 17) "The steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting." Gracious God, Thank you for giving me this complex and enriching experience. Make me a stronger person with a wider perspective on life because of what has happened. Amen. (From Meeting God in the Ruins, Devotions for Disaster Relief Volunteers) One servant among many, Dale Roth, University Baptist and Brethren Church, State College, PA Volunteering in Oakland
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entrance to Oakland Catholic
Worker
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food giveaway
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Susan Gong is doing a one year Brethren Volunteer Service assignment at the Oakland Catholic Worker House in Oakland, CA. . The Catholic Worker Movement, founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin in 1933, is grounded in a firm belief in the God-given dignity of every human person. Today over 185 Catholic Worker communities remain committed to nonviolence, voluntary poverty, prayer, and hospitality for the homeless, exiled, hungry, and forsaken. Catholic Workers continue to protest injustice, war, racism, and violence of all forms.
I'm a full time volunteer at the Oakland Catholic Worker house. (but I did not convert to Catholicism!). This house of hospitality is one of many in the Catholic Worker Movement that Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin started in the 30's during the depression. The houses are for people who need food, shelter, and community.
My house is specifically for people from South America. During the 80's it was filled with people fleeing from genocide (caused in part by U.S. govt. policies) in Guatemala and El Salvador. Nowadays there are still refugees that come to the house, but it's mostly immigrants that come across the border and have no money and no shelter. People stay here until they can find a job and save enough money for their own housing. that's very difficult here because housing is way way expensive in the bay area, even in the less desirable locations.
I live in East Oakland, a Latino area of the city. It
wasn't necessary for me to leave the country to encounter an entirely
different culture as the storefronts consist of taquerias (restaurants),
carnicerias (butcher shops), and mercados (grocers). The food is amazing:
pupusas, aguas frescas, fresh fruit, tacos, tamales, and more.
I'm already planning on spending all of my monthly stipends at the taco
stands and restaurants. On most days it starts a little overcast but
by mid-afternoon the sun is hot. I like to walk around on my street
and the surrounding areas. It's amazing how different the neighborhoods
are that are just a few minutes away. One goes from dirty inner city
to cozy tree-shaded suburbs just by crossing a small bridge into Alameda.
At night my street is not very safe with a lot of drug dealing, gangs,
prostitution, and desperate people in general. However, I really enjoy
living here as San Francisco, beaches, and forests are all within a
twenty minute drive. What I like most about the house and the Catholic
Worker idea is the solidarity and sense of community it fosters. Most
Catholic Worker houses are in the less prosperous areas of cities in
order to be in solidarity with the people they serve. Since I came to
the house two new guests have arrived. When one of them showed up a
few days after he crossed the border I wasn't sure how I felt about
living with him because he seemed hardened, non-talkative, and had an
overall look of desperation--not my usual expectation for a housemate.
Now he's my favorite person in the house! After a few days of being in a community and having support he really relaxed. We hang out in the living room, watch Mexican soap operas and talk about family, work, whatever. He helps me with my Spanish and I help him with his English. I found out he actually lived in Pennsylvania for a few years, picking fruit around Gettysburg and Harrisburg. He has a bunch of brothers and seven kids and thought it was weird that I have only two sisters. He gets up every day at 5 am to go to work (painting/construction) and he drinks Mountain Dew. His wife is still trying to cross the border.
I never realized before I got here how important it is to have support from other people. I knew that it's fun to have friends, but I never actually witnessed the power a community has on the individual until I got here.
Most of my time here is spent trying to organize the office and files with Becky, another volunteer. I do a lot of cleaning too. There hasn't been any full time volunteers here in awhile and the house needs some work. All of the decisions of the house are made by consensus of the equipo: me, Becky, and the house manager Reinaldo and his wife Isabel. There are a couple of other governing boards also. Every night everybody who lives in the house eats dinner together. We all take turns cooking and doing chores. We also help the guests with a number of things: getting in contact with potential employers, medical care, law services, etc. We also coordinate volunteers from the community and pick up donations and whatnot. Right now I'm also working on the house newsletter. My most important duty is just being here and being with the people in the house.
None of our funding comes from the government. it all comes from individuals and some fundraising we do in churches. Today we got a new blender in the mail that someone bought off eBay and had sent to the house.
If you're going to be in the area, give me a call and come and visit me if you can.
Susan
(510)533-7375, 4848 International Blvd, Oakland, CA 94601
Better Or Better Off
by Peter Maurin
1. The world would be better off,
if people tried
to become better.
2. And people would
become better
if they stopped trying
to be better off.
3. For when everybody tries
to become better off,
nobody is better off.
4. But when everybody tries
to become better,
everybody is better off.
5. Everybody would be rich
if nobody tried
to be richer.
6. And nobody would be poor
if everybody tried
to be the poorest.
7. And everybody would be
what he ought to be
if everybody tried to be
what he wants
the other fellow to be.
"Carolyn,
I swear this house is haunted I saw something in the corner above
my television the other night" I smiled this was possibly the
millionth time the topic of haunting at Bridgeway had come up in the
seven months I had been there serving as a Brethren Volunteer Service
volunteer. For nearly twenty years Bridgeway, a non-profit organization
in CO, has provided shelter to young, pregnant women between the ages
of 16 through 21, who are either homeless or, for various reasons,
had to leave home when they found out they were pregnant. I jokingly
told the young mother, "I can't hear this I have to be able to
go to bed soon", and went into the next room where the house
office is located to record a plus or minus for who completed a daily
chore. Back in the living room I could hear another resident, who
had been decorating thank you cards for her baby shower, respond to
her housemate. "Maybe it was my dead boyfriend." There was
a short pause and the other resident said "Shouldn't he be in
your room then?" The response was immediate: "O heck, he
cheated on me all the time!" They laughed. I put my head in my
hands and chuckled.
Many of Bridgeway's residents are street savvy, know how to get by, and find it hard to choose to back down in a confrontation. They are also some of the most naïve, intelligent, strong young women I have ever met. The most challenging part of my project, and there have been many, has been to show Bridgeway's residents that they are truly loved. It is hard to instill a felling of unconditional acceptance within six months, which is the average stay of a Bridgeway resident. The time constraints is complicated by the fact that many of the residents have already faced years of abuse and betrayal, usually by family or friends. They face many hardships as young, single mothers. Hopefully the knowledge that they are accepted, safe, and loved will ease their hearts and minds so that they can effectively focus on pursuing education or a job, which is a requirement during their stay at Bridgeway. I have truly been blessed to have crossed paths with these young ladies; they inspire hope and bring me much joy.
Melissa Bradley was part of a UBBC Middle School doing a Church of the Brethren work camp in Ashland, Ohio in June of 2005. Other members of the group were: Advisor Jan Bradley, Shannon Daniels, Emma Gregory, and Lizzie Kline Smeltzer.
As I stepped out of the car in Ashland, Ohio, I was disheartened and frightened. The town was not the friendly environment I was expecting. Broken windows, frail buildings, and lots of destruction- it was like something from a television show that I had never experienced during my sheltered life in State College. What came as the biggest surprise to me, though, was that in the heart of this grungy town lay the most incredible organization I had ever observed: the Pump House Ministries.
A daycare center, a thrift shop, housing for men, a restaurant, and a food pantry are only a few of the services offered by the Pump House Ministries. It began as an annual holiday dinner served to all the community members in need of food, and evolved into a massive organization, with seventeen buildings covering over four blocks of land. What was more magnificent than the association itself, however, was the people it was run by. They give themselves and their lives everyday to help others and send the word of God to the community.
The main focus of our worship at work camp was Rivers of Life. Entering into a new river means making a decision, taking responsibility, or branching out. Like rivers, life is constantly moving and changing, and it doesn't take much to stir up the path. At the Pump House Ministries in Ashland, Ohio, Emma, Lizzie, Shannon, and I entered a new river. We tried something we were unfamiliar with, and troubled the waters of our lives, and those of others.
Our work at the Pump House Ministries consisted of cleaning
out a warehouse full of potential thrift store items, cutting down and
moving trees (among other yard work), helping with the Summer of Fun
daycare center, and sweeping a vacant building. I accomplished so much,
but I feel as though what the community did for me is more than I did
for it. Being in Ashland, Ohio taught me that good comes where you least
expect it, and you cannot judge a book by its cover. The beauty and
love in Ashland lies not in its exterior, but in the hearts of the people.
By Emma Gregory
Emma Gregory was part of a UBBC Middle School doing a Church of the Brethren work camp in Ashland, Ohio in June of 2005. Other members of the group were: Advisor Jan Bradley, Melissa Bradley, Shannon Daniels, and Lizzie Kline Smeltzer. Melissa Bradley also wrote about her experience at this work camp (see below)
This summer I attended a work camp in Ashland, Ohio. When I was there, I learned many interesting things; some that I knew before and was just brought further to my attention, and others that I only experienced then and there. The love that was within the leaders and campers there was unbelievable. They really, truly believed in God, and they were really truly dedicating their time so that we could believe too. After going to that camp, I believed too.
Some things that were brought to my attention were the suffering that is actually real in the United States. I knew for a long time that there was suffering and homeless people and all, but it didn't quite seem real. Living in a society, like State College, you really aren't seeing the people struggling so much as when I went to Ashland. Our whole purpose there was to care for these people, and to help them trying to carry a happy life.
Sure, the work was difficult, but a church invited us over for an ice cream party and thanked us personally for our hard work. To think that they were that gracious of us putting in a week of our time was incredibly nice. I remember sitting there and just thinking, "Wow, these people are so nice; I wish I could be so nice like that."
Also, some things that I never had really felt before was the feeling of being close to God, I know that it sounds strange, being a Christian and being baptized, but I always questioned his existence. That whole week that I was there, I felt close to God and his ways. There was something about the songs we sang, the people we were around that I've never felt before. Every time we gathered I felt tranquil and calm. It was a feeling that, within my busy life, never came that often. I enjoyed it and savored it.
People were wonderful to me, and the experience will be unforgettable. I encourage all youth to attend a youth camp to get the same feeling that I did, where you feel like nothing can separate you from peace and God.
By Patrick Bradley
Patrick Bradley was part of a second group of UBBC work campers that went to Fairbanks in June of 2005 to work at a Church of the Brethren work camp at LOVE, Inc. Other members of the group were, Joe Westrick, advisor, Bob Bala, Erica Harp, and Nate Westrick. There was also an earlier group who went in early June with Susan Gong as advisor and work campers Kathryn Freeman and Catherine Gong.
As I anxiously stepped onto that airplane, I was unsure of what awaited me. As we traveled from State College, to Cincinnati, to St. Louis, and even to Salt Lake City, I was amazed at what I was seeing. How could these United States offer such a versatile environment? But what I had seen was nothing compared to the natural beauty which this group from UBBC would encounter during their 10 day stay in Alaska.
After overcoming jetlag (compounded by 24 hours of daylight) we were able to get acquainted with this "foreign" place. We started with a day of relaxation during which Mr. Westrick took us to the Chena Hot Springs. After we settled into our dormitory accomodations at the University of Alaska, our two work-camp leaders did a great job in helping us get acquainted with the people that would become our close friends over the week to come and by the next morning, everyone was eager to get to work.. Most of our fellow workers came from states such as: Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
We began the day by visiting the organization which we worked for Love, INC (In the Name of Christ). Love, INC is a Fairbanks based group that helps needy families with a variety of assistance from food to transportation. They were about to be undergoing the process of moving from their small office, to a large building (a former meatpacking factory).
The work during the week was very tedious; from taking siding off of the building to clearing out trees, we certainly had our work cut out for us. But all in all, it was definitely worth every bit of effort which we put forth. Being able to help such a caring group carry out their integral function to society was a privilege for all of us.
Aside from working, we had many other adventures in Alaska. During a long bus tour of Denali National Park, we were blown away by scenes of unbelievable, natural beauty and encountered numerous members of the local wildlife. Whether it was caribou, foxes, or sheep, we were all overcome with a new appreciation of our earth.
After the workcamp was over, we were able to view more
majestic scenes as Mr. Westrick led us to the town of Valdez in southern
Alaska. On the way, we enjoyed a 6 hour drive down a 135 mile stretch
of dirt road. I know what you're thinking, "who would drive 135
miles down a dirt road?" However, this road spanned some of the
most beautiful land we will ever see. After completing this section
of our trip, we stayed overnight in Paxson, Alaska, a town which probably
has a population in the double digits. After resting up we were back
on the road towards Valdez. Along the way, we stopped at a fascinating
glacier. This solid mass of ice captured the essence of Alaska's impressively
varied terrain, and provided us with some entertainment as we watched
ourselves trek across water and ice.
We finished this long trip up with a one night stay in Valdez, where
we enjoyed the quaint, welcoming town. Valdez epitomized one of the
few debates we had engaged in during our trip (particularly during the
work camp portion): should the United States of America expand upon
its drilling for oil in Alaska? After seeing the pipeline in Fairbanks,
members of the group were invited by the leaders to give their various
opinions on the issue of drilling for oil in the Anwar refuge. As Valdez
is the end of the pipeline, this recurring discussion came up again;
as we watched enormous tankers come to take the crude oil. Even after
witnessing the transfer of one of our most valuable recourses, I am
still inclined to maintain my initial position: the USA should not drill
for oil in Anwar. Needless to say, this brought up some interesting
discussion within the group; however, discussion is discussion, nothing
which could break down the strong bond we formed after just one week
together.
I am extremely grateful to have had this fantastic opportunity.
From seeing a new place, to performing fulfilling work, to enjoying
the aesthetic wonder our earth has to offer, I feel extremely enhanced
as a human being. I would like to deeply and sincerely thank the University
Church of the Baptist and Brethren for providing me with this. I would
also like to give special thanks to Mr. Joe Westrick, without him the
trip would have been impossible (and maybe even less humorous). I would
strongly recommend that UBBC maintains its activism with regards to
taking kids to work camps; because, this trip indeed change my life.
By Ann Marie Rehmert
The
Quaker Retirement Center sits up high on a hill overlooking the bright
lights of the town and the lush Pennsylvania Valley. New Year's Eve
is always a special night at the center for those retirees who no longer
are able or willing to keep a private home. However, this particular
retirement center strives to be the ultimate home away from home for
those who choose this lifestyle.
It was no different on New Year's Eve night of 2005 when the entire center was ablaze with lights and activities. I was very fortunate to be invited to dinner that evening by two of my favorite friends, Bob and Norma Olson, biological ages 92 and 86, respectively who make the center their permanent home in a small, cozy town home. I could hardly wait for the laughter and lightheartedness these two would share with me that evening.
In the dining-hall, the scene was set with a huge Christmas tree lighted and wrapped in festive ribbons of all colors. The elegant dining room was adorned with tables set with while linen cloths, glistening silverware and sparking china and crystal. I waited on a couch just outside for my friends while the aroma of holiday foods swirled in my head.
Just then, I noticed a shiny red motorized scooter approaching me. In it sat a tall handsome man elegantly attired in a stunning black tuxedo, black satin bowtie, white tuxedo shirt with pearl buttons and cufflinks, polished black leather shoes, freshly brushed snow-white hair and a very distinguished white mustache. Suddenly, to my surprise, I realized it was my old friend Bob, all decked out for the New Year's Eve dinner.
Wow, I could hardly believe my eyes. Here was a man who is 92 years of age who has the style and spirit of a person many years younger. Spontaneously, I grabbed him around the neck and gave him a big hug. What a surprise! Unfortunately, Norma, his wife, was ill that evening and unable to attend the festive events. I am sure she too would have been a dazzler in some special party outfit. They are a perfect match and have been since they married some twenty years ago.
While other friends and family joined our table for dinner, Bob was the crowning jewel of the night in his outstanding attire. Bob's memory came and went as we all discussed past New Year's Eve adventures. At dinner's end, Bob, cane in hand, said goodbye and once more slowly took control of his red scooter. The last we saw of him he was speeding (?) off to join the other residents for the remaining events planned by the center for the evening.
This special New Year's Eve surprise will linger long in my memory. I will never forget the youthful spark generated by a nonagenarian who will be forever young!
