Seniors help Bonnie celebrate birthday

By MARGARET HOBBS / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

The Mini Standard’s Bonnie Bear celebrated another birthday with friends of all ages. In observance of Older Seniors Month, friends at the McMinnville/Warren County Senior Center held a party in her honor inviting fifth-grade students of Michelle Chisam from Boyd Christian School.

The inter-generational gathering participated in activities benefiting the full spectrum of ages.

After partnering the two generations together, they enjoyed rousing games of Bingo, pool, exercised together and enjoyed a birthday recognizing Bonnie and any senior or student having a May birthday.

The Woodmen of the World organization was on hand to fingerprint children and also to prepare a delicious meal of grilled hamburgers for the event. Dessert was a beautifully decorated cake donated by Medical Home Health for all birthday honorees.

A most enlightening experience for the younger visitors was the use of five different eyeglasses depicting what it is like to have glaucoma, macular degeneration, stroke, cataracts and yellowing of lenses. The process let them see the world through an older adult’s eyes and gave them a perspective on how older adults see things and what they cannot see.

Special gloves were demonstrated to let them experience how patients with arthritis feel. While wearing the unique gloves, they were asked to open a bottle of pills and to choose a specific color of pill while wearing the yellowed lens glasses. Needless to say, many chose the wrong pill, helping them realize how difficult daily life can be for an older adult.

The fifth-grade students were asked to interview at least two senior citizens while visiting. Teacher Chisam followed the interviews in a classroom assignment. Students also wrote two essays, one titled “What I think a senior center is” and after their visit “What I know a senior center is.” Winners on the essay writing are: Treeah Majors, Annie Niles, Kaleb Tilton and Logan McCormick.

Senior citizens also got in the essay-writing spirit by penning essays titled “What the center means to me.” Carolyn Lance, Barbara Northcutt, Addie Fults, Maggie Simmons and Dottie Owen were the winners. Program coordinator for the center, Tish Watson, organized the festivities.

PHOTO INFO:
Bonnie Bear and friends celebrate her birthday at an inter-generational event at the senior center. Celebrants are, first row from left, Connor Dixon, Amanda Laxton, Brody Fernandez, Kaleb Tilton and David Cross. At back, Glenetta Parson, Liz Keathley,Mary Damon and Tish Watson. Students are Boyd Christian School fifth-graders. (Margaret Hobbs photos)