One morning, I set out some of the vegetables from my garden that I wanted use for a recipe. It was something our residents did not normally eat. Most did not know what eggplant was. At 2:30, there was quite a number of curious folks….and CNAs! “Let us know when it is done.” each one said. Each person had a part in peeling, cutting, mixing ingredients, and putting them in the pan to make eggplant parmesan. The pans were “licked” clean.
Jim, a resident, at our nursing center, had a hobby from his past. He did woodburning. This is done with tools that burn lines into wood to make a design. He does not have his tools anymore. I asked on Facebook if anyone had any tools like that and a friend told me that I could use a magnifying glass and magnify the sun rays on a piece of wood and burn designs. The next day, I found a piece of wood (an unused paint stick) and dug out my old magnifying glass. The sun was out. With a little time, Jim and I got it to work. In the mean time, we drew a crowd of other men who wanted to try it. The fun has not been in a final piece of art but in watching the sun burn lines as we focused points of light on the smooth wood.
“I am desperate for something to draw.” Why right at this minute, I wondered. The smoking schedule for the nursing care center had been changed and there were no smoking times. His first thought was to replace the cigarette with a pencil. I gave him a stack of pictures to look through. He is a smart man. He knows the value of art, especially when he thought he needed a cigarette.
“This cart is for you.” The administrator handed me a box. After ripping all the tape off, I saw many pieces and even more screws.
“I’ll put it together for you,” the maintenance man offered. I looked around our nursing center and saw men sitting in their rooms, men who had built houses and worked as engineers and now they have TIME. I thanked the maintenance man and invited (actually I said “help!”) 2 men to look into the box and read through the instructions with me. I gave them a screwdriver and pliers and then walked away after I saw that they, even in the midst of disability and sickness, were very adept. I decided that nothing could be ruined, right or wrong. Yes, men need more “guy stuff” to do. I’m thinking. At this point, I have an art cart! Thank you gentlemen!
I am the Interactive Arts Specialist at a Nursing Center. Many of our residents paint daily. There is one thing that brings even more together and that is cooking. Cooking has elements of design and color, but even more so, it delights the senses of smell and taste. Take a look at our raw vegie pizza. Cooking together is also very social as you enjoy the fruits of your “labor” (I mean “play”) together.