Another first at Prairie Pointe this week----we had a baby shower! Hate to disappoint everyone but it was NOT for one of the residents. Had it been, we would have called the Pope. The shower was for CNA/MAT Shareta (Ree) Gonzales and the baby girl she is expecting in September, Melody Lynne. The residents’ group gift was a very nice high chair.
Decorated pastel colored cupcakes and delicious pineapple punch was served. Ree will never have the work excuse of no babysitter because Melody will always have an extra Grandma’s lap at Prairie Pointe.
It was also nice to see Mattie Waldon, who has been recuperating from shoulder surgery, on hand for the festivities.
We are still in shock after losing our favorite cowboy, Alton McCune, but everyone is in agreement that going in your sleep is the best way to go. Services were in Boise City, Ok last week. His daughter, Anita Reynolds, shared a picture of a funeral arrangement they made which combined his cowboy boots, his cowboy hat, his leather engraved belt, a lasso rope and sunflowers. I think Alton would have thought that was pretty cool.
Through the wonders of technology and social media, Bret Graham has become a regular at Prairie Pointe every Monday evening at 6:00 PM. He does a live concert from his home in Canyon Lake, TX on Facebook. As for most all performers during these COVID times, his regular job is currently closed.
Tune in and enjoy the show!
Sunday church services have been led the past two weeks by Rae Bland, former organist, pianist and Sunday School teacher at Deer Creek Baptist Church for over 50 years. The first week she shared a devotional she entitled “Radical Commitment” and this week she spoke about a time for everything from The Book of Ecclesiastes, one of the wisdom books of the Old Testament. The residents sang along with recorded gospel songs and Rachel Handley offered the closing prayer.
Prairie Pointe residents have thoroughly enjoyed several garden goodies over the past few weeks. This garden is tended by green thumbs belonging to Bob Pearman, Joe Bill Shellope, Don Kinnamon, and Phil Wright.
There is nothing quite so good as home-grown veggies!
Residents enjoyed “Coalminer’s Daughter” last week on movie night. Cissy Spacek played the part of Loretta Lynn wonderfully.
We finished up Erma Bombeck’s book “If life is a bowl full of cherries, what am I doing in the pits” and then perused some articles in the New Yorker and Smithsonian magazines as well as the Wall Street Journal. There was an interesting “Opinion” article in the WSJ about reopening schools which made a lot of sense regarding a controversial issue. The overall point of the article is the harm from lost instruction outweighs the Covid-19 risks.
The article stated that according to the CDC, 30 children under the age of 15 have died from the COVID virus. In a typical year, 190 children die of the flu, 436 from suicide, 625 from homicide and 4,114 from unintentional deaths such as drowning or auto accidents.
The article went on to say that keeping schools closed while awaiting a vaccine isn’t an acceptable alternative. It argued you don’t need a degree in child psychology to know kids have struggled with virtual education. Another half-year of lost instruction will be impossible to make up. Students physically in school learn social and emotional skills, get healthy meals and exercise, and mental health support. Millions of parents can’t return to work if their children can’t attend school so opening the schools is essential to the well-being of students.
I am sure it was encouraging to many parents to read last week’s edition of this newspaper which reported what all the schools were offering for the coming school year. Maybe some “city folk” will want to move to one of our Mayberry-like towns in Lincoln County. Implementing and monitoring precautions with a smaller student population has got to be a more optimal situation. Just add that to the list of things that make our small towns great.
Prairie Pointe continues to follow all CDC and State recommended COVID precautions. Residents are greeting guests outside after they are screened for any virus symptoms then they must practice social distancing for the duration of the visit. Both resident and guest must wear a mask at all times.
Speaking of masks – I would like to thank each and every person who is wearing a mask in public. Without uttering a single word you are making the statement “I care and I will help.”
Everyone at Prairie Pointe sends you a huge virtual hug and a heartfelt thank you!