Twilight Wish Foundation

Wheeeeeeeeee!!! for Wii: Seniors take to the game

2008-02-29T13:44:00.002-05:00

In senior centers and nursing homes across the country, seniors are taking up Wii --the interative Nintendo video game. They are hosting bowling parties -- the most popular use of the Wii, and even celebrating the world szeries with a home-run derby.

Whereas heavy real bowling balls kept many away from the sport -- as did their ability to get to the lanes -- Wii bowling offers a light "ball" and a way to exercise where they live and play. And exercise is great for both physical and mental health.

"It has energized this community beyond anything you can imagine," said Shirley Powell, 80, whose husband heads the residents association at Southampton Estates, near Philadelphia, according to a story in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

"A lot of times, people come in here under protest," Powell explained. "Their children want them to be here. They can't live alone. And they sort of surrender to life.

"This game has brought people out," she added. "They come early and sign up so they have a good spot in the roster. It's a sense of independence. They can come and bowl. It's exciting for them. Some people think because you're 80 or 85 that you can't do anything anymore. And that is so untrue. So untrue."

Wii was the second-best-selling video-game console in America in 2007, according to a Nintendo spokesman, with nearly 6.3 million systems sold. Nintendo says 24 percent of Wii players are 50 or older.

It's also a terrific way for all the generations to play together -- and get to know one another.
Teens, especially those who don't usually visit nursing homes, can find a comfort level in visiting now that they have a common interest with so many residents.

Seniors, it's cold outside! What to do

2008-02-13T18:02:00.002-05:00

In much of the country, now is the time to combat the cold. But it's a tougher chore for seniors than many other folks.

In "very young and very old people, their immune system tends to be weaker," Dr. Jorge Fleisher told the Boston Globe. Also, "when elderly individuals are exposed to the cold, they may not control their body temperature as well."

Because it's so cold, seniors often opt to stay indoors where toxins and viruses accumulate -- and increase their risk of getting sick, Fleisher said.

And then seniors don't respond as well to vaccines and treatments as adults, he said.

So what's a senior to do?
* Know the weather outside and what is predicted
* Understand that wind chill increases cold-weather risks
* Prepare for days when you are unable to go shopping or keep appointments
* Keep a stock of nonperishable foods, such as canned soup, crackers, peanut butter and dry cereal
* Store flashlights and other items that would be needed in a power outage
* Dress in multiple, dry layers of loose-fitting clothing and pairs of thick socks
* Wear long-underwear!
* Keep your face and extremities covered -- wear a scarf, hat and gloves
* Don't use space heaters, especially in the bedroom -- instead, install insulation and weather stripping

Designing for Seniors - Great Tips!

2008-01-25T21:11:00.001-05:00

What will boomers and other seniors need?

The Corporate Design Foundation says that in the next 25 years, the number of people
over age 65 will more than double, and an estimated 20% of the U.S. population
will be in their so-called "golden years."

If you want to market to this growing population, consider this:

They are more design-savvy than their parents and won't settle for things that are functional
but ugly. They want sensible and sexy, practical and pretty, safe and stylish. They are the
first generation to believe that elegant, intuitive product solutions are not only possible,
they are a basic consumer right.

What can you do to appeal to seniors? Here's what the Corporate Design Foundation says:

1: Make It Equal
Designers of mass-manufactured products tend to design for the "norm," which in the U.S. is often
for able-bodied consumers about 30 years of age, around 5 foot 6 inches tall and not overweight.
Universal design takes into consideration the needs of people of all ages, sizes, and physical
and cognitive ability. If that is not possible in a single design, it presents equivalent alternatives,
like wheelchair street curb ramps.

2: Minimize Physical Effort
For a person with severe arthritis, the simple task of turning a doorknob can be painful,
which is why so many new homes incorporate lever door handles that require less range
of motion. When designing for the frail or elderly, the fatigue factor is an important consideration.
Household products that allow users to maintain a neutral body position, minimize repetitive
actions and reduce the need for sustained physical effort make performing chores more enjoyable
and comfortable.

3: Provide Adequate Size and Space
Public buildings have rules and regulations on handicapped access, something sorely lacking
in private homes. Safety-proofing a bathroom, for example, is of little use if the wheelchair
can't fit through the doorway. A key principle of universal design is making sure that
appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation and use regardless
of the user's body size, posture or mobility. That demands providing a clear line of sight from
either a seated or standing position and ample room for assistive devices.

Things to think about as we all reach our golden age.....

America Needs Elders: Go Green?

2008-01-11T20:16:00.000-05:00

That's what Dr. William Thomas, an international authority on geriatrics, told several hundred social workers, nurses and other caregivers at a conference on again in Cleveland this week (October 2007).

He told them -- and all of us -- that the way society treats aging people needs to be radically altered.

"We feel the only good old person is an old person who walks, talks, thinks and acts like a young person," he said. "America needs elders." Elders supply wisdom -- insight into the problems of everyday life.

Thomas founded the Eden Alternative, a global nonprofit organization to improve the care of people who live in nursing homes. He recently developed the Green House concept, in which eight to 10 elderly live in a home with several caregivers. He believes the Green House is the middle ground between nursing homes and the currently popular alternative of aging at home.

Think Your Can Discount Seniors? Think Again

2008-01-08T18:24:00.000-05:00

Start counting....

As if we needed a reminded as to how important the work Twilight Wish is doing, consider that the seniors who need to be celebrated today are only the tip of the aging iceberg.

Last fall (October 2007), the nation's first Baby Boomer filed for Social Security benefits. Kathleen "Kathy" Casey-Kirsch ling, born one second after midnight on Jan.1, 1946, will be eligible for benefits beginning in January 2008, according to The Hartford Currant. The retired seventh-grade teacher is on the leading edge of what the Social Security administration refers to as a "silver tsunami," nearly 80 million Americans born from 1946 to 1964 who will qualify for Social Security over the next two decades.

The sweetness and the silliness: Caroling at senior centers

2008-01-01T20:55:00.000-05:00

It's almost cliche, to go caroling at senior centers and nursing homes during the holidays. Yet is can mean so much -- both to the residents and to the visitors.

I still get chills when I think of the tears welling up in one woman's eyes as she sang along to "Silent Night." Or the residents giggling as we faked our way through a request: "O Holy Night!"

And how happy so many were to clasp hands with energetic sixth-graders with jingling reindeer ears and glittering Santa hats! That one-on-one contact conveys, as little else can, that people really care about them. And for the kids -- what a great way to show them they can make a difference in someone's day!

My kids and I had the pleasure of joining a school group one day and singers from Twilight Wish another to visit nursing homes in Doylestown, Pa., this past December. Each time we do, we know we will come back more often.

Remember, holidays aren't the only days you can use this day-brightener -- especially in the gray days of winter. Many residents can't get out because it is too cold or icy in many parts of the country. They need you to come in!

Why not plan now for a Martin Luther King Jr. sing-in -- use patriotic songs!
Or a Valentine's Day delight -- learn a few standards, which are sure to stir great memories!

Think about it:

People of all ages can do it -- together.
You need more enthusiasm than skill.
It costs nothing but can be priceless.

Teach kids how to be generous with seniors

2007-12-13T01:48:00.000-05:00

While many adults understand the value of gifts from the heart for seniors, what a gift you can give the seniors and the little ones in your life by encouraging kids to be thoughtful and generous, without costing money.

Here are a few ideas perfect for kids' holiday giving:

Take a nature walk with a senior and collect interesting objects on the way. Later, paste them in a collage as a present, writing or saying: Thanks for the fun walk!

Interview an elderly person about what it was like when they were young, in the service, or at another meaningful time in their life. Use a tape recorder or take notes. Draw a portrait of them or write a short biography.

Write an acrostic poem using their name, such as:
Beautiful
Energetic
Talented
Happy

Go caroling -- especially at nursing homes or at neighbors who are lonely or housebound. Bring goodies with you to give them.

Give an award – such as “My Hero Award.” Make sure you list or draw at least three reasons they are so great!

Holiday Gifts for the Elderly: Thought, Love, Time

2007-12-11T11:57:00.000-05:00

Dear Abby had a great column just in time for holiday gift-giving, remindig all of us that the last thing most seniors needs is another tie or sachet. Here's some of the great advice she shared:

One grandaughter helped her "grandmother with Christmas cards. (She had arthritis, and it was hard for her to write.) It was one of the best presents I ever gave her, and it was lots of fun for me.
I visited her, asked for the names and addresses of the people she wanted to send cards to, and wrote them all down on notebook paper. Then we went through her address book together. She had a story about everyone in the book. At Thanksgiving, I took her to the store to select cards and then addressed them and had her sign them."

Another person "went shopping at a local toy store and selected a bunch of cute items (stickers, balls, jacks, puzzles, etc.). The store generously included enough gift bags and colored tissue for each little purchase.
When I presented Aunt Jane with 10 bags of tiny gifts she could give to her great-nieces and -nephews, she was thrilled. We had a wonderful time together deciding which child would receive which toy and writing appropriate messages on the gift cards."

The best gifts needn't cost any money:

Grabbing some kids -- even teens, what warmth many of them have with older people! -- and caroling in a retirement or nursing home is a gift for all involved.

What willl you do to spread joy to seniors this season?

Out of the Mouths of Babes...Great Holiday Idea!

2007-11-30T08:57:00.000-05:00

Leave it to kids to know just how to honor the elderly. The kids at McQuade Children’s Services in New Windsor, NY, formed an organization -- with president, VP and all -- and sold cider donuts to raise $120. They used the money to buy two CD players for seniors at the Elant at Newburgh nursing home, one of whom is blind.

They intend to do a fundraiser a month. What a great model for other organizations looking to see how they can grant wishes to nursing home residents near them.

Are You Ageist? Take this Quiz

2007-06-29T13:56:00.000-04:00

Ronni Bennett on As Time Goes By reveals that most of us are more ageist than we think:

She writes:

David notes that rather than be troubled if our test results are less than stellar, we should ask ourselves “what we are going to do to transcend the bias so that no negative actions flow from it…
“Getting older doesn't do it,” continues David.

“I've met countless people in their 70s, 80s and older who are ageist. The battles that take place in senior housing "facilities" waged by the relatively fit against those in wheelchairs and on walkers coming into the same dining room are the result of ageism - the relatively fit rejecting those who are visibly less fit because the former associate aging with infirmity. People who wage such battles have failed to fulfill Jung's First Task of Aging.

"Incidentally, scores of non-profit organizations wanting to do good works for seniors call the communities they build for them "facilities." Is that not an ageist term? No one calls housing for younger people ‘facilities.’”

So try the test (you must have Javascript enabled) and then come back here and tell us how you did.

Gratitude and honor

2007-06-13T21:58:00.000-04:00

Katherine McIntyre muses on Gratitude after encountering a 97 year old WWII Navajo Code Talker:

Many people stopped to speak with this former code talker, and I for one was thinking about him and his impact for quite a while after seeing him. We all like to think that our contributions to the world are having a positive impact, but it's not often you encounter people who played an integral part in something that had such a large impact on the course of history.

Holy angels -- it's a golf cart for nuns!

2007-05-18T21:31:00.000-04:00

The Philadelphia Inquirer featured TWF on their front page today in a story called Prayer answered via a golf cart Scott Cummings and his wife went above and beyond in making this wish come true for the 56 retired nuns of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. Now, frail and ailing retired nuns from the order are once again able to see the grounds of their home campus, visit family graves and enjoy the coming of spring together. Thank you everyone who helped to make this wish come true!

Florda Chapter holds a fundraiser AND grants a wish on the same day

2007-05-17T14:03:00.000-04:00

The weather was hot and muggy, (not untypical for Southwest Florida in May) but that did not stop anyone from having a great time at the first ever fundraiser for the Twilight Wish Foundation's FT. Myer's chapter. The event was sponsored and held at Encore Senior Village in Naples, FL and was attended by about 40 guests.

The food & wine were great in addition to excellent music that was supplied by Stu Shelton. Joni Corso, (Community Relations Coordinator) who orchestrated the entire event, went way beyond the "call of duty" in ensuring the evening would be a complete success. The decorations were elegant, and the auction baskets were fantastic with LOTS of goodies raffled off. Many people went home VERY happy with their winnings.

Helen Hunter, (Florida Regional Director for Twilight Wish Foundation) approached Joni, and the two ladies decided to put on the fundraiser to help with badly needed funding for the Florida chapter. With both Joni and Helen planning and executing this event, little was left to chance. I (Gene Petrucci) flew down to Florida to attend the event and to give a brief presentation of Twilight Wish Foundation accompanied by a 7 min. slide show. I will tell you that I was duly impressed with every aspect of the event and if this is any indication of future fundraisers in Florida, Twilight Wish is going to be able to do a LOT OF GOOD in the Sunshine state, (which also happens to have the highest percentage of people over 65 - 19% - then any other state).

Speaking of doing good things, Helen and Joni added a special bonus to the night by actually granting a wish at the same time! A women named Denise (77) wanted some dental work to correct some past mistakes by a dentist she used that left her unable to smile or even eat properly. Her wish was requested by her co-worker Jackie, and the wish was kept secret until the night of the fundraiser. Denise thought she was just accompanying Jackie to an event and was totally shocked when Jackie was asked to stand up and to say a few words. Jackie then started to talk about a remarkable woman she worked with, and all the nice things that this woman did for others. Jackie finished up by saying that this woman had a wish for new dentures and that Twilight Wish Foundation was going to make it happen. At that point, Jackie pointed to Denise and said "Surprise!". Denise was overcome and could not stop crying for a long while. Dr. Joel Shapses, DDS, offered to do the work at no charge and was also on hand for the festivities.

The generous donations by all those in attendance resulted in $1,000 raised for the Florida chapter. Joni said that she plans on making this event a yearly fundraiser for Twilight Wish Foundation and next year's will be even BIGGER!

The picture above shows Denise, (in floral print dress second from left) standing next to Jackie (directly to the left of Denise). Next to Jackie is Helen, (white skirt) and to Helen's left is Dr. Shapses (on extreme left). The other two people in the photo are co-workers of Dr Shapses.

Talkin 'Bout My Generation

2007-04-16T20:22:00.000-04:00

Introducing... The Zimmers!

"Growing old doesn't mean giving up"

Twilight Wish Advocacy Roles

2007-04-10T16:20:00.000-04:00

Sorry to say, we need funding and we were turned down for a grant from a local foundation because Twilight Wish did not demonstrate "systemwide corporate effectiveness" which according to their representative meant that we were NOT doing advocacy work and "granting wishes was a direct service" and they wouldn't fund direct services. WELL - that got me thinking about everything we are accomplishing and here are our new advocacy statements.

Twilight Wish Foundation Advocacy Statements

Twilight Wish inspires hope among the “forgotten generation.” We engage all generations from children through baby boomers to help make the wishes of older generations come true. Firsthand experiences of wish granters during the process itself perpetuates our mission into the future. We do presentations and advocate for younger generations to recognize the importance of providing thanks, remembrance and caring towards older generations through providing special shining moments.

Twilight Wish uses its media power to build awareness and affect cultural change in the way the nation cares for its elder generations. Not only do we answer the basic needs and wishes for food, clothing and shelter…we also fulfill the higher level, spiritual wishes and in the words of a 79 year old, Libby Magness, who’s wish to be in a parade was granted on Thanksgiving Day of 2006, “you keep the candle lit.” As America becomes more aware of the need for total “mind, body, spirit” health, Twilight Wish’s mission will be recognized as important as basic needs fulfillment no matter what the wish entails.

Twilight Wish garners the political attention and builds awareness of elder issues to affect policy makers. Elders are requesting to have teeth pulled, dentures, hearing aids, visual magnifiers…and this leads us to question our systems and advocate for basic common rights recognizing quality of life issues. Twilight Wish teaches the nation we need to do a better job restoring respect and creating elder dignity by individual person centered care and addressing laws that affect this care and protect the individual rights of the indigent elderly.

Twilight Wish is a resource for management of eldercare facilities to promote change in the way they operate enhancing people centered behavior and actions resulting in increased respect and dignity.

Twilight Wish is a mechanism that empowers caregivers and eldercare facility employees and creates a cultural change when they witness firsthand the respect paid to residents.

Claire, Happy Birthday, from your first son, Robert

2007-04-10T15:58:00.000-04:00

Robert suffers from many things including AIDS and he wanted to do something really nice for his mom just from him to let her know that he always loved her...Claire had a birthday yesterday (4/9) ...and she recieved beautiful spring flowers from Robert with a very special note. Wish #756.

Elizabeth N. receives award for volunteerism

2007-04-10T15:39:00.000-04:00

Wish #755 - long time in the making...Elizabeth N. prefers to remain anonymous and have no fanfare...but her family tricked her into coming out yesterday (4/9) and we got to recognize her for her lifetime volunteerism efforts with Boyscouts and Girlscouts and cancer societies among others...with a luncheon where four generations of her family including Theresa, Angela and Marissa were present along with Cass Forkin (me) of Twilight Wish and Tricia Gallagher, author and also founder of A Team of Angels...(on Oprah three times). Elizabeth was presented with a personalized plaque on a beautiful print of callalillies drawn by a famous Bucks County artist, Khara Flint, especially for Twilight Wish because they symobolize "beautiful."

"Internet Legacy" online storytelling for our elders

2007-04-10T13:46:00.000-04:00

Get inspired! Read this NYT article about how seniors are creating blogs, videos and other ways to tell their stories online. (NYT Registration is required). Thank you Doc Searls for blogging about it.

Or, you can go directly to some of the "Internet Legacy" sites mentioned:
Time Goes By by Ronni Bennett
Geriatric 1927 (video blog - vlog) by Peter Oakley
The Paratrooper's Story by Guy Anhorn in suburban Philadelphia
WWII Veteran's story by his daughter Judy Loken
The Heartbeat of Hideho by Cab Calloway's daughter

Seniors, check out "The Elder Storytelling Place" at Ronni Bennett's blog and submit your story by sending it to her. (Write "Elder Storytelling Place" in the subject line, and tell them we sent you.)

Reverend Jessie D. Thurman presented with the Mary Kathleen Forkin Award from Twilight Wish Foundation for his spirit and integrity

2007-04-03T18:33:00.000-04:00

Last October Twilight Wish chose one of our first ever annual awards to be given to an incredible senior at our NIght of 111 Stars annual dinner/dance/award ceremony. This senior was not well enough to travel to Bucks County, PA from Eden, NC...so his family decided to wait to tell him until just the right moment when they could present it to him.

Well, the moment finally arrived.

I received an email from Eunice R. today telling me that her father was presented with the award on February 18, 2007 (formally Wish #754 now.) Twilight Wish chose Rev. Jessie D. Thurman, 86, to receive this award because of his goodness and kindness and integrity to everyone. He is not a rich man, but, he always gave to everyone and he is fair and just.

A story Eunice wrote resonates with me always. One Christmas Eve her father walked three miles back to his work to tell them he had been given an extra $20 in his Christmas bonus. His work had failed to tell him him they gave him two $20 bills that year. Eunice put a wish in for her father over a year ago and told us she did not know what to ask for him because he never asks for anything for himself. Eunice and I went through many ideas and ended up deciding he should recieve Twilight Wish' first ever award for Spirit and Integrity demonstrated by a senior...the Kathleen Mary Forkin Award...a beautiful wooden framed tile designed for Twilight Wish by famous Bucks County tile artist, Khara Flint. The inscription said it all.

Eunice wrote that her father's church played "When You Wish Upon a Star" right before the presentation of the award in Eden, North Carolina. Her father "was speechless and had a million dollar smile on his face and that was worth a million dollars to me."

Eunice also wrote that "there are thousands of deserving senior citizens out there and I pray that Twilight Wish Foundation will reap abundantly in donations so that many senior citizens can have a wish come true. God bless."

I believe Eunice is right and from her mouth to God's ears! Thank you for reading this story and have a great day:) - Cass

Bedridden 83 year old Sarah's dream comes true for an extreme makeover bedroom

2007-04-03T17:50:00.000-04:00

Saturday, 3/31/07, it was Sarah's day to finally have her wish granted. Her wish was submitted by her friend and one of her caregivers, Ruth R., LSW with Abramson Center in January of 2006. It was to make over a room in the middle of the house into a bedroom for Sarah who was living in a very dark cold room in the back of the house. Twilight Wish first visited Sarah in March of 2006 during the original site visit. The home was in poor condition.

The floor in the room to be made over had a hole and it was questionable. Twilight Wish requested an expert give an opinion and it turned out that joists needed reinforcement before anything else could happen. Twilight Wish had some difficulty. We had a volunteer flooring company from New York agree to the work but at the last minute on the day they were scheduled to do the work, they no-showed. Then, a board member stepped in and asked a friend to do the work...much thanks to James Canale who paid for the carpeting and Jim Morris of Morris Contractors who did the flooring we were finally able to move ahead.

Sarah insisted on her favorite color from swatches she was shown even though we feared it may be too dark...the color was "Plum Blossom" found at Home Depot. The color of the carpet was a medium blue/grey. I found a gorgeous cream colored bedding package at Boscov's including a 300 count sheets/pillowcases, comforter, dust ruffle, and three decorator pillows. I showed them to Mary Forkin, designer extraordinaire...this is what she had to work with and pull altogether at the last moment. No easy feat. Wait till you see the artwork, pillows, curtains, decorator lamp, decorator chair, wall hangings, picture frames and other paraphernalia she picked out...incredible.

The crew for the working day included myself, Gene Petrucci, my sister, Mary Forkin (who pulled the design work altogether), three Amazing Members of Philadelphia Boy Scout Troop #303 including Mike Coleman, William Veasy and Shakoor Mathlin...and two of their Amazing Leaders, Robert Gallaway and Troy German. I am going to post pictures of the before and after. We worked from 9:15am straight through until 7pm with some lunch and then later some pizza and hot wings thanks to Mary. Cleaning windows, cleaning woodwork, painting gripper on the old paneling, painting primer on the ceiling and then painting the second coats of the paint...white on the ceiling and "plum blossom" on the walls. Mike became our premier "trim" guy. Troy and Gene took on the ceiling. Everyone contributed. No slackers. White on the woodwork. Painting on crumbling plaster...quite a feat that Shakoor and Gene took on and mastered.

The end result was astonishing. The Boy Scouts were amazed at the transformation and called it an "Extreme Makeover of the Room" and they witnessed Sarah's face when she saw it for the first time as she entered the room with her walker. Sarah sat in the new rocking chair donated by my brother, Joe Forkin, and wept while thanking us and praising God. She was so happy she called it a new house...her daughter reminded her it was a new room. Then, Boy Scout Mike asked if Mary would decorate his bedroom when he gets married. Gracie, Sarah's daughter and caregiver, and I were both fascinated with the new tranquility of the room. Everyone left very pleased at the amazing transformation and at the smile on Sarah's face.

Twilight Wish #753 was now completed.

2006-08-14T11:10:00.000-04:00

We are looking for a way to get in direct contact with Christina Aguilera to be a national spokesperson for Twilight Wish Foundation. I read an article about her in a recent issue of Newsweek magazine and found her to be perfect for the role. She stated that the major influence in her life was her grandmother, and she showed a maturity that was well beyond her current age.

Twilight Wish Foundation grants wishes to senior citizens and has been doing this for the past 2 and 1/2 years. We have granted over 700 individual wishes and an additional 800 seniors have been honored through group celebrations that the foundation sponsors.

We are growing at a very fast pace and we are already in 5 states and are starting in three more in the next couple of months, but raising funds to continue is difficult. If we can get Christina to view our web page at www.twilightwish.org, we know that she would want to be a part of this wonderful organization.

Uncle Ray goes out to the ballgame

2004-05-20T23:07:00.000-04:00

Joanne rides the Zamboni

2004-03-21T23:35:00.000-05:00

Peggy finds a friend

2004-02-08T23:09:00.000-05:00

76ers Hometown Hero

2004-02-04T22:40:00.000-05:00

A funny thing happened on the way home

2004-01-17T22:16:00.000-05:00

Laura and I got nearly lost coming home from Margaret's Luncheon. At least, it felt that way. She told me to turn here and there and as we went left on a Street called _________, I told her "that sounds familiar".

She said "actually, there's a piece of TWF history on this road, it was up ahead here where I called you from my cell phone to suggest granting the Tombstone wish."

It wasn't until she started to point out the exact spot that it clicked. She was saying something about "right here" when I looked to my left and saw the Green Acres Nursing Home. The name of the street was familiar because it's the street where Margaret lives. Laura was driving by Margaret's Nursing Home (but remember, we didn't know who she was or have any idea where she lived) in November, and picked up her cell phone to call me EXACTLY in front of the nursing home.

When I told her this she started to scream "No way! Don't to this to me -- I'm agnostic!"

She had never even seen the nursing home, in all the many times she'd driven this road back and forth to her fiancee's apartment.

I smiled quietly and said "I'm not doing it..."

The First Wish

2004-01-17T22:10:00.000-05:00

Where do I begin? I have so much to tell you about today. Margaret is wonderful. She even looks like the photo Chanin chose for the website.

Caroling with Tickle Me Elmo

2003-12-16T23:05:00.000-05:00

and On Line

2003-11-17T22:07:00.000-05:00

The site is up! We have a website. Chanin designed a beautiful layout, Laura wrote pages of content, and Andy made it all happen. This all feels so real.

On The Air

2003-11-11T21:59:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Gina Rubel, We're going to be on Television. Twice a day. For a week!

I taped a 5 minute interview with Jen Boyett for Comcast Newsmakers, to air on Headline News next week. I talked about Margaret's wish being granted. I talked about how the idea started. I blurted out "...it's the Unexpected Thank You".

They posted the web address on screen during the interview, for people to learn more about us.

Gina, Laura and I had lunch afterwards. Then we freaked -- I need a website!!!

So we went to Ampersand Design clutching the videotape. We played it. Andy and Chanin smiled and said "I guess you need a website!"

Happy Veterans' Day

2003-11-10T21:56:00.000-05:00

We got the gravestone. And the cemetery is donating the base that it needs to go on. Now we just need $250 for ____.

Having used money from (father's name), a Vet, to start the ball rolling, this is an incredible way for me to mark one of the first Veterans' Days after his passing.

What about the gravestone?

2003-11-07T21:54:00.000-05:00

Laura Fitton called me from her cell phone today. The woman who wanted the gravestone for her son, that was haunting her. Couldn't we make that happen in time to announce it on Tuesday on TV? Somehow?

I know just who I'm going to call. ________ helped me so much when my father died.

I met Laura Fitton

2003-10-26T21:51:00.000-05:00

I met...

2003-10-22T21:52:00.000-04:00

I met Chanin Walsh

2003-10-15T21:50:00.000-04:00

I met Gina Rubel

2003-10-14T21:49:00.000-04:00

Cat's Out of the Bag

2003-10-13T21:43:00.000-04:00

Well, I said it out loud. In public. In front of motivated people....

I spoke to ___ today

2003-08-01T21:46:00.000-04:00

His office can help expedite the paperwork. Soon it's going to be real.

The Paperwork is in... Now What?

2003-07-01T21:41:00.000-04:00

I filed my 501(c)3 paperwork today, to make this foundation exist. I named it _____

Early Nursing Home Research

2003-06-01T21:44:00.000-04:00

My Father

2002-01-01T21:36:00.000-05:00

My father had a special role to play, though I did not understand it at first...

A Yellow Scrap of Paper

2001-01-01T21:20:00.000-05:00

Okay so you'll know, there's no way I actually blogged this as it happened. But I want you to have it all, right from the beginning.

I was on a cruise ship (and I never take cruises)...