When I was a young girl, about 7 years old, and living in Grand Forks, ND, my sister and I and a few neighbor kids would get on our bikes and roam the neighborhoods for hours. We'd ride down to the highway to the Mr. Steak restaurant, and someone would dare someone to sneak in and steal a Marathon Candy Bar. One of the boys always did it because then he'd be cool. (OK so not one of my shining moments, guess I better never go into politics!!) We'd follow the garbage truck around watching his truck smash the garbage down flat. Sometimes that was the highlight our our day!! But the fondest memory I have was going a few blocks down the road to what we called "The Old Folks Home".
I remember that old brick building with the big white columns out front. All five or six of us would walk in, grungy from playing outside all day and we'd ask if we could sing for the "old people". We'd follow the lady in the white uniform to the lunch room and we'd sing a few songs. Nothing special, songs like the ABC's, London Bridges, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Then we'd stay and visit for awhile.
Tuft Manor 
(I believe this is it!!!)
You see, as young children we didn't think about the fact that these people were stuck at that nursing home. Or that they were lonely or sick. We just thought they chose to live in that old brick building with the white columns out front. And we liked singing and talking to them.
I don't really recall any conversations we had, but I do remember asking a woman why her teeth were in a cup!! I was completely innocent to the fact that she had dentures, I just thought....well... maybe everyones teeth come out!
One afternoon upon returning home, my mom asked what we had done all day and I told her "we rode our bikes and sang for the "old people" down the street. I clearly remember her saying, "Oh....that was nice of you". I don't think she really believed me or that they'd let us in, but one day she came with us and saw for herself. I believe she was proud of us at the moment, all though I would not have known we had done anything special because it was just all part of our days fun!
I remember when we moved to Washington the following year I was worried about who was going to sing for the "old folks" down the street. Sadly, when we got to Washington we never did go sing at a nursing home. Living in the suburbs didn't really give one easy access to a nursing home.
My message to anyone reading this is simple. As an adult I now know that those people were delighted in having 5 or 6 grungy kids come in and sing for them and just talk. Don't let your family or friends who are confined to a nursing home be alone. Visit them and do it often. And maybe you can sing them a song while your at it......it'll put a smile on their face and warm their hearts.
Sandy Noll
Realtor, eAgent
Keller Williams Realty
425-890-0878
sandy@sandynoll.com
www.letsachieveyourgoals.com
Woodinville, Kirkland, Bothell
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