Waiting for the Band

I’ve been here for fourteen months now and am finally starting to feel that this is really my home. Today, I sat with a group of residents awaiting entertainment by the “clatter” band, a group of residents who make music playing kitchen utensils. Sound weird? Perhaps. But they actually produce good sounds and the audience is encouraged to sing along. The band leader is an energetic nearly ninety year old woman with the spirit of a teenager. Lorraine (not her real name lest I encourage a law suit in this day of legal action at the drop of a bobby pin) is always attractively attired, has a genuine smile on her sweet face and knows how to coax some lively tunes out of her musicians.

While waiting for the band to warm up I got caught up in a conversation with another resident who wanted to know where I lived before moving here, where I originally come from and why I don’t come down often as I had mentioned the fact that I don’t. Wondering how to tell her without sounding full of myself or just plain making an excuse, I reluctantly explained that I am a writer still involved in producing the written word.

Seated there after lunch, I was privy to a gossip session between two female residents and learned more than I need to know about a couple of others. Being a master at eavesdropping, I got an earful.

I could write a book!