It is great to get the snow and cold weather in our rearview mirror and looking down the road towards an early Spring!
February is Here! Valentine’s Day, Mardi Gras, and the Super Bowl all in one month! Every one of them will be celebrated right here at Kirby Pines. Please be sure to look over the calendar so you don’t miss your favorite activities coming up!
February means “Love is in the air.” Here is my favorite Kirby Pines “LOVES.”
I love working with all of my Staff! They are truly the most dedicated staff I have had the privilege to work with.
Next, I love “LAUGHING” with our Residents! They keep a smile on my face with their stories and comments. I love helping with the Marketing Events. It is exciting to see current Residents showing off their home with such pride to new prospects. And then, to see new prospects turn into new Residents.
I love feeling the “ENERGY” of all the various activities permeate the entire community.
To sum it all up… I LOVE KIRBY PINES!!
Michael J. Brown, Jr. ExecutiveDirector,Kirby Pines
The most important questions in life can never be answered by anyone except oneself.” – John Fowles, The Magus
OUR PILGRIMAGE: A NEW RACE
Author John Fowles
It poured rain the day I left. But I was filled with excitement, a strange exuberant sense of taking wing. I didn’t know where I was going, but I knew what I needed. I needed a new land, a new race, a new language; and although I couldn’t have put it into words then, I needed a new mystery.
From the 1986 film, The Magus, starring Anthony Quinn, Michael Caine and Candice Bergen
These are the words of a young man named Nicholas in The Magus, a novel by John Fowles. Nicholas is starting out on what is to be a totally new life, and this is the expression of his feeling.
His words have become a kind of theme song for my spiritual pilgrimage. It burrowed its way into my soul not long ago when I had to make a vocational decision.
It happens. As Christians, we are not permanent residents. We are pilgrims. Paul made that clear to the Galations. They were arguing about doctrine and Christian practice. Paul spared no word: “Circumcision is nothing; uncircumcision is nothing; the only thing that counts is a new creation” (Ga.6:15 NEB).
Let’s claim it and live it more intentionally this new year.
Describe your family: Very close knit – loving and sports minded.
Describe yourself in five words: Caring, sincere and humorous at times.
What do you do for fun: Shopping, gardening in the summer & baking. Pets: 2 dogs, Max & Teddy.
Do you have any hobbies: I collect cookie jars, really enjoy baking & love the Pittsburgh Steelers!
What is your favorite thing about your job: Helping in different areas of the community & learning.
What is Your favorite food: love Italian.
What is your favorite song: Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd.
What is something you are proud of: My sons and step-children. All are college grads & doing well!
What would you like people to know about you:I enjoy being busy and helping others.
Aside from being the most dedicated and efficient Executive Assistant I have ever worked with, she has…Dedicated a huge amount of personal time and energy to updating and supplying the Gift Shop. Volunteers her personal time to volunteer for all special events. Acts as MOD. Her decision making skills are commensurate with a Director. She provides support to All Departments. She engages with Residents and families well. She has been able to defuse conflict between Residents. And she’s a great caring person!
While your life might look different now than it did when you were younger, it’s never too late to set goals and improve yourself. These new year’s resolutions for seniors will prove that you don’t ever have to settle for things the way they are. You still have the power to improve your life, your future, and yourself, no matter what stage of life you’re in.
1. Eat more nutritious foods. Your health matters now more than ever. Adding more nutrient-dense foods to your diet can help you feel better and have better energy.
2. Move joyfully. Find a method of movement or exercise you truly enjoy, and incorporate it into your daily habits. Physical activity is especially important for older people as it supports heart health, strengthens joints, and reduces the risk of injury from falls.
3. Learn something new. What have you always wanted to do, but never had the time for? A language, sport, or hobby? Learn it now! Set a goal to keep learning this year.
4. Make new friends, or spend more time with old ones. Feeling lonely and isolated actually has serious health concerns. Loneliness increases the risk of heart attack and stroke as much as smoking! So set a goal either to make new friends, or keep in regular contact with old ones.
5. Organize your life. If you need to create a will, organize your finances, clean out your closet, or coordinate your medical records, this is the year to do it! What can you organize this year that will make your life easier in the future?
6. Sleep better. Stop settling for low-quality sleep! Find solutions to sleep problems you might have, create a better nighttime routine, or talk to your doctor about insomnia or other concerns you might have about your sleep.
7. Stay creative. Find creative outlets for your mind this year. You can try a new form of art, like watercolor painting or sculpting, or take up an old hobby you haven’t visited in a while. Creativity is important for brain function, so prioritize being creative.
8. Preserve your life story. Your grandchildren and great-grandchildren want to know about your life, all of it, including the parts before they were born. Memorialize your life story in some way for your descendants to read or watch. You could scrapbook, compile photo albums, write a memoir, or record videos of yourself talking about your life.
9. Learn new technology. It can seem pointless or impossible to keep up with technology these days, but failing to do so means you’re missing out on ways to connect with the people who matter most to you. Try to learn and keep up with today’s tech, so you can continue to experience everything good the world has to offer.
10. Be more authentic. We sometimes spend most of our lives not having the hard conversations and not saying how we really feel about things. Now is the time to be truly honest with all those around you. Be your most authentic self. What do you have to lose?
Kirby Pines offers many options to help acheive your New Year’s goals. Whether it’s a new exercise class, dancing, playing cards, wood-working, cornhole, billiards, art class, volunteering, etc. or joining a club; book baggers, garden gro’ers, writer’s group, photo club and more, there are ways to meet new people, learn new things and enrich your life in 2025 – HAPPY NEW YEAR!
She was taken to Hollywood when she was five years old to audition for the movies. When told that “Shirley Temples were a dime a dozen,” she returned home but never lost her love of drama. Wherever she has lived, Jan Thomson has found ways to be involved in creative works.
Following her move to Kirby Pines in 2015, Jan became involved in creating “off-Broadway” productions for the entertainment of others. Originally, she and several friends took “shows” to the medical areas of Kirby Pines. Eventually, she combined her creative ideas with the music of the Entertainers Chorus. Together, they are known as “Theatre in the Pines.” Jan has written and produced three versions of Broadway shows as well as three large Christmas programs. Her scripts sometimes involve as many as 20-30 actors along with the chorus.
Marjorie Ann (Jan) Neely was born in a hospital in El Paso, Texas, in 1931. Her grandfather objected to her name, and it became Marjan and eventually Jan. Her family lived on a remote homestead ranch, along with other relatives, 87 miles from El Paso. According to Jan, Texas was still “wild and wooly” at that time, but life was good despite the depression the country was experiencing. “All of our supplies had to be transported over the 87 miles on a largely dirt road,” recalls Jan. “We had no electricity until 1945, and eventually one house acquired a telephone. But as children, we would grow up free and unsupervised.” School life was difficult after completion of the eighth grade in a one room school house. The nearest high school was in El Paso. One of the mothers on the ranch would rent an apartment in El Paso for Jan and her cousins to live in for them to attend school during the week. They would return to the ranch for week-ends and holidays.
During the war years, Jan’s father was in Navy intelligence, and the family moved often, requiring a frequent change of schools. When the war was over, the family was living in a small town in Georgia. Due to a re-alignment in that school from 11 to 12 grades, and having just moved there, Jan became the only 12th grade student. That was a lucky break as she was declared valedictorian and was awarded a scholarship to college!
Jan entered Bessie Tift College for women in Forsyth, Georgia, majoring in English as well as Speech and Drama. Midway during her junior year, she transferred to the University of Tennessee (UT) in Knoxville. On a Christmas break in 1951, Jan returned to El Paso to visit relatives. She was excited to be wearing an engagement ring she had just acquired from “Mr. Georgia.” A former high school friend intervened and introduced Jan to “Mr. Right.” According to Jan, “After four days, I was ‘sunk’ and decided to return the ring.” After returning to Knoxville, she and her new love, Dudley Thomson, had a long distance romance with only a few weekends together before their wedding. They were married in 1952 as soon as Jan graduated from UT.
The newly married couple’s first move was to New York for Dudley’s job on Wall Street. During their 47 years of marriage, they lived in 14 different cities due to Dudley’s auditing business. Jan and Dudley became parents to four children, Teri, Tim, Tobin, and Traci, all of whom have had successful lives and careers. The “Terrific T’s” have also blessed Jan with 12 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. Sadly, following a long illness, Dudley passed away in 1999.
While living in Nashville, Tennessee, and with all the children in school, Jan decided to re-enter college for a master’s degree in Library Science at George Peabody College, a part of Vanderbilt University. Finally, the last move was to Memphis in 1962. Jan became employed by the Memphis School System, teaching classes for 28 years; retiring in 1999. Since moving to Memphis, Jan has been a member of the Presbyterian Church. Currently, she is a member of Germantown Presbyterian.
Jan at age 4
Throughout all her moves, Jan has found a way to be involved in theater groups and organizing speech and drama with children and adults. In Memphis, she discovered church drama and has worked in that capacity for several years.
Following retirement and the death of Dudley, Jan began to think of finding a place to live before her children were required to care for her. “My friend Mary Blanch Scott lived at Kirby Pines,” recalls Jan. “I visited and found a wonderful library, theater for movies, hand work, bridge, entertainment, wonderful people and staff. I saw here a way to combine all the things I love.” Jan and her church friends who live at Kirby have a strong bond and are affectionally known as “the Presbyterian Ladies.”
The need to create seems to be embedded in the DNA of people, seemingly stronger in some more than others. When a creative surge is directed toward activities that will please or entertain others, it comes from the heart rather than a selfish endeavor. Such would describe Jan Thomson’s talent and creativity.
Mindfulness is the capacity to perceive our world clearly, without adulteration or manipulation.
Mindfulness: an active awareness of the present moment, acknowledging feeling, thoughts, and body sensations. Mindful activities can improve brain health, reduce anxiety, and improve overall wellbeing. Mindfulness has 3 elements intention, attention, and attitude.
Mindful Walking
Use all your senses to provide you information when walking. When we are able to slow our movements and become more aware of our environment we can reduce the likelihood of falls and injury.
What are you seeing as you walk. This could be uneven surface, bumps, thresholds, various items that have fallen or been dropped on the ground. Being aware of your surroundings can prevent slips, trips, and falls.
What do you hear when walking. Other people, machine equipment, animals, cars, etc. Often time sudden movements in our pathway may startle us and cause us to lose our balance, being aware of various sounds can help you prepare for incoming movements needed to stay safe.
What do you smell when you are walking. Is something burning, are fresh cookies being made, can you smell a rainstorm starting. Using our sense of smell can alert us to dangers when walking or lead us to a place where activities are being done at.
What do you feel when walking. Does your balance feel like its not the same, do you feel lightheaded or dizzy when you are walking, when you step can you feel your foot making contact with the ground. What you feel when walking, moving or changing position is called proprioception. This occurs when are sensory and motor neurons in the muscle, joints, and tendons are activated and provide as information on our movement. If our sensory system does not match the motor demands, we are at higher risk for falls.
Role of Therapy
Vision – occupational therapists can provide environmental modifications to help with low vision and reduce falls and help to retrain your eye movements to enhance your visual scanning abilities.
Proprioception – physical and occupational therapists can provide retraining of your sensory and motor systems to enhance your ability to stabilize and move within your environment.
Stretching helps ease joint pain and muscle aches and also improves mobility, flexibility, coordination, and circulation. On top of the physical benefits, it also reduces stress and boosts mood. Chair exercises like stretching are perfect for seniors because they can be adapted for physical limitations, minimize the risk of injury due to falls, and still give health benefits. The only equipment needed is a sturdy, non-slip chair. Chair Yoga, Strength Training and Yoga Stretch are classes led by Kim Roberts and use a variety of stretches to help with flexibility.
Gaining flexibility takes time. Go slowly, and listen to your body. One stretch doesn’t fit everyone, but there are many variations. For example, if you can’t sit on the floor to stretch your thighs, try a standing thigh exercise. As you improve flexibility, you’ll be able to reach farther with the same stretch—or try different stretches for the same muscle. u are safeguarding your health and well-being. Happy Holidays!
Other tips to keep in mind:
Warm up by walking in place for five minutes. This will prepare your heart, muscles, and joints for activity.
Never force a stretch. Don’t bounce or jerk to get deeper into a stretch. Smooth, gentle movements are safer.
Don’t lock your joints. Your arms and legs can be straight while stretching, but they shouldn’t be stiff. If it’s more comfortable, bend your elbows and knees slightly.
Keep breathing. Like your movements, your breath should be slow and steady. Hold your stretch for 30-45 seconds.
Aim to stretch every day. Try it for 10 to 15 minutes a day, at least three days a week. Stretch each muscle group three to five times each session.
Ultimately, flexibility is about enjoying your life. By increasing your range of motion, you’ll be less prone to injury while exercising, traveling, or playing with your grandkids. You’ll feel less stiff and more comfortable going about everyday activities like walking, lifting, bending, and even driving. You’ll improve your posture, circulation, and balance while relieving pain and stress.
It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” — Confucius
We have concluded the year 2024 and I pray your holiday season was very special. I want to highlight a few Kirby Traditions from 2024 which will show the strong future for 2025.
Our Annual Coat Drive for 2024 showed, again, how generous everyone at Kirby Pines is. In 2023, we collected a total of 373 garments against a goal of 200! In 2024, we collected 374 garments!
On Monday, December 16th, our residents celebrated their annual Employee Holiday Appreciation Event. This event is solely dedicated to our wage earners who make $24.00 or less. In 2024, our residents graciously raised over $45,000.00. This was the most raised in over 7 years. This amount was also accomplished with a lower census. This clearly demonstrates “resident satisfaction.”
On Friday, December 20, 2024, we celebrated our annual Employee Longevity Awards Event. We celebrated 2 years (2022 & 2023.) We celebrated 38 recipients whose tenure ranged from 3 years to 40 years of service. We celebrate those who achieve 3 years of service then increments of 5 years. In 2024, we celebrated every increment from 5 – 25 years plus one individual who has over 40 years of service. To these very special individuals, we awarded a total of $40,389.82 in gifts.
So, with these snapshots in our 2024 album, you can assume these things:
1) We demonstrate our faith-based mission drive tenets as illustrated by our coat drive. 2) There is a strong degree of customer satisfaction. Our residents would not have given with such passion if they were not satisfied. 3) We have a truly dedicated, professional core staff. This allows us to continue to deliver at a consistent level, which helps set us apart from the competition.
Now, ask me what my New year’s Resolution is for Kirby Pines??????
To have a bigger, better, more successful and more joyful year for all of Kirby Pines!
Michael J. Brown, Jr. ExecutiveDirector,Kirby Pines
This Sunday, December 1, is the first Sunday of Advent, a four week season the Christian community has set aside, climaxing with Christmas Day. Christ Followers are called to reflect and pray, centering our attention on the coming of Christ. I can’t think of any question that will serve our reflections more richly than Jesus…what’s in a name?
What a story, “That which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for He will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20—23 RSV)
No reservation about his name. It had been declared by the prophet, Isaiah, centuries before. The angel had announced it to Mary at the time of her Annunciation: “You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High…and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:31-32, 33 RSV) So, the question, what’s in a name?
Get the story clearly in mind. Who is this Christmas person? Why did he come? Have I claimed what he offers me?
William B. Fitzgerald summarized Wesley’s theology of salvation with this fourfold dictum: All people need to be saved from sin, all people can be saved from sin, all people can know they are saved from sin, and all people can be saved to the uttermost. (The Roots of Methodism, London: Epworth, 1903, p. 191-217)
We are in the midst of the Advent season. It’s Christmas time. Let’s stay with the story…at least reflect seriously a bit.
A central figure is Joseph. He is perplexed, deeply perplexed. The woman to whom he is engaged is pregnant and he knows the baby is not his. He is wrestling with what to do. Will he expose her, making her a public example? He can’t do that; he loves her too much. He takes the only course acceptable to his conscience. He decides to divorce her quietly, privately, hoping to cause as little a ripple in the community as possible.
That decision, though it came out of the love and justice of his heart, didn’t set well. He continued to wrestle with it. In the deep midnight watches and wakefulness of his wrenching heart, an angel appeared with the astounding news:
“Do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for He will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20—23 RSV)
Jesus will be his name. It had been declared by the prophet, Isaiah, centuries before. The angel had announced it to Mary at the time of her Annunciation: “You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High…and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:31-32, 33 RSV) So, the question, what’s in a name?
“You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” That’s it and that is Good News…good news only when we are willing to admit the bad news about ourselves. The bad news is that we are sinners.
So let’s be very specific, name our common bondage and claim our deliverance.
Do you feel burdened down by guilt? Have you started to realize that the guilt may be from unconfessed sins?
Do you feel pain in your heart because there is a severed relationship that needs reconciliation?
Do you feel helpless because you are held in the tenacious grip of a debilitating habit? Alcohol? Drugs? Gambling?
Is your energy being drained because you live too close to the line of moral compromise —cheating in business? Preoccupied with lusts?
Does your pride often put you in the position of thinking more highly of yourself than you ought to think, of looking down your nose at others?
We could go on and on, but you’ll have to do that personally.
Painful though the process of confession and repentance may be, the joy that comes as a result is “unspeakable and full of glory.” For the one whose birthday we are celebrating these days is JESUS. He will save us from our sins.
We are thrilled to announce that the December Champions of the Month are the Security Department!
Under the exceptional leadership and guidance of our three Kirby superheroes, Carl Walker, Lonnie Scott, and Dondrianna Dixon, the Security Department continues to thrive and unite, ensuring the safety and security of our residents and employees.
We are incredibly grateful for our wonderful security team, who consistently take the initiative to look after us all while delivering outstanding customer service to everyone on campus.
Kirby Pines, a sister community of The Farms at Bailey Station, is part of the family of LifeCare Communities of Retirement Companies of America. For more information, visit retirementcompanies.com
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