Congratulations to Our Employee of the Month: Donald Grear

Donald Grear

Transportation Driver

Describe your family: Wife Sheri, kids Ben & Betsy, grandchildren Sophie, Huxley, Harrison & Miles.  

Describe yourself in five words: Loving, funny, inquisitive, passionate, dependable.

What do you do for fun: Follow my grandchildren, listen to music, watch documentaries, workout. 

Do you have any hobbies or interests: Researching my genealogy and writing.

What is your favorite food: Tacos.  Favorite song: Rhapsody In Blue by George Gershwin. 

What is your favorite thing about your job: Talking to the residents. I never knew my grandparents, so they are the next best thing. 

What is something you are proud of:  Helping raise exceptional children who are loving, helpful and good friends to their friends. 

What would you like people to know about you:  During my 35 years producing television programs and custom videos, I have traveled to every state except North Dakota and Alaska.

Donald has been taking on the added duties and responsibilities of Transportation Supervisor since the position has been vacant. He is very friendly and always has a good attitude. Don has been making the schedules, assisting with the delivery of packages to residents and taking care of the transportation needs for residents and employees. We are proud to have him. 

– Michael Escamilla, Executive Director


Spring Is Finally Here at Kirby Pines

Spring is finally here! At least it will be here officially on March 20, 2022. It will be a true joy to have warmer weather, a nice breeze on a bright sunny day, and to see the budding of trees on our beautiful Kirby Pines campus. In fact, the beauty of our campus will make the additional six weeks of winter Punxsutawney Phil predicted seem worth it. The sight of daffodils, irises, and azaleas in bloom will be a treat for all of us to enjoy. In fact, one of the first nice warm days of spring will be the perfect time to take a stroll outside along the many walkways as new blades of green grass come up.

Speaking of green and purple, the first day of March is Fat Tuesday, so get ready for a fun filled day. Followed by another fun filled day on the 17th as we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with good Irish food in the dining room, and the “wearing of the green” by residents and staff.

Maybe one of us will even be lucky enough to find the elusive “pot of gold”, that one of the little people has hidden at the end of the rainbow after one of the spring rainfalls.

Spring is also a good time to clear out your closets of stuff no longer used or needed, and to give those items to a local charity. Kirby has been collecting unwanted eye glasses for several years now, and these always go to use as they are repurposed and given to individuals in need. If you have any eye glasses you want to donate, there is a donation box for them in the mail room.

When doing your spring-cleaning, don’t forget to check your storage bins for those items packed away and forgotten. After all, Easter will be here the third week in April and you will need that extra space in your closet for your entry into our annual Easter Hat Contest.

Spring is definitely here! So get your green clothes out of the closet and get ready for a joyful month of springtime festivities at Kirby Pines.

Michael Escamilla,
Executive Director,
Kirby Pines


Happy Christmas to all at Kirby Pines

“Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a Mouse…”

The sentence above is familiar to us as the opening of one of America’s most beloved Christmas stories, “A Visit from St. Nicholas” attributed to Clement C. Moore. It is the tale of what happened to one family on Christmas Eve that has been embraced by individuals around the world. In fact, for many, the story is told and retold throughout the Christmas season. The story paints a vivid picture of peace and happiness within a household that is pleasantly disrupted by a visit from jolly old St. Nicholas. So well written is this poem, that we can visualize the snow outside, the gifts under the tree, and most importantly the ending blessing. 

Much like the household in this Christmas story, Kirby Pines is filled with warmth and love for one another. Employees, much like Santa’s elves, go about their duties quietly so that you can enjoy their gifts of housekeeping, transportation, nursing, yard work, building maintenance and food. Residents snuggle into their beds with the comfort of knowing their safety and well-being are first in the minds and hearts of our employees. 

Although the story of “A Visit from St. Nicholas” is a holiday tradition, let us not forget this holiday celebrates the birth of Christ. His life and teachings are the basis for the values incorporated into our mission statement.

To all of you I wish a blessed holiday season, and remind you “… I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night”

Michael Escamilla,
Executive Director,
Kirby Pines


We Are Memphis Most at Kirby Pines

The weather has finally cooled down and the foliage around us is starting to change to brilliant colors of yellow, gold and crimson, reminding us that just a six weeks ago we were celebrating Kirby’s 38th anniversary. Now, in just a few days, we will again be celebrating as we welcome the community to gather and see just why we have been selected for the 15th consecutive year as the Best Retirement Community in the Memphis market. So make your plans now to invite friends and join in the celebration on Thursday, November 4th from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Being selected as the “best” did not occur without the votes and hard work of many people. So in this season of Thanksgiving, it is only right to thank our residents, family members, friends and employees who took the time to vote during the Commercial Appeal’s annual Memphis Most contest. Along this vein, we need to stop and thank residents and family member and friends who have been volunteering in various areas of the community as Kirby and the nation slowly walks out of the current pandemic. Additionally, we must thank our workers for the many extra hours they have put in to make everyday life at Kirby Pines continue as smoothly as possible. 

This Thanksgiving, be mindful of the challenges we have all faced during these past months; of our personal family traditions in celebrating the holiday; and of the many individuals who are no longer with us to sit, laugh and dine along side with us on this truly American holiday. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Michael Escamilla,
Executive Director,
Kirby Pines


So Much To Do This Fall at Kirby Pines

After celebrating our anniversary in grand style last month, we are anxiously awaiting to hear if we were selected for our 15th consecutive year as the winner of the Memphis Most Award for the Best Retirement Community by readers of the Commercial Appeal. Until then, let’s get ready for the annual Fall Festival Hot Air Balloon rides here on our beautiful manicured sixty acres. This spectacular event is just one reason why Kirby Pines has been selected as the best retirement community year after year. 

We will start the month off with several photo shoots to capture each resident for an updated pictorial directory. Make your appointments early for your October 4th, 5th or 6th portrait sitting. Another fun event scheduled for October is the return of the Resident Rummage Sale. Tables are available for this fun event in the PAC by notifying Allison or Liz in the Life Enhancement office. 

Then shortly after the middle of the month, an announcement and tour of the newly renovated Laurel Lane building will be held. I think you will all be pleased with the new colors, finishes and appliances selected for this latest renovated edition to our campus.

If great food is more to your liking, be certain to sign up early for this month’s Night of Exquisite Cuisine. Always a popular feast, residents and guests fill the Iris and Tradition dining rooms to full capacity as they enjoy a spectacular meal prepared by Mark Simpson and his team of chefs.

October 28th is National Make a Difference Day, and we all have the ability to do something small that makes a difference in someone else’s life. You can volunteer here at Kirby Pines to assist someone in one of the four healthcare areas; or in the Blossom Shop; Library; by assisting the Marketing Team welcoming new residents; or simply by thanking the staff who help make Kirby Pines the Best Retirement Community in our tristate area!

Michael Escamilla,
Executive Director,
Kirby Pines


Celebrating Our 38th Anniversary at Kirby Pines

This September, Kirby Pines Estates celebrates its thirty-eighth anniversary. And as with any anniversary, a lot of planning will go into making this anniversary one that will be enjoyable and memorable. Each year, a theme and color is selected and this year the color is Crimson and the theme is Courage. 

Crimson has long been associated with courage, divinity, power, strength and importance. In Elizabethan era England, crimson clothing signified an individual’s status and was only allowed to be worn by royalty, noble persons and members of the Council. The Biblical meaning of crimson is strongly associated with humility and atonement. Kirby Pines certainly is respected in its market place as a strong leader in senior living, and is recognized for the importance it places in providing a great place to live and a great place to work. 

Strong, vivid and powerful are words used to describe crimson which is one reason the color is associated with courage. This past year all of us have had to be courageous. As residents you had difficult decisions to make and as employees we have faced all that the year has put before us. The strength that Kirby brings with its thirty-eight years of tradition, has given all of us the courage to do what is necessary each and every day. 

This year is turning out to be one of our country’s most difficult years, and yet it has been with courage that the country has moved forward with a commitment for change, in resolution to find new ways to do the daily tasks necessary to survive and come out stronger once this pandemic is tamed. 

Thus, our thirty-eighth anniversary will celebrate the hard work that has brought Kirby Pines to where we are today, and where we will together, move forward to in the years ahead. 

Michael Escamilla,
Executive Director,
Kirby Pines


Always Something to Celebrate at Kirby Pines

The thirty-eighth anniversary of Kirby Pines is just a month away. Whether you have been a resident for five years or just five days, you are enjoying first hand the numerous improvements and upgrades to the community over the past years. These improvements and our consistency in delivering services to you, has resulted in Kirby Pines being voted the Best Retirement Community by the Memphis Commercial Appeal for 14 consecutive years. These are just a few reasons why we have earned this citywide recognition.

The Performing Arts Center is now nineteen years old and has hosted artists from our own Kirby Pines Ham-ateurs, to the acapella group from Yale University and the New Orleans Jazz Ensemble. The Bistro was opened just five years ago to offer residents and guests another dining venue, and is now being copied by other local retirement communities; and our in-house movie theater continues to be a very popular spot to meet for some of the latest movie releases. Equally popular is the Four Seasons Garden with numerous sitting areas and the newly rebuilt lake sitting area complete with shelter from the hot August sun. Of course, our grand lobby continues to be busy place for residents to gather near the fireplace, around the concert Steinway piano, in the bright and cheery sunroom, or at cozy niches by the grand staircase. 

Regardless of how long you have been a resident, or have been contemplating a move to Kirby Pines, our thirty-eighth anniversary is possible because of the trust you and so many in the Memphis community have in us. On behalf of all employees, thank you for your cooperative spirits throughout the years, and may I suggest you make some time to relax in August, as our thirty-eighth celebrations are just a month away.

Michael Escamilla,
Executive Director,
Kirby Pines


Summer is Here at Kirby Pines

Summer is officially here! Although it sneaked in towards the end of June, the unofficial hotter, dryer weather arrived sometime during spring. Luckily for us all, our large trees and park like acreage, provides us with plenty of areas where we can step outside to stroll under the shade of numerous majestic trees. We can also enjoy fishing with friends and grandchildren along the banks of our very own lake, or enjoy a family picnic in the gazebo cooled by ceiling fans, now that outside restrictions for Covid have been removed.

For those who prefer to stay indoors, the July calendar is filled with events to meet a variety of interests. This year Kirby Pines is proud to hold, its’ Annual Fourth of July Parade on Thursday, July 1st. Our culinary department is planning a special treat for everyone on July 4th, along with a traditional brunch feast, and welcomes all families to come and celebrate Independence Day with us. Please make your reservations early, and remember that updated policies require that all members in your party be present before being seated in the dining room.

Throughout the month, the Life Enhancement department has planned on-site entertainers, a weekly farmer’s market, movies, and games. In fact, with so much going on at Kirby Pines, the slightly warmer summer days will breeze by almost unnoticed.

July will be filled with truly important national and community events, Independence Day being among the most noteworthy. This July, when we gather to celebrate the birth of our nation, we will also be ending many of the national healthcare protocols that limited gathering with family and friends, as we welcome back a true feeling of independence. This July, please join with me in thanking all employees and workers as we bask in the warmth of their service and their genuine concern. Yes, summer is officially here.

Michael Escamilla,
Executive Director,
Kirby Pines


It’s Father’s Day at Kirby Pines

Happy Father’s Day! This month we get to celebrate being a father and having a father. Although the day is not as well celebrated as Mother’s Day, it is just as important. Unlike Mother’s Day, legislated by Congress in 1914, Father’s Day wasn’t presidentially proclaimed until 1966 as the third Sunday in June, and then not assured of the day until 1972. Sorry guys, you’re just going to have to settle for a special meal on Sunday. Call Tami to make your reservation now.

I recently read that there are five things that will make you a happier person. Scientists after years of study, now suggest that people actually can take charge of their own happiness and boost it through certain practices. So, I have decided to share with you the five things research has shown can improve happiness.

Be grateful – the study showed that when people take time to write thank you notes or letters of gratitude to people who had helped them in some way, that the note and letter writers reported feeling better afterwards (even if they didn’t send the note).

Be optimistic – people in the study who spent time just thinking about an ideal situation, reported increased feelings of well-being. 

Count your blessings – people who write down three good things that have happened to them show a significant boost in happiness. It seems that this simple act forces people to focus on remembered reasons to be glad.

Use your strengths – one study asked people to identify their greatest strengths and then try to use that strength. For example, someone with a good sense of humor could try telling jokes to cheer up friends.

Commit act of kindness – It turns out, helping others is one of the best ways we help ourselves feel better. Maybe it’s time you asked Cheryl Grimes what you can volunteer for at Kirby Pines. 

This Father’s Day I’m grateful for the work ethic my father taught me; optimistic that each day can always be better; happy that I can count more than three blessings; believe that one of my strengths is writing these short letters each month; and know that each day when I come to work at Kirby Pines at least one resident is going to help me with a simple act kindness – a smile. Happy Father’s Day!

Michael Escamilla,
Executive Director,
Kirby Pines


Honoring Mother’s Day at Kirby Pines

Do you ever wonder why we do some of the things we do? Do we do them out of habit, honor, proclamation, or simply because someone said we need to do it? Well, observing Mother’s Day is a combination of all of the above.

Mother’s Day was first observed in 1907 at the request of Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia, PA, who asked her church to hold a service in memory of all mothers on the anniversary of her own mother’s death. Two years later in 1909, Anna and some friends began a letter-writing campaign to create a Mother’s Day Observance. Their campaign was successful and in 1914, Congress passed legislation designating the Second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. Some say the predecessor of Mother’s Day was the ancient spring festival dedicated to the Greek goddess Rhea and Roman goddess Cybele, known as the “Mothers of the Gods”. No matter when this day was first observed, Mother’s Day is a tradition everyone can celebrate at Kirby Pines.

So, make plans now to attend our Mother’s Day Cookout on the Saturday before Mother’s Day, May 8th The cookout is year will be smaller than in past years, yet a very enjoyable way to softly welcome the less restrictive measures now in effect. We will be serving grilled hot dogs, hamburgers and BBQ chicken, along with beans, potato salad and slaw. Cold watermelon, water and soft drinks. There will be activities for children and plenty of space for family members, as we use more of the grove area for spaced out tables and add a second tent for covered seating. More important though, it is a day filled with smiles, laughter, love for one another, and, above all, a day to honor our mothers.

Michael Escamilla,
Executive Director,
Kirby Pines