Michael Escamilla, Executive Director

July is traditionally the month when we begin to think about summer and celebrating America’s independence with family and good friends. This July will be no exception for residents at Kirby Pines Estates.

As part of National Hot Dog Month, the Bistro will be featuring a Hot Dog of the week. What better way to celebrate the opening month of summer than with a meal that is so closely tied to family outings, and the gatherings of friends. In addition, it is an excellent way to entertain a grandchild or a great-grandchild visiting for the day.

If the start of summer weather has you feeling like staying indoors, then why not take a moment to check out a book from the library or better yet, volunteer at Kirby Pines. Living at a life-care retirement community such as Kirby Pines, offers so much more than simply living in comfort. Living here provides you with more time to spend doing the things you enjoy, such as volunteering.

Volunteering brings benefits to both the community at large and the residents who volunteer. It makes important contributions, economically as well as socially. It also contributes to making a more cohesive community by building trust and reciprocity among the residents. Call Cheryl Moore in Life Enhancement to find the perfect place for you to volunteer.

Michael Escamilla,
Executive Director, Kirby Pines

Just as in May, this month we take time to honor another person who greatly influenced who we are today, our dads. Unlike Mother’s Day, which was legislated by Congress in 1914, Father’s Day was not assured an official day until 1972. Regardless of why it took longer to formally recognize a day to honor our fathers in the United States, we at Kirby Pines want to make sure these fine gentlemen are honored on their special day.

In 1972 father’s alone planned for their family’s future needs, but in the last forty years, more and more children have found themselves involved with these plans. As a result, the children of aging parents have often not had a discussion about living wills, advanced care directives, the selection of a general power of attorney, health care power of attorney, financial power of attorney or their parent’s financial footing.

Some parents have in fact taken the initiative to include their children in their planning, but many have not. It’s not uncommon for a child to ask us if we have a copy of a will, or life insurance policy, or information about what bank their parents use. Of course, we can only share this information if given the written authorization to do so. So this Father’s Day, consider reviewing those plans you made years ago with your children. Who knows, the plan you developed over the years, my influence their plans for the future.
Happy Father’s Day!

Spring is the perfect time to start thinking about exercise and outdoor activities, and living at Kirby Pines provides you with many opportunities to enjoy both. If walking outdoors is a favorite past time of yours, you’ll enjoy a comfortable stroll around the lake or into our very own nature preserve. In fact, at this time of the year, while walking along the path you will see daffodils, redbud and dogwood trees blooming. Kirby’s sixty acres make for a very scenic walk that other retirement communities cannot boast about.

If you prefer walking indoors, you can do so in place on one of the treadmills in the Oasis or in the shallow end of the indoor pool. Of course, there are always the stairwells and hallways to walk too. Mary Hand is available to assist you set up an individual training program using the equipment in the Oasis as well.

If being adventuresome is more to your liking, then join the Travel Club and head towards their latest spot for some enjoyment.

The Pinecone provides you a list of their adventures, as well the Lunch Bunch’s next restaurant to enjoy a meal.

Later in the month Kirby will be honoring those residents who volunteer each year with a special luncheon. If you haven’t yet turned in your volunteer hours to Cheryl, be sure to do so before this exciting program and recognition luncheon.

As we slowly move into spring, now is an excellent time to start thinking about little things you can do to improve your overall health. While the Oasis easily comes to mind as the place to go to improve your health, there are other ways as well. Below are a few tips for you to consider.

Stay socially involved – research shows that people who have an active social life are less likely to experience a decline in the ability to reason and remember. So look at the activities listed each month in the Pinecone and make a commitment to get involved.

Eat chocolate – an ounce a day is now determined to be as good as or better, than an apple a day. Dark chocolate is rich in flavonoids which help the body’s cells resist damage. In addition to their antioxidant properties, flavonoids also help lower blood pressure, improve blood flow to the brain and raise good (HDL) cholesterol levels. Eating chocolate at Kirby is easy. All you need to do is stop by the Blossom Shop for a chocolate bar, or ask for chocolate ice cream in the dining room.

If you’re a coffee drinker, like I am, scientists have good news for us. Drinking coffee seems to lower the risk of heart disease and dying from chronic illnesses such as diabetes or pneumonia. Other research concludes that caffeinated coffee may protect against skin cancers, Parkinson’s and even delay the onset of Alzheimer’s. So if coffee doesn’t keep you awake at night, enjoy a cup from the Bistro with fellow residents.

Living a long and healthy life has a lot to do with living an enjoyable life and research has determined that music helps to make everyday living more enjoyable. Listening to your favorite music may be good for your heart, as emotions aroused by joyful music cause tissue in the inner lining of blood vessels to expand, increasing blood flow. Music also brings on sound sleep, boosts mood and reduces anxiety. So take a close look at this months’ calendar and make plans now to improve your health.

In February, we can celebrate by welcoming in the Chinese Lunar New Year 4716 – the Year of the Pig. Unlike western calendars, the Chinese calendar has names that are repeated every 60 years. 2019 is the year of the Golden Earth Pig. It is a year to make peace and enjoy life. A year for harmony and fellowship when kind actions are rewarded. As a Gold year, money is spent on luxuries such as sumptuous meals and fine clothing – so beware of ignoring the bills that accumulate during the Pig year.

A Pig is characterized as being optimistic and sensitive. It is said that a Pig person has a heart of gold and is naturally a kind, generous and gentle soul. Pigs are honest and peaceful in nature. They dislike arguments and conflicts; are fun-loving, and don’t hide their emotions. Because of their capacity for giving and forgiving, Pig people make the greatest of friends.

Some of the more famous people born under the Pig are Thomas Jefferson and Ronald Reagan, Duke Ellington and Elton John, Ernest Hemingway, and Magic Johnson. If you were born in: 1924 you are a Grey Water Pig; if you were born in 1936 you are a Blue Wood Pig; born in 1948 you are a Purple Fire Pig and if you were born in 1960 you are a Gold Earth Pig.

In February we also celebrate Valentine’s Day. If you have not bought your Valentine cards, you still have time to do so in the Blossom Shop. Valentine’s Day is a time to celebrate your one true love and the love you have for friends and family. Also, it is one of the few days when you can eat all the chocolate candy you want, and no one will say anything about it! So with these two celebrations happening in the same month, you may want to check the Kirby Facebook Page for the unexpected concert, trip or social dining event you can participate in. Wishing you happiness, prosperity, and a Happy Valentine’s Day. “Gung Hay Fat Choy”!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I know you have heard these familiar words before, so perhaps a better way to begin the year 2019 is to take a moment to thank you for another wonderful year at Kirby Pines. It doesn’t seem possible that I will begin my 17th year of service to you and Kirby Pines this January.

The year 2018 was a great year for Kirby Pines. We ended the year by completing the new Kirby Boulevard and installing test LED lighting for our parking lots to our main entrance. We welcomed dozen of new residents and sadly said goodbye to far too many members of our Kirby family.

I read once that Thomas Edison discovered more than 1000 ways, to not invent a bulb of light, but eventually, through determination, he found the solution to get it just right. If he had stopped at nine hundred ninety-nine, we might still be reading by candlelight. It’s that understanding of persistence that can help us all develop more patience as we sit waiting for new and improved things to finalize.

So with that in mind, know that in 2019 we are diligently working on creating a better internet service and cable television system for Kirby Pines; along with improving our work order system and emergency response service. And by the end of the year, hopefully you will discover that we have been moving much closer to our goals. It won’t happen January first, but with faith, hope and action, we will get the job done.

The year will go by quickly, so make the time to enjoy it. Take care of yourself.

Appreciate your life at Kirby Pines, don’t take it for granted. Keep your eyes focused on the good things and let God be your guide. Happy New Year everyone!

Michael Escamilla,

Executive Director, Kirby Pines

The Holiday season at Kirby Pines is hard to ignore. From the sixteen foot Christmas tree in the lobby to the decorations residents have placed on their doors, a walk around the community provides everyone with a smile and feeling of joyfulness.

Many, however, say that until you feel the spirit of Christmas – there is no Christmas. The decorations, musical events, and various edible treats are all here to enhance the Christmas season, but it is the true meaning of Christmas, that truly lifts our hearts. George Adams said that the birth of Jesus Christ stands as the most significant event in all history. Significant, because as George Adams said, “…the birth meant the pouring into a sick world the healing medicine of love which has transformed all manner of hearts for almost two thousand years… Underneath all the bulging bundles is the beating Christmas heart.”

Adams’ words make you stop to think about just how blessed we are. After all, we have ample food, a comfortable place to live and one another. Yet one’s heart cannot help but beat for many less fortunate Americans.

The hurricanes in early fall followed by the ravishing fires in California have left many fellow Americans without a place to call home and the uncertainty of where the next meal will come from. This Christmas, for many of them it will be a day of prayer and hope. A day in which to think of everything and everyone they love and have loved.

And so to you and those who have lost so much this year, on this Christmas lets all pray that they and we alike remember, “His light will lead the way.”

Merry Christmas,
Michael Escamilla,
Executive Director, Kirby Pines

Happy Thanksgiving! I find it beneficial to take time, not only in November, to give thanks for all we have, but throughout the year. This past year has been one filled with anxious moments for many living in the United States. Some individuals have had to worry about if their homes would survive hurricanes, tornados and floods. While others have worried about landing a job, finding medical assistance or just making enough money to buy food.

Some of us know of individuals who have directly suffered this year from many of the hardships mentioned above, but luckily none of us here at Kirby Pines have directly had to deal with these hardships. We should all be very thankful that our individual problems have been small in comparison to so many. Sometimes we need reminders that Thanksgiving isn’t just a meal with family and friends.

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on all things that are a part of our lives, whether good or bad. Thanksgiving is a time for us to act thankful. Therefore, this year when you celebrate our national holiday of Thanksgiving, whether with family or friends, take a moment to simply say thank you to the people in your life. After all, isn’t that what we should be most thankful for? So, thank you for a wonderful year here at Kirby Pines, and enjoy the blessed Thanksgiving.

After celebrating our thirty-fifth anniversary in grand style last month, and our twelfth consecutive winning of the Memphis Most Award for the Best Retirement Community, it is time to reflect on why Kirby Pines is continually selected the Memphis retirement community of choice, and to think about what is ahead that will keep us the best in Memphis.

We will start the month off with a huge city-wide celebration of our 12th Memphis Most win, on Wednesday, October 3rd from 11 am to 1 pm with great food, fun prizes, and fabulous entertainment. Be certain to invite some friends who have not yet made their decision to move into Memphis’ Most award-winning retirement community!

Then on Tuesday, October 16th between 4 and 6 pm you can enjoy the beautiful grounds as we once again hold a Fall Festival complete with Hot Air Balloon rides. This is a very popular festival and one in which you might be able to check off one of “your bucket list” wishes by enjoying an aerial view of the campus in a hot air balloon.

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 one or both of our Cordon Bleu graduate 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!

The month of September is significant to many people for many different reasons. September marks the beginning of the school year, so for many of our retired teachers living here at Kirby Pines, it is a time to reflect back on the years of service they gave to so many students. For others, September signifies the end of summer and time to celebrate Labor Day. September for Kirby Pines is significant because it is the month we celebrate our anniversary.

Thirty-five years of service to senior adults is truly a feat that could not have happened without the support of residents and their families, employees and our Board of Directors. These three elements make up the team that allows Kirby Pines to rank among the largest and more successful lifecare retirement communities in the country. To celebrate this thirty-fifth anniversary, much work and effort has been put into this year’s Lighting of the Lake ceremony. Each year a theme and color is selected; the theme of this year is forward, and the color is coral. Both the theme and color are certain to add a feeling of warmth within our hearts and a smile to everyone’s face. Coral is said to signify wisdom and nurtures development. Perhaps that is why it is the traditional color and gift for a 35th wedding anniversary.

The theme “forward” represents the future for Kirby Pines and the mission of service to retirees. Recently I came across this saying:

It takes strength to be firm
It takes courage to be gentle
It takes strength to fit in
It takes courage to stand out
It takes strength to stand still It takes courage to move forward”

Happy Anniversary, Kirby Pines!