Hello Readers,

In a little house in Sweden, anticipation builds as four-year-old Ingrid, waits eagerly. She is dressed prettily for the Christmas Eve celebration. Mor and her older sister and younger brother watch the door for their visitor. Finally, they hear the knock-knock. Mor opens the door and into the room steps Jul Tomte. Behind him, the children see his sleigh and he carries a big bag of toys. Dressed in his red suit, his white beard hanging over his belly, he asks, “Are there any good children in the house?” Ingrid says she remembers hiding behind her mother and wondering if she had been good that year. Then Jul Tomte would say “Is there a little girl, Ingrid, living here?” Each child, Ingrid recollected, “would go up to him, shake his hand, receive a gift and then we had to curtsy.” Boys were required to bow.

Ingrid remembers that by five years old, she realized Jul Tomte was Far, her father. “I recognized his hands and voice, but I still believed he was Santa Claus”, she said. Presents were simple then – a doll, coloring book, maybe some clothing or games. “One year we got little sleds to pull our dolls. That was so much fun to pull them in the snow”, she recalled. What is one of your favorite childhood memories?

So, can you picture that darling scene in your mind? Let me help with any translation issues. “Mor” is Swedish for mother (pronounced “more”) and “Far” (pronounced as it is spelled but with a roll on the “r”) is father. Jul Tomte translates as Christmas Elf, or what is traditionally known as Santa Claus.

I first met Ingrid Lander in a creative writing class that I host. Now, a Longmont resident for more than 15 years, Ingrid was born and raised in Sweden. She often sprinkles her writings with tidbits of her childhood growing up in her homeland. Ingrid, 81-years-old and a former airline stewardess, remembers childhood winters that included times of sledding, snow and Swedish traditions. Do you have family traditions?

Here in the United States, we have many different holidays and as we expand as a country, people have chosen many ways to celebrate their traditions. While our belief systems, political views and choices in life differ, common to all is childhood memories. Pleasant or disturbing, memories are a part of us; the past helped form and make us who we are today.

For Ingrid’s family, the holidays began with the first lighting of the Advent Candle. That first week, a candle would be lit and for the next subsequent Sundays, another candle would be lit to add to the first, until by Christmas, four candles beamed their light in Ingrid’s home. The next important holiday event was December 13th – Santa Lucia Day. (Saint Lucia was a Christian martyr killed by the Romans in 304 AD because of her religious beliefs.) Ingrid says that was a huge day of celebrations for the whole country. She remembers every office, town, classroom and home celebrating St. Lucia Day with its traditions.

On that day, the oldest girl in the family would dress up in a long white dress with lit candles wreathed upon her head. The father in the family was allowed, on this one day, to relax longer in bed. Then the rest of the family would come to the bedroom door singing songs and the daughter held a tray of delicious treats: coffee, saffron buns, gingerbread cookies and other tasty morsels. The family would share in their breakfast treats together.

 

The next seasonal event was Christmas Eve and Christmas Day [Recognized as the day of celebration for Jesus’ birth]. The large holiday meal was served on Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day was reserved for church attendance in many Swedish homes. The holiday meal consisted of many special dishes including Lutfisk [Swedish for lye fish]. It was a jelly-like fish, Ingrid explained, served with white sauce and mustard. Another family favorite was a rice dessert with oranges and one almond. Whoever received the almond would, traditionally, be the first one to marry in the family. “I had an idealistic childhood. I have very good memories,” Ingrid reminisced. Tell us, reader, of one of your happy memories.

A lovely place to meet interesting folks like Ingrid is the Longmont Senior Center Park View Café. In 1986, the Senior Center wanted to start an in-house lunch program. Michele Waite, manager of the Senior Services of Longmont, chose the Longmont Meals on Wheels program to provide that service. Since then, Karla Hale, executive Director of Longmont Meals on Wheels, has provided a hearty nutritious meal where folks enjoy conversation and friendships. “The space is dementia and disability friendly and special dietary meals are available for those who need them,” Karla said. “We have watched great friendships develop just from people joining us for meals.”

I met Florence Hill at the LSC’s Park View Café. Born in Chicago, Florence lived most of her adult life in Michigan where she was an entrepreneur, manager, and a community leader. She had been president of her Rotary club and other civic organizations and held several political offices. Then, ten years ago, she moved to Longmont to live closer to family and soon became involved in Senior Center activities. This member of the Daughters of the American Revolution often attends lectures and musical performances held at the center. Still, she finds ways to serve others. For the past eight years she has volunteered as a Trip Escort for senior center trips which means she helps plan trips for participants and, when traveling, she makes sure everyone is safe and gets where they should be and back on the bus on time. Do you volunteer? What do you do?

Now, 80 years old, Florence is a regular at the Café. You can usually find her in the table in the middle of the room and has that lovely knack of remembering the details of peoples’ lives. This year, Florence is teasingly called “Lucky” because of a contest held at the Café. During the March fun challenge, participants were asked questions about the Olympics. Florence was the only one to get all the answers correct and won a golden ticket that allows her free lunches for the rest of 2018.

The first day I attended the Café and met Florence, she quickly welcomed me into her group of six or seven regulars. As I looked around and observed the different tables, I noticed one such crowd of about eight attendees who choose to intellectually challenge each other about politics while they share their meal. I saw some quieter tables where folks sat alone and read a book or shared a smaller more intimate table of two or three. Immediately, the employees of the Café make you feel at home. Before I could ask, they offered to bring the food to my table. (Remember, I am in a wheelchair.) Those who were able stood in line to choose their food cafeteria-style. The employees laughed, talked about family and even shared a good joke or two with us throughout my visit. “I come here every day I can because it’s so friendly; the best place to be”, Florence said.

Another guest of the Café was Carol. I noticed her sitting with some folks and saw that she was pushing a small traveling cart loaded with items. Later, Carol told me she is homeless. She said, “I attended the University of Georgia. I am a retired optical technician. I never thought I’d be homeless.” The Senior Center employees have been working with Carol to help her find housing and life solutions. For now, she eats all her lunch meals at the Café every day the Center is open. “Life is difficult. I want to keep my dignity,” she said, “and this [eating at the center] works for me.”

When you enter the Longmont Senior Center’s front lobby, one of the first faces you often see behind the counter is Monica Bautista who has worked there for the past two years. Monica offers the gift of being bilingual – Spanish and English. She, along with Deanne and Robyn, work at the front desk answering questions from phone calls and in person. Monica manages the class and trip registrations and provides follow-up on the wait lists for the different center activities. Monica says about her job, “I like making people happy. When I can find a class for someone or let them know about an opening from the wait list – I like putting that smile on people’s faces”. It shows in the smiles that Monica gives to guests as they enter the center’s doors.

Before ending today’s blog, I would be remiss if I didn’t add another piece of the story of my first visit with Florence Hill. As we chatted that day, I learned that Florence, like me, enjoyed pool but had not played in years. Being the competitive person that I am, I challenged her to a game. Well, folks, Florence won the game! But I won too, for I made a new friend! Where do you make friends?

 

 

Before saying goodbye, I have to thank all of you faithful readers who corrected me on last month’s blog. It was Marlo Thomas who was That Girl. Mary Tyler Moore was Mary in her own show where she was an assistant to Ed Asner on a television show. I had two of my favorite independent women mixed up in my story telling. Thank you all. I love that you are reading and keeping an eye on my words!!! What is a favorite show from your youth?

Last month’s blog brought a groundswell of comments about living “independently” and what that means when we ask for help. I heard so many examples of people sharing their desire to remain independent and the ways others succeeded or failed in providing, at times, the needed help. The biggest heartaches told to me were when, as seniors, we are treated as “charity” instead of people with dignity. Readers Barb and Zoe wrote about interdependence. Barb said it well, “mature adults actually develop interdependence, where they can live in harmony with and mutual dependence with others, and yet maintain a sense of independence.”

As we wrap up this year, let’s find ways to respect others’ dignity and give a helping hand when needed. Thank you for visiting “Drop In with Debbie”. Don’t forget to mark in your calendar to return around the 15th of each month and become involved in these discussions.

Until next month, may peace be at your side,

Debbie Noel

We encourage you to interact with Debbie. Please email your responses to her email at DroppingInWithDebbie@gmail.com or register below to have your comments viewed online. 

You can also send your letters to:

Debbie Noel
C/o Longmont Senior Center
910 Longs Peak Avenue
Longmont, Colorado 80501

*If you are interested in being a Senior Center Trip Escort, please contact Kari Grotting at 303-651-8495

**Senior Center Park View Café meals are served Monday through Friday at 11:30 to noon on days the Center is opened. Prices are on a sliding scale based on income between $1.50 – $5.00 for seniors and $6.00 for everyone else. Café menus are available at the center or online at www.lmow.org

***“Make a Point” Writing Salon is held once a month on the 2nd Monday of each month 11 am to 12:30 pm and hosted by Debbie Noel at the Longmont Senior Center.