The Best Day of My Life (So Far)

Please imagine. Please help.

2012-01-26T12:27:00.000-05:00

Imagine this world with me.

And please help us get there.

Imagine a world where storytelling classes like ours sprout up in countless senior centers, and one by one seniors become stronger and happier and begin opening up about their lives and feelings.

Imagine a world where family members spread across cities and continents can get online and search for all the stories that a senior has written about his childhood, to find out things about him and their ancestry that they had never known.

Imagine this family starting to talk – to the senior, and to one another. Imagine family relationships rekindling with each conversation.

Imagine a high school teacher sharing these seniors’ stories with a group of teenagers on a projection screen, and a teenager going home to her laptop to read on. Imagine this teenager listening, really listening, to the life lessons embedded in these stories. Imagine her posting a comment for the senior on the other side of the world who wrote her favorite story, telling the senior that he has inspired her to be a better person.

Imagine people like you and me, no matter our age, ethnicity, occupation, mood of the day, frustrations, inhibitions, popping open an easy-to-use website with all these stories whenever we just need a little more sunshine in our lives.

Imagine this world with me and please help us get there.

Our team has the passion, vision and action plan to create an all-new website in order to extend the transformative experience, intergenerational relationships, and quality of life benefits of our original and ongoing “The Best Day of My Life (So Far)” class and blog to as many seniors and readers as possible.

But first, we need to raise $5000 to get started with the first phase of story content management and web development. We are currently $4400 short of this need, and I am writing to ask for your help to close the gap.

Since 2009, I have met every Thursday with a growing group of seniors at Philadelphia Senior Center for our storytelling class, encouraging them to tell their stories with pen and paper – and simultaneously built a digital readership and Facebook and Twitter fanbase to show the seniors that people really do care. In two years, class roster has surpassed 100; attendance has surpassed 2000; readership of www.thebestdayofmylifesofar.com has surpassed 16000 hits from over 60 countries.

In addition, our supplementary events and programming have been attended by 900 audience members; our volunteer base is 40-person strong with ages ranging from 16 to 78; and an international wait list of senior centers has formed requesting training and advice to launch similar programs. Our partners include major organizations such as AARP, Free Library of Philadelphia, and The Philadelphia Foundation. Wharton School of Business and University of South Australia are some of the institutions that have researched and documented our project’s unique methods and benefits.

I began this project because my grandma’s stories have given us a deep, life-changing friendship, and I want to share my personal experience with as many people as I can reach. I believe my team and my work has just begun. I believe that with digital expansion, this project can reach thousands more people in every of the 60 countries where our readers live.

Thank you for reading this letter. Please consider donating using the Donation Button on our website. Any dollar amount would help. And please forward this letter to help us spread the word.

Gratefully,

Benita Cooper
Founder and Executive Director
The Best Day of My Life (So Far)
Benita@thebestdayofmylifesofar.com
www.thebestdayofmylifesofar.com

Loretta (Don't Give Up Learning)

2012-01-19T22:52:00.000-05:00

An awe-inspiring word of encouragement from Loretta, for anyone who’s ever had a speech problem or has struggled in any way:

Loretta Gaither
1.12.2012
Don’t Give Up Learning

I would like to talk to other people about their lives and tell them they can make it, even with stuttering. They can learn and go to school. When I was 5 years old, I stuttered continuously; I am 69 now, and I am going back to school to get my GED.

I started going to a special school when I was 6 years old, where the teachers said I could learn. My mother said I couldn’t learn, but my teacher said I could. Her name was Mrs. Clark.

She sat with me during class and showed me how to break up works into syllables so I could say them slowly. The stuttering got better and better every year. But now sometimes it still comes back when I get upset. And people think I don’t know what I am doing or saying. But I am actually thinking clearly and just having trouble with my speech. They think I am senile, because I don’t sound clear. But I do know what I am saying in my mind.

I come to this class to express myself through written words. This class makes me stronger and want to always learn more. That’s why I am going to keep learning and get my GED. And that’s why I write this essay, to tell other people who stutter (and people who don’t stutter) that they can learn too. Don’t quit. God bless everyone who reads this essay.

When Loretta picked the title, “Don’t Give Up Learning”, she asked me if I remembered the young woman in the audience at our 2010 public event, Seniors’ Storytelling Day, who raised her hand to ask our seniors how she could better express herself. I did. Very much so. You can click Here for the blog post I wrote about Loretta and the young woman a little more than a year ago, and Loretta’s reflection of their connection. I remember the story but I forgot its title until I reread the blog post. I got chills when I saw the title: "I Don't Give Up." I got chills again just typing that. It's like, back then, for her to say that about herself, was already the strongest I had seen her. And now, she is here to tell the whole world, Hey, don't YOU give up either! Loretta is a true leader now. I am in awe.

Let Freedom Ring On!

2012-01-16T13:03:00.000-05:00

Happy Martin Luther King Day, everyone! For me, today used to be the name of just another holiday, until I heard these stories, and saw the passion in my senior buds' eyes as they told them. It took listening to my senior buds' stories for me to really "get" it. It took watching them - many of whom happen to be African American - speak out loud about their personal experiences for me to realize that Dr. King's spirit is alive in all of them. And because of so many reasons - including the fact that I am an Asian American who gets the privilege of hanging out with my senior buds of all races - I too should be grateful for the freedom that this holiday represents.

Click Here to see what today means to Helen, Beatrice, Hazel, and Loretta. I posted this batch of stories one year ago but I thought maybe we can reread them together today ;)

And hey, if you have a younger bud of your own, how about sharing this batch of stories so we can all help freedom ring on?

Pat (My Space)

2012-01-13T13:06:00.002-05:00

My space? It's right here with you all ;) Yes, it's true! When life gets hectic and I need a quiet moment, I know I can always reread my senior buds' stories, and share one here, and become instantly happy. For that, I thank my senior buds and I thank you. Thanks for letting me dream, travel, gain knowledge, find peace.

Patricia Williams
11.10.2011
My Space

Reserved so that I can rid myself
of anxieties frustration wants.
Where I can dream travel gain
knowledge, find peace find peace
my space.

Mr. Robert (Friends No More)

2012-01-09T11:24:00.000-05:00

A couple months ago, I posted a couple stories by Mr. Robert about his feelings towards family. You can see that post by clicking Here. I was prompted to write that post because of the latest story that he had just read out loud in class, which was about friendship. I still remember the way his voice cracked at the last sentence, ever so slightly. When I turned to look at him to make sure he was ok, his hand was wiping tears from his eyes. I didn’t actually see any tears, just his hand which covered his face for a minute. These tiny little moments of emotion that Mr. Robert allows into his writing and into our classroom are so precious, because he comes across as a quick joker and tough guy in person. But you know, a truly tough guy is one who is willing to bare his soul. I wrote some version of that in the other blog post, and I am sticking to that here.

Robert Mitchell
9.29.2011
Friends No More

In the late 50’s & all of the 60’s until I was drafted into the military in 1969, I grew up as a teenager with about 10 guys & more in which I was around with every day. These fellows were all my friends, just like family. Out of the 10 of us, only two of the guys had fathers that were living at home. All the rest of us were raised by one parent (our mothers). We did everything together: played sports, chased girls, went to the movies, had house part-tays, when to dances, had our own house parties, went shopping together and hung out in Atlantic City together. However, once I left the military for 2 yrs and came home my whole lifestyle changed with my friends. I got married 3 times, had kids (five) and became a family man. 15 years of my life will always be special for me cause this was the family I never had (friends). And now 2011, without them, that’s why I write.

Norman (Mo McCooper)

2012-01-04T14:02:00.001-05:00

Happy 2012! And now, a toast to the new year and new friendships!

Norman is a newer member of our class and this is something he wrote about Mo, whom as you know has been a core member of our class for a few years now. The day Norman wrote the story, Mo happened to be absent from class, so Norman reread the story out loud the week later when Mo was back, for the group to hear again, and for Mo to hear for the first time. I squealed when Norman started reading and leaned over the table so I could watch Mo’s expression – he was sitting a few chairs to my right, I can still remember that. It took him a minute to realize the entire story was a dedication to him. He was so surprised. He started smiling, the group cheered, the smiles and cheers spread and grew. At the end of the story, the men exchanged a knowing look across the room. One conversation, one story, one look, and there it is, a friendship that is fresh and new and strong and manly yet delicate and beautiful and ready to take on the world.

Happy new year to everyone of you reading this right now. Thank you for everything. Thank you for lending us your ear and in that way, being very much a true friend.

Norman Cain
12.1.2011
Mo McCooper

Last week was the second time that I came to the writer’s group. I read an excerpt about youth high society in the 50’s.

I heard beautiful stories and poetry. At the end of the session, I became engrossed in an hour and a half discussion with a veteran member of the writing group: Mo McCooper.

Our conversation started with a discussion on class lines in Phila in the 50’s; but moved quickly to a subject that we both love, the evolution of basketball in Phila.

We were able to identify and tell personal tales about the players from the city during the late 50’s through the 70’s. At that time, the sport was not as lucrative and popular as it is now. There were not more than 10 or 12 NBA teams as opposed to the 32 teams that now comprise the NBA.

Million dollar players would not be on strike, as they are during the period of this writing. These players from yesteryear that Mo and I discussed would have been professionals, not club or semi-pro players; the time was not right.

Mo was an oral history archive on the state of basketball in Phila fifty years ago. His testimony was appreciated, as I have been researching the subject for some years. He had personal stories about Wilt Chamberlain, Sonny Hill and a host of other legendary players from the era we’ve been talking about. There were other players that we discussed that have been lost in time.

I am looking forward to coming back to the writer’s group, speaking with Mo and everyone else present.

Being Old is Good

2011-12-30T12:50:00.000-05:00

A couple years ago, when this whole project was still new, I was cleaning my apartment and found a story. The first sentence: “Being old is good.”

I was shocked because the story points out with four simple words the core belief of our Best Day project (being old IS good!!) then cuts to the chase and confronts the core issues that our project tries to solve, such as isolation and loneliness – but the person writing it had no idea she was doing that. The person was just saying what she felt at the time. Oh, and did I tell you the person happened to be eleven years old? Yeah, it was me.

Crazy, right? It’s like, my heart was always built with a spot for my senior buds – it just took me a couple of decades to figure out how to invite them in.

Technically this project started in late 2009 with our first storytelling class and blog post, personally it started in 2006 with my first call with my grandma, but the first seed of the project might have been planted in 1991, with this story.

Yesterday, when I was cleaning again (to start fresh for the New Year!), I came across the actual physical pages of this story again. And so, I just want to repost it (click Here for a scan of the pages, along with the story's original appearance here on the blog) to say once more what I said at age eleven, as a sixth-grader in Hong Kong. Being old is good.

11-year-old Benita
10.1.1991
Helping the Elderly

Being old is good. You are experienced. You know what is right and what is wrong.

But being old is bad in many ways too. Every morning, your family will go out, either for work or for play, leaving you alone. All you can do is knit or play mahjong with your neighbors. You cannot have a lot of fun, for even a little running will tire you out. Besides, you have to do everything slowly, making yourself impatient.

That is why we should help the elderly. We should visit our grandparents frequently to chat with them and help them with housework. We can also have breakfast with them at Chinese restaurants.

If I were a grandparent and if my grandchildren always stayed with me, I would be really, very happy.

Brenda (The Dress)

2011-12-28T18:11:00.000-05:00

It’s officially the most party-filled time of the year, and it’s time to get dressed up! Here’s Brenda showing us how to handle all our fashion disasters – confront it head on with a funny story and well, find another dress! And Brenda, you are beautiful just the way you are, in any size or color ;)

Brenda Bailey
12.8.2011
The Dress

I was invited to a dinner party one Friday evening and I was so excited to get all dressed up. I never pre-try on clothes I already love so I knew my cute navy blue dress – that I had for several years – would be just fine. After showering and etc., I took my dress out of the closet, off the hanger, and pulled it over my head. But when I tried to put my arm in the sleeve, it wouldn’t go on. I then attempted again to pull the dress straight over my head, it went on but no further. Maybe I hadn’t unzipped the dress – but I had. I tried to step-in to the dress but when it got to my hips, it stopped! What had happened to my dress? Who had altered my dress? How could I get this dress to fit again? I was so upset! I picked another outfit I had just purchased and I knew it would fit, and went to the affair. The whole night I thought about the dress.

When I got home and undressed, I did the unthinkable – I looked at the tags and compared sizes – what a shock?! When had I gone from a 12 to 22? Had I awaken from a dream and became PHAT? I started to think about Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig + others but I knew these programs were too costly for me. So I guess I’ll retire my blue dress and find one I can fit in.

What a bummer!

Joe (Honey Girl)

2011-12-23T08:30:00.000-05:00

And now, a Christmastime love story to cozy up with. Happy holidays to you and yours!

Joe Garrison
12.8.2011
Honey Girl

It was on a Wednesday morning in early December 2006. Debra had asked me to help her with a project she was working on. And I would never say no to her. I had already bought her Christmas present and was very anxious to present it to her. But I also had something to confess to her. For a while I had been wanting to tell her how I felt about her, but I wasn’t sure how she was going to accept it.

We finished her project. And had lunch afterwards. I was waiting for an opportunity. I finally got the courage to say what I had to say. “I have something to tell you and I can’t hold back any longer. I am in love with you.”

She replied, “I’ve been in love with you for years.” And with that, we embraced and kissed. It was then that I felt I had reached the high point of my romantic life. I realized that I had found the love of my life, my dream girl, my million dollar baby.

Helen (Waiting for Santa Claus)

2011-12-20T20:25:00.000-05:00

Well, looks like you guys have been pretty nice because look who is coming to town...! Little ones and big ones, time to get giddy!

Helen H. Lahr
2.17.2011
Waiting for Santa Claus

In my neighborhood Santa makes his entrance on the Saturday before Christmas.

So, on Friday night, prior to his coming, my granddaughter came over accompanied by her little ones. How happy Deidre (my daughter) and I were! Our home was full of joy and excitement, mostly because the great grands were having so much fun.

Finally, it was bed time. Then, everything was quiet. The adults sat around the Christmas tree. The girls played CDs with Christmas music and carols softly while we snacked on goodies. How we have fun just being together and reminiscing about happenings in the past.

Finally, we went to bed! Morning came. Noon came. All of us went out on the lawn. Soon what did we hear, but the sound of horns honking in the distance. Then, around the bend came a large red fire engine with Santa on top, yelling, “Ho, Ho, Ho!” Children from down the road came running up screaming, “It’s Santa, it’s Santa!”

My little ones (4 of them) were also screaming as Santa went by. And you know what? I was as happy and giddy acting as the children, although I’m a senior citizen.

Doris (A Small World)

2011-12-19T08:30:00.000-05:00

Christmas week is suddenly here – can you believe it? I was rereading through my senior buds’ recent stories, looking for something to post today that would ring in the holidays with a bang, when I came across a pair of Doris’. Unknowingly I think I was looking for a spectacular story but it was these quieter ones stopped me in my tracks. Even though they aren’t specifically about the holidays, they remind me of how closely connected we all are, which to me, is a big part of what makes the holidays – and life itself – so merry.

Stick around… up next, to keep the holiday spirit rolling – a Santa story and a Christmas love story!

Doris Lang
8.11.2011
A Small World

Fifty-five years ago my son was sick. He was in Children’s Hospital. I saw this young couple in the lounge. We started to talk and I found out they were from Guatemala. Only the husband spoke English. He was a Dr. in Guatemala.

They had a two year old in the hospital. They said their son shot their daughter in the head.

I invited them to my house for dinner. They were very nice.

A couple of weeks later I carried her to the train.

Shortly after they called me to say she passed away. They kept in touch with me.

One day I was surprised to get a knock on my door. They sent me a native skirt and all my children native gifts.

My son was still sick. Two and one half years later he was in Einstein Hospital. The father wrote me a letter saying he was going to Florida to a convention and his wife could not go because she was pregnant with her sixth child.

My son was getting medicine in the middle of the night. A nurse sat down next to me and said she just came back from Florida. She met a man from Guatemala. She met my friend.

It is a very small world.

Doris Lang
8.11.2011
Chance Encounter

Twenty-five years ago, I had a store in Center City. A young woman came into my store.

I said, “You remind me of another girl that came into my store.” She said, “You say that every time. My husband plays for the Eagles and I live across the street. Here is my phone number. Call me when she comes in.”

When she came in, I called her and she came in.

They started to scream. I found out they were roommates in college and didn’t know
where they were located after school. They looked nothing alike and could not believe I put them together.

Bernice (Just Being Here)

2011-12-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

To my silly bud Bernice, I was so sad to hear that you got sick again but I am so happy you are in rehab and doing well – I am sure you are making all the nurses and therapists laugh as hard as you make us laugh in class with your funny stories. I liked saying hi to you on Beatrice’s cell phone when she put it up to your ear at the hospital a couple weeks ago, and I liked that you asked her to call me the other day so I knew you were getting better. I miss you so much!

Bernice Moore
10.13.2011
Just Being Here

It is good to be able to see everyone because I have been home sick with my granddaughter. She took good care of me. I missed a lot of my friends. It is good to be around good people. May God bless everyone.

Beatrice Newkirk
12.1.2011
My Missing Link

My missing link is my sister. She is sick and in the hospital. She is now in rehab. She is coming along fine now. I am very thankful for everyone who has asked about my sister. She sends everyone her love. She misses the class very much. I tell her what everyone is saying about her.

She will be here soon. I can’t say when, time waits for no one. She was not talking at first. Now she is doing a little better. I felt real bad when she got sick. Everyone has a sick day at some time. God is the head doctor. He has the last say.

Have a nice day,
Beatrice Newkirk

Beatrice Newkirk
12.8.2011
A Time to Remember

A time to remember is about good things. We never should forget the good things. Remembering things that you should never forget. Thinking about what happened years ago or what happened weeks and days ago. Like when my sister got sick and when I went to see her and she could not talk. But now thanks to God, she is alright. She is talking up a storm and she is not on a machine. Time does not stand still. Sometimes I think about the good things in life, and I count my blessings.

Give the Gift of Best Day

2011-12-12T08:30:00.000-05:00

Hello Readers,

Looking for an out-of-the-box holiday gift for a special someone? Consider contributing to The Best Day of My Life So Far Fund – in honor of or in memory of a loved one.

Your donation will help us open the voices of more seniors through storytelling while connecting them with younger generations worldwide. Simply go to www.thebestdayofmylifesofar.com and click on the donation banner at the top to contribute online or by mail.

Happy holidays,
Benita

Benita@thebestdayofmylifesofar.com

Robert (An Old, Old Man)

2011-12-07T11:19:00.001-05:00

Sometimes when the mood strikes, a senior would write two or three stories in class but pick just one to read out loud. Then after class, he or she would still hand me all the stories to share here with you guys on the blog. I still remember the first time I noticed this happening. It was actually a while ago. The story that Beatrice read out loud was fun and sassy, but the one she handed to me – unread – was intense. It was about a letter that she had written and still hadn’t given to one of her sons, because she was still waiting for the right time. You can check out that blog post Here. It made me realize that telling your stories to your peers is one kind of wonderful and telling your stories to the world is another kind, and it’s having the opportunity to do both, or either, that makes our seniors a little happier each week. A few weeks ago, Robert wrote a long story and a short story. Both are soulful. I love both equally. And I think there’s something awesome that the short one is the one he chose to read out loud.

Robert Leung
11.17.2011
An Old, Old Man

Today is November the 17th, 2011. The times have sure gone by very, very fast. Next month is going to be Christmas and, of course, right after Christmas it will be New Year’s, which means another year has gone by, and after the New Year, I will be one more year older. Would you believe it, I will be 71 years old. Oh, my Goodness, I’m going to be an old, old man. I mean how can I be that old? I remember when I was still in school. If I heard someone mentioning an 80-year-old man or woman, I would say and think, I will never be that old, never mind that I will be in that state. Now I am, I must face the fact.

And just to think of it, it has been a long, long way for me. First, I was in the 2nd World War, then the Japanese War (from 1940 to 1948) then I went through the Chinese War (from the Got Man Don to communist China.) It sure seems like I never had a quiet, peaceful year. And would you believe it, right after that, I immigrated to other countries. I came to Canada at first, but that country was never meant for me, because it’s in the northern part. And I hate the snow – and cold and windy places – so I came to the US, which meant I had to learn another world and system. So just think what kind of life I have been and gone through. All in all, thank God I been through and developed a wonderful one.

Before living here, I was the 1st Chinese and the oriental jockey in this country’s system - back then there were no jockeys who were blacks or other colors.

Robert Leung
11.17.2011
The Best Day of Our Life

As we reach the winter times, it’s very windy and cold but we still wanted to come anyway. We need to support our reading club. Mo and Mike (Michael) and I walk about 3 miles – 14 blocks – because I don't want to miss our reading club.

Come with Us to... Kansas!

2011-12-02T10:32:00.000-05:00

Hey super readers,

I'll be speaking live (via Skype! did you guys know I am a Skype fanatic?) TOMORROW AROUND 3PM CST at University of Kansas' Digital Diversity Summit, co-hosted by Online News Association, featuring innovations in storytelling and social media. You can watch the entire event at http://www.journalism.ku.edu/news/Summit.shtml. I will give a never-seen-before presentation for around 15 minutes, then take your questions for another 5. You can post questions via Twitter (#digitaldiv) for me to answer live - I would love to hear what's on your mind!

Click Here for ONA's press release about the event: http://journalists.org/event/university-of-kansas-diversity-summit/

See you in Kansas this Saturday!!

Benita

Miss Mo (The Great Haircut)

2011-11-30T10:45:00.001-05:00

Speaking of fightin’ tough, here’s Miss Mo (not to be confused with Mo from the previous blog post, who happens to be a big guy – this here is our supertiny lady Mo) fighting for her right… to get her hair cut!! I laughed my head off through the entire story when she read this out loud. Her tone was feisty the whole way through. My fave part, is how she titled the story The GREAT Haircut. As in, Take that, Society (Miss Mo is 91 so this all took place in the early 30’s): If a girl wants a triangle on her head, a girl gets a triangle on her head!

Missouri Grier
11.10.2011
The Great Haircut

I had a job at a beauty shop where my sister used to get her hair dressed. My father did not like girls and ladies getting their hair cut. In his world, only men did that. My sister got hers cut and he was very angry but said to her, she was a grown-up.

She suggested it was time I started to take an interest in how I should look as a teenager so she started me there to get my hair done. This went on for a year. One day she said, “Are you going to get your hair done today?” She gave me money to get it done, but did not say anything about cutting. I lied, told the hairdresser she said I could get my hair cut. I sat at the dinner table with a triangle on my head from Monday to Friday. My father looked at me and wanted to know why I kept my head covered, reached over and took the hair net off, asking, “Where is your hair?” Answer: Upstairs. “Why is your hair up there, when you are sitting down here?” Answer: I got it cut. He was so mad. He said, “I will never buy you anymore hats.” At 14 years old, who cares. Mother said, “Leave it alone, it will grow back.”

Mo and Joe (Friday Night Fights)

2011-11-28T10:48:00.000-05:00

Boxing is my absolute favorite workout (oh yeah!) so when Mo told a story about the sport, I was all ears. And as you know, what’s cool about this project is things keep getting cooler and inspiring unexpected things week after week. So guess what? Mo’s story didn’t just end that week – it prompted Joe to tell his own story about a boxing match the week after. When Joe dedicated his story to Mo, Mo beamed and everyone cheered. Everyone was so loud – I love it when they get crazy like that. It was almost like we were at our own mini boxing match. Whatever battles they are fighting in their lives, during that moment, in my mind, they have won.

Mo McCooper
8.11.2011
Friday Night Fights

At the corner of the main street in town and a street 2 blocks west of the only red light, was the town bank. Next to the bank was an electric store, which sold radios, phonographs, and record albums. When TV came (maybe in the late 1940s), they would place a set in the store windows which we could watch from outside.

Our favorite show was the boxing matches on Friday nights. We had learned the names of the fighters by listening to the fights on radio for years and it may have taken to the fifties before we could watch them on the Danenhower Electric Store TV screens. We missed the great Joe Louis, heavy-weight champion, but we saw the incredible middle-weight champion, Sugar Ray Robinson, and the feather-weight champion, Willie Pep, fighting Sandy Sadler. And we saw heavy-weight Rocky Marciano.

Joe Garrison
8.18.2011
The Kid’s Last Fight

For nearly 12 years, Joe Louis was the heavyweight champion of the world. His nickname was the Brown Bomber. He was the first prizefighter that I can remember as I was growing up. His final boxing match was in late September 1950. His opponent was Rocky Marciano, a young upstart heavyweight.

By the end of the fifth round, it was easy to tell that Louis lacked the power of his earlier fights.

I was at home watching. I was nervous, because I could sense that Joe’s strength was gone, and I was rooting for him. He wasn’t reacting to Marciano’s punches. The end finally came in the eighth round, after Marciano threw a right cross that knocked Louis through the ropes and nearly out of the ring.

At that moment, I felt more emotional than anything. I didn’t scream or do something physical. But I knew it was the end of an era in sports’ history. I was eight years old. It made me realize that even a champion has to succumb to defeat; however, it didn’t change my mind about being a fan of boxing for many years.

Hattie and Helen (Love by the Pound)

2011-11-21T11:20:00.001-05:00

Super Girlfriends! Nov 17, 2011

New Girlfriends Oct 29, 2009

My grandma’s best friend Mrs. Wu once told me that happiness is a choice that you have to keep making over your entire lifetime. I see that in her, and as you all know I see that in my grandma. I see that in Hattie and Helen too.

Hattie and Helen have been a part of the group since its earliest, tiniest days. Hattie was there on our very first day on September 24, 2009, and soon, as she realized she liked it, asked her best friend Helen to join. Back when our attendance was small, sometimes it was just the three of us at the table.

This past Thursday, after class was over and the many other members finished hanging out and eventually dissipated, Hattie and Helen stayed behind and we just got talking about how big and full of personalities the group has become. We were all smiling so much. Basking in their radiance, I realized what a miracle it is, that these two beautiful women who happen to be optimists to the core, also happened to be two of the earliest members of our group. I realized that the positive energy of the entire group has everything to do with the positive people that they are.

This Thanksgiving, I’d like to give thanks to all the beautiful people around me who choose happiness and let me soak in a lil’ bit of what they’ve got.

Hattie Lee Ellerbe
9.22.2011
Love by the Pound

My little 3-year-old great-great-granddaughter, Ari Anna, stepped on the scale the other day…looked up at her mother and asked, “How much do I cost?”

My answer would have been, “Priceless!!!”

Helen H. Lahr
11.10.2011
A Rose is a Rose

Some years ago members of my family & I were riding through a certain neighborhood when after seeing a lot of very lovely homes, we came upon a decrepit old house. Grass & weeds & trees surrounded it. Some of the windows were broken & the basement windows (also partly broken) were covered with debris.

Then, to my amazement I saw a beautiful rose growing up out of all that chaos. To me, it was one of the loveliest sights I had ever seen!

Afterwards, a line from a poem came to mind.

“Blossom where you are planted.” This tells us that no matter where we live or what the situation, we can attain the goals that we have set for ourselves. All we have to do is try.

The best two years so far. Help make the next two years even better!

2011-11-15T08:50:00.000-05:00

Dear Participants and Friends of

The Best Day of My Life (So Far),

Last Monday, I was greeted by this subject line in my inbox –

"Please Thank Isadora for Me"

The last story on our blog, written by Isadora, was dedicated to her daughter and was written one week before Isadora's daughter passed away. Isadora's story prompted Christine, a blog reader from all the way up in Montreal, to reach out to her mom and to email us. The title of the story is "You are My Sunshine".

Isadora’s story and Christine’s email, along with hundreds of others that I have received, remind me of why I started The Best Day of My Life (So Far). At the same time, they surprise me with how deep, and how big, this project has grown.

Two years ago, my grandma's friendship inspired me to start a class and a blog. Since then, our class has become a true family, joining together 100 seniors with ages from mid-60s to 90s, 20 teens, and 40 international volunteers with ages ranging from 16 to 78. Our blog, which streams stories directly to Facebook and Twitter, have become our extended family, surpassing 16,000 hits by readers from over 60 countries.

In two years, we have hosted and participated in 10 events, bringing our seniors’ stories to the stage and the screen for 900 audience members. We are regularly featured in the press, on radio programs and at public conferences. This summer, we launched a satellite class in partnership with AARP. We have received the Leeway Foundation’s Art and Change Award, and were listed as finalists for Deaconness Associations Foundation’s Innovation Award and National Center for Creative Aging and Martek Biosciences’ Beautiful Minds Award. Along this journey, a growing list of individuals and organizations from all over the world are reaching out to us requesting advice and resources to start similar classes.

We want to keep going.

We want to keep stories like Isadora's going strong.

We want to see more seniors and younger people experience our project’s diverse benefits, from quality of life, family reconnection, computer education, civic engagement, to mental health.

In the next two years, we plan to capture our storytelling methodology in a compact form, and take it worldwide – so that stories like "You are My Sunshine" can be told around the world, and so that the people who have stories to share can experience the joy and support our seniors in Philadelphia have. We want to strengthen the class that we have here, and help these seniors become the role models for a global effort.

I would like to personally ask for your help to help us accomplish our work and mission:

$10 would make possible class supplies for a senior for a full year.

$100 would make possible administrative costs for one ongoing class.

$1500 would make possible one public event.

$2500 would help us build a more sustainable and interactive website.

I believe in this project. I believe our work has just begun, and with your help we can make great changes at a much larger scale. Donations of any size would be appreciated. To contribute, please click Here or the donation banner at the top of our blog: www.thebestdayofmylifesofar.com.

Please consider forwarding this letter to friends whom you think may be interested in contributing. And a reminder to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter – those are the easiest way to read stories as they get posted and let seniors know you are reading!

Every time Isadora writes a story in class, she begins with, “The best day of my life is today,” regardless of what that day’s story is about. Her final dedication to her daughter was no exception:

The best day of my life is today. This sun is shining. No clouds in the sky. You are the sunshine of my life. That’s why I am always hanging around you. From the top of your head to the bottom of your feet, you are my sunshine. Morning, noon, and night you are my sunshine, my only sunshine. I can’t stay away from you. You are irresistible. You are my only sunshine. You are my beautiful daughter.

Thank you so much for your support,
Benita

(benita@thebestdayofmylifesofar.com)

Christine (Please Thank Isadora for Me)

2011-11-08T13:26:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I was greeted by this subject line in my inbox -

Fwd: Please thank Isadora for me.

What unfolded was a very special email conversation between Philly and Montreal, all inspired by the blog post that precedes this one – where Isadora wrote that her daughter is her sunshine the week before her daughter’s passing.

Christine, I love that you reached out to us like this, and that you are reaching out to your mom via Isadora’s story. And Emily, you are such a superfly PR Manager. You guys, I can’t even tell you how much sunshine your emails have brought me, personally.

(And yes, for you all outside of Philly, the sun is outrageously gorgeous today.)

On Fri, Nov 4, 2011 at 10:26 PM, Christine Ares wrote:

Hello dear Ms. Isadora,

I am deeply moved by your message of gratitude.

I loved what you wrote to your daughter. I even printed it and will show it to my mother
tomorrow. I know she feels the same way about me, too.

Ms. Isadora, I salute you for your courageousness. I salute you for caring enough to share your
thoughts. Most of all, I salute you for your strength.

You are in my prayers.

God bless and thank you,

Christine Ares (Montreal)

On Mon, Nov 7, 2011 at 4:21 PM, Emily Antoszyk wrote:

Hi Christine,

Thank you so much for your kind words! I will pass this on to Benita, the class leader and project founder, to make sure that Isadora gets the message. Please continue reading and spreading the word about the project, and thank you for your support!

Keep in touch, 
Emily Antoszyk 
Public Relations Manager 

On Mon, Nov 7, 2011 at 6:38 PM, Emily Antoszyk wrote:

Also Christine - would it be possible to use your lovely e-mail on our blog? We are so honored by your note that we would love to share!

Thanks,
Emily Antoszyk
Public Relations Manager 

On Fri, Nov 7, 2011 at 10:54 PM, Christine Ares wrote:

You may absolutely use my name.
It's the least I can do for the privilege of reading their stories.
Thank you, Emily, for the reply and you, too, keep up the good work.

Christine

Isadora (You are My Sunshine)

2011-11-03T16:17:00.000-04:00

There was one final thing Isadora needed to tell her daughter, who had been struggling with cancer, and she did it by writing this story in our class. The date was October 20. Her daughter passed away exactly a week later. One day after that, I received an email from the senior center telling me that the family heard about the story – I would assume this is because Isadora told them about it – and would like to include it in the obituary.

Every time Isadora writes a story in class, she begins with, “The best day of my life is today,” regardless of what that day’s story was about. For months now, most of her stories have been about the status of her daughter’s cancer. On October 20, whether she knew or not what the next week would bring, she began her story the way she always does.

Isadora – please stay strong during these difficult times. We missed you in class the past couple weeks and are thinking of you, and we feel your daughter’s radiance in the room. See? Today, the sun is shining. No clouds in the sky.

From: Estavia Jefferson
To: Benita Cooper
Date: Friday, October 28, 2011 12:12 PM
Subject: Writing Class Member

Hi Benita,
I received a call today from Isadora Fields family member informing us of the passing of her daughter yesterday. Ms. Isadora wrote a story last Thursday, October 20th about her daughter called “My Sunshine.” Is it possible for you to email me the story so, that I can pass it on to the family to put in the obituary?

Thanks in adavnce,
Estavia Jefferson
Activities Coordinator
Philadelphia Senior Center

Isadora Fields
10.20.2011
You Are My Sunshine

The best day of my life is today. This sun is shining. No clouds in the sky. You are the sunshine of my life. That’s why I am always hanging around you. From the top of your head to the bottom of your feet, you are my sunshine. Morning, noon, and night you are my sunshine my only sunshine. I can’t stay away from you. You are irresistible. You are my only sunshine. You are my beautiful daughter.

Greta (Walk with Me)

2011-11-01T18:06:00.001-04:00

Lately, I am constantly shocked and moved by things I see and hear.

Sometimes it’s an email encouragement that a volunteer writes to another volunteer when life gets tough – even though they may live in two different countries and have never physically met and their ages happen to be forty years apart. Sometimes it’s a sentence that one senior would say to me after class, about how visibly happy another senior has become – when the senior telling me this is herself a million times happier than the first time she showed up to class.

Last week, it was what Greta shared about her grandson.

Greta has been coming to our class for almost a year now, and mostly she likes to listen to her friends’ stories. But last week, she opened up more than I had ever heard her open up before. She told us that the mission of our project – to connect generations through storytelling and writing – got her to start a conversation with her grandson at home. The two don’t usually talk about their interests or anything like that. The conversation was simple. She told him she is in a writing class, and asked if he writes too. He said he did. She was surprised. He went on to print out 2 poems out for her.

“Walk with Me” is one of them. It is an intense poem about civil rights and black history. Lester is 23 years old.

After reading it out loud for us in class – enunciating every word and raising her voice every time the phrase “Walk with Me” returns – Greta said, with tears streaming down her face, “This is very deep to me. I hope I did honor to it in the manner with which I read it.”

A grandson pours his feelings towards culture and history into a poem. The poem travels as a physical print from his hand to his grandmother’s, then as a verbal reading from his grandmother’s lips to her peers’ ears, then as typed text from a copy editor’s fingers into my email inbox then here via this blog onto your computer screen. The title just so happens to say, Walk with me.

All of that is so shockingly moving to me.

Greta Adams
10.27.2011
My Grandson Lester Buffaloe/ Walk with Me

Come on let’s take a walk real quick.
Walk with me
Walk with me through the hot days and cold nights
Through the tough storms and bright lights
Let’s go back before I was born
Way back where my ancestors had to fight for their rights
Even before, walk with me where my ancestors were captured
from the motherland of Africa.
By devils that pulled them on the ships where they were living
unhealthy like animals bunched together.
For many nights, many days, and many months they were traveling
through the middle passage through every weather.
Walk with me through the Underground Railroad.
Walk with me to the wars of the world.
Where Hitler killed the innocent mothers, fathers, boys, and girls
Walk with me to the white bathrooms and black bathrooms.
And water fountains. And many more.
Walk with me to the lynching of black people.
Denzel said the white people weaken your mind
and strengthen your body so you can be inferior.
Walk with me with the great debaters to seek for rights to be equal
Walk with me; come on you can make it
Walk with me while I walk with Malcolm X
“By any means necessary”
And Martin Luther King Jr. “non violent, non violent”
Walk with me to sit on the back of the bus with Rosa Parks.
Walk with me to the sixteenth street Baptist church bombing
where four little girls were killed
and twenty people were injured.
Walk with me through the Watts riots and the riots
where blacks got sprayed with water hoses,
attacked by dogs, and beaten by cops.
Speaking of beating by cops, let’s walk a little faster to the future.
To the Rodney King beating that led to the 1992 Los Angeles Riots
and to the Sean Bell murder before his wedding.
Walk with me, to the neighborhoods
that’s infested with liquor stores
and crime on every block.
Walk with me to see the project where I have never been.
Walk with me through to see the crack heads and prostitutes.
Walk with me to talk to the kids who don’t have a mom or dad
because of bad choices.
Walk with me to find a solution to why money
is more important than the person.
Convenient stores where people walk in
to buy Cigarettes and leave with death
got a pound of marijuana from his friend that the government
technically gave to him
How do you think crack and heroin
got on the streets (government?)
I like how they want to decrease the population by putting Aids on
the streets and overpricing condoms
where some people can’t even afford them.
And hard working students that just graduated from college
can’t get a job but yet they’re getting letters quick for loans
that they have to pay back right away.
Walk with me to the future, the end of the world.
Walk with me through the hot days and cold nights
through the tough storm and bright lights.
Walk with me to find what’s right.
It’s over for our journey but I’m going to keep walking,
Will you?

Aileen and Gloria - Our Mother and Daughter

2011-10-25T17:34:00.003-04:00

As you know, our class feels like one big family. There’s no other way to describe the feeling at our table. And for those of you who’ve been following along, you know our “fam” includes a couple pairs of real-life siblings. We’ve got Ellis and Marci whom you heard from in the last blog post; and our famous twins Beatrice and Bernice.

Well, guess what, we’ve got a set of mother and daughter too! Aileen and Gloria have been attending for months now, and everyone in class calls them Our-Mother-and-Daughter. Like Aileen is everyone’s mom and Gloria is everyone’s daughter – I can’t help smiling whenever I hear their combined nickname. So simple and innocent, but so totally magnificent.

Gloria cares for Aileen around the clock every day, and when they first joined months ago, I remember Gloria taking a backseat saying that she was just there to help her mom out. Gloria would write but for weeks Aileen would just listen. Then Aileen began writing too, and her words became more playful each week. Still, for a while, her reading voice was timid, and when she came across a harder-to-decipher part of her handwriting, Gloria would jump in instantly to help. But then, Gloria began giving her mom more space, and it’s like… it unlocked something – Aileen’s reading voice literally grew clearer and louder week after week, and Gloria’s own voice became happy and excited, and now the two of them just sits back and gleams whenever the other person reads. And THAT right there, watching each of them sit back and give the other person space to be herself, is a totally magnificent thing. Love comes in a number of forms, and I’m pretty sure that’s one of them.

Aileen Jefferson
6.9.2011
New Stops On An Old Train

New faces, New Experiences
And above
All speed – finding at this market
Money saving bargains

You’re seated on the train and
10 minutes later, you’re there. Where?
The market of course. Tremendous
Advantages – strawberries for 75 cents
A pint of candied ginger, 50 cents
A pound, if I proceed, you won’t believe it me.

In the writing workshop, I can
Imagine hearing, “Where? Tell me
Where? How do I get there?”

And before me
I see fresh blueberries picked from the farm
50 cents a pound

And will you tell me why
This is my first visit to this
Miraculous market? Proximity!
…All this in the neighboring township.

Gloria Washington
4.7.2011
Balm for the Soul

I dream about food.

I really love to daydream about lamb, specifically roast lamb shoulder in a savory sauce, comprised of garlic, spicy brown mustard and orange marmalade.

I really like to eat lamb shish kebabs, lamb chops, lamb burgers.

Often I visualize the whole process
    procuring the seasonings
        a spicy garam masala
            spelled Garam
MASALA
This is an Indian spice with many ingredients, from cayenne pepper to cloves and garlic.

I also like Chinese 5 spice. This is a piquant spice that embodies ying and yang of seasonings.

Did I say I love lamb.

Once I went so far as to buy a shoulder of lamb, freezed and carried it on an airplane to visit friends in a part of the country where lamb is not so easy to find.

I also experienced a Mechoui where a whole lamb was roasted on a spit. This was in the Carribbean or a French island.

Lamb, lamb, lamb.

When you rearrange the letters in Lamb
                        Lamb you get

The anagram Balm, perhaps that’s what lamb is for me,
                            a balm for the soul.

Ellis and Marci (A Night Together)

2011-10-20T12:28:00.000-04:00

The World Series kicked off with Game 1 yesterday, so let’s do a pair of baseball stories, to get us all in the mood! Best part is, these stories are about so much more than baseball.

When Ellis read his out loud, about his night with his sister at the game, Marci was sitting next to him. I remember watching her watch him. He was holding his paper tightly but gently and looking intently into his written words with his reading glasses on; she was soaking in his voice and focus with a slight smile – that’s how love between siblings look and sound like, I thought.

And then, it was Marci’s turn. And guess what Marci read about – the same thing, her night with her brother at the game, from her perspective. Marci beamed, because she knew she successfully surprised us all, especially her brother. We all laughed. And then I remember watching Ellis watch her. There was again, the look and sound of the love between siblings.

It’s not just what is written and how it is written - but how it was read out loud. On the surface the words below may be about a baseball game, but to me they’ll always be more.

Ellis Zelmanoff
8.18.2011
A Night Together

On Wednesday, August 17 my sister and I went to the Phillies-Arizona O Backe night game which started at 7:05 P.M. We were all set for an exciting night of baseball when our hopes for an early night of baseball were dashed at the computerized ticket processing machine.

I made the mistake when buying tickets that I never had made and will never make in the future. I bought 2 $20 tickets two weeks ago for Tuesday, August 16 and we were denied admittance to the Wed. Aug 17 game. Next a panic ensued in which we were faced with going home without seeing our game last night. We sat down and examined our options. They were (1) go home somewhat depressed without seeing a battle for first place, (2) come up with more money and go to the nearest sales window open and ask what the cheapest tickets were. We overcame our shyness and the sales person found $25 tickets (2) and a big rock was removed from our backs. We could attend the game and got to see our heroes in person.

The game was tied going into the bottom of the 7th inning. The Phillies rallied for at least 3 runs in the 8th and 3 or 4 runs in the eighth. All our dreams came true and we found we had a tremendous time among other 45,000 fans. It was relaxing; no one was drunk and unmannerly. When we got home we reminisced about our great night at the game.

Marci Zelmanoff
8.18.2011
Night Game

Last night my brother and I went to my very first game that I saw a game.
An earlier date, my brother bought tickets for a game a day later I had to dig up my debit card to pay for valid admissions for the two of us. I had no choice – we were there already!

Bad start.

The start of the game wasn’t fun and games. In fact, for the first 6 or 7 innings – the Phillies were behind the Diamondbacks. Then in the 7 inning, Wilson Valdez hit a double off the wall and brought what was to be a Phillies landslide victory. In fact, the Phillies went on to win a 11-2.

Then came the ride home. There were dozens of taxis lined up outside the park. My legs tire and feel pinched due to neuropathy. I momentarily yearned to be among those who could afford the fare and easy ride home. There were a 45,000 people attending the game and I freaked out, envisioning a mob scene exiting. I was wrong. I miraculously saw that others were exiting peacefully and I started to relax.

Isadora, Henrietta, Josie (This Is Me and This Is What I Do)

2011-10-13T09:20:00.002-04:00

A couple blog posts ago, I gave a shoutout to the men in our class, for being strong enough to put raw, complicated feelings into words. Well now, ladies, let’s show those boys what you’ve got. Isadora, Henrietta, Josie, and all you other beautiful, resilient fighters in our class, your strength makes me proud to be a woman.

Isadora Fields
8.11.2011
Fight this Cancer

The best day of my life so far is today. My daughter has just found out she has cancer of the liver. She is going to take chemotherapy. Her half brother recently died of cancer of the liver. She is going to fight this cancer. Everyone is praying for her.

Henrietta Faust
8.18.2011
This Is Me and This Is What I Do

My name is Henrietta Faust, and I am healing myself with writing class.

I am shy to a fault. And also know, God’s chosen are shy. I am quiet. A-diddly-quiet at times. This frightens the world.

I miss social cues, morals and lead ons. I may seem aloof, and seem to ignore you. This is me. This is what I do.

But in reality, I am a Helper. My gift is the gift of Helps. I care deeply for people and have been fatally wounded by people.

My healing is to turn shyness into being an extroverted personality. And find safe people I can trust. This is me, and this is what I do.

I speak this to the atmosphere. I decree this. I believe this. I say this to the atmosphere. And I believe and decree, I shall be. This is me, and this is what I do.

Josie Miller
8.18.2011
I Never Wore a Store Bought Dress

I love coming to writing group because everyone is so pleasant and I love hearing the stories, written by group members. This is about my fourth session and my enjoyment has increased with each class. Also, with each class I discover something new about myself. One week I wrote a story describing what I saw, as my grandmother made one of my many dresses.

When I finished, I read the story to the class. Seeing the attention they paid as I read my story and hearing their sounds of appreciation, filled my heart with joy.

I’ve never before belonged to a group and trusting people in groups had never been easy. That’s why when I finished my story about my grandmother’s sewing and the group suggested I title my story “I Never Wore a Store Bought Dress” I could not accept their suggestion. Later I thought about how often I have rejected ideas from others, simply because I didn’t believe in what they were saying. I wish I had accepted the title the group had given me, because it was a perfect title.

For Arthur from Jamie

2011-10-08T11:55:00.002-04:00

Below are a few words in memory of Arthur, by Jamie Wright, whose dad was one of Arthur’s best friends and whom Arthur helped to raise as a child. Jamie reached out to me on Facebook last week, and we’ve been chatting on email since. When I first met her on Thursday, I couldn’t help seeing Arthur’s life-loving spirit through her beautiful, radiant smile.

Jamie Knight
10.8.11 via email

On September 11, 2011 God called another one of his angels home. I called my father to tell him we were on our way to give Archie the "right hand of fellowship' when he exclaimed, "my Archie is gone!"

On the night before he died we all (my mother, Darlene, father, James sr., and brother, James jr.) sat around singing songs to Archie and telling him how we thought heaven would be. Archie looooved Christmas, so when my mom got there we started a medley of Christmas songs. Archie's smile was big and bright through this. I took one last picture with Archie (still smiling) when I first arrived and sang his favorite "Walk around heaven all day;" this was the first time I'd seen Archie cry throughout his entire sickness. In those few precious moments I thanked Archie for being there for our family all those years; helping to raise my brother and I, being a friend to our parents and giving us so many wonderful memories to cherish. When I thanked him he just shook his head with a smile and mouthed "no problem" in true Archie fashion.

When Archie received his diagnosis he did not get depressed and act like he was already gone, he continued to live his life with that precious smile that we will all miss. He attended church on Sunday, went to a Phillies game, went to karaoke, played cards in the park and left here like a person who truly had faith in the master and his plan.

I'm not sure who I would be if my dad never met Archie; if they'd never went on the road; never became best friends and lived together after the road was over; then when my mom met my dad, and they broke up Archie would have never been there to talk him through it, and then I might not even be here! What a difference a life makes! What a difference this life made. Without Archie's smile I would not have had a reason to laugh after a full day of being teased by bullies at school; without Archie escorting us to and from school I might have been one of those missing children on the news, Without Archie showing me some defense tactics I might not have stood up for myself that very first time, without Archie pulling out his old bible telling me about the power of the Lord, my faith might not be as strong as it is. I could continue on with a long list of "without…" but the point is without Arthur Raymond Murray I would not, could not be the same me. I will never forget him and all that his life taught me…RIP Archie

Jamie Knight
9.28.11 via Facebook

Hello Benita...my name is Jamie Knight. You don't know me but Archie helped raise my brother and I. he looooooooooooooooooooooved #thebestdayofmylifeSOFAR! I just read the posts in memory of him and it made me so happy. He was a very happy spirit and I am sooooooo glad the he experienced so much joy in his last days-you were a part of that joy.

Jamie Knight
10.06.11 via email

Hi Benita… I am planning to come to the special class today, along with, my mom, Archie's sister, my father, brother,grandfather....I even passed out flyers to his friends! Archie (as we all called him) loooooooooved ur class and all of the activities he got to do. I am looking forward to meeting you. The flyer said it begins @ 1:00 at the senior center :) I will be there.

For Arthur – In Your Words

2011-10-08T11:54:00.000-04:00

Thank you to the 120+ of you who showed up to Philadelphia Senior Center’s auditorium on Thursday for our special class in memory of Arthur, and the countless emails, letters, Facebook messages that you all have been sending to our project and me directly.

In order to browse through more photos and messages, and add your own, please click Here to go to our Facebook page, then press the “Like” button.

You guys are amazing – thank you for writing.

Helen Sunga - former staff member at Philadelphia Senior Center
9.28.11 via Facebook

I am so sorry to hear about Mr. Arthur! He always had a smile. He made so many of my volunteer projects fun. I remember him dancing at our ice cream socials.

Renee Newkirk-Avery – daughter of Beatrice, a senior in our writing group
9.21.11 via Facebook

Hello everyone at the BEST DAY of MY LIFE SO FAR writing class and my Mom and Aunt Bernice. I am so sorry to hear about Mr. Arthur. I was please to have meet Mr. Arthur on my many visits to the Senior Center. Even my resent visit to the Senior Center in August, I was able to see his beautiful smile after my visit to the class. He was late and we were coming out from the class but I had chance to say hello for the last time. I love you all and I wish you all the best and God's Blessings.

Vanessa Darby Stroud – niece of Arthur
10.3.11 via Facebook

Dear Benita & members of "The best day of my life so far" class. thank you so much for the care you showed my uncle Archie. He spoke of this class very often. I know it brought him a lot of pleasure to be able to put some of his thoughts in writing. I will always remember him as fun, loving, kind, giving, caring, funny, full of life, never met a stranger.

Linda Riley – Philadelphia PA
9.22.11 via email

Hi Benita, I'm so sorry to hear about Arthur, he was very special - as are they all. I know he will be missed, and at the same time you'll find comfort in having known him.
Take care,
Linda

Courtey Polenick – Youngstown OH
9.21.11 via email

Hi Benita,
I was so sorry to hear of Arthur's passing. Although I didn't have the pleasure of knowing him, I really enjoyed reading his stories and it sounds like he was a very special individual.
Courtney

Curtis Roth – Philadelphia PA
9.20.11 via email

Arthur was a fine, fine man. My regrets and fondest thoughts.

Kao Kue – Philadelphia PA
9.12.11 via email

I am so sorry to hear that. Arthur was a wonderful person and he was so full of life and energy every time I saw him.

Jill Chonody – Adelaide Australia
9.24.11 via email

He’s the guy who beams when he sees you.
He’s the one who always has a kind a word for you.
He’s the spirit you hope to emulate.
He has the energy that makes you glow.
Whether a song or a chat,
Arthur had something to share.
He will be missed for so many reasons,
But most of all, because he was our friend.

Bri Kurmue – senior member of our writing group
Handwritten and passed onto Jamie
Emailed from Jamie to Benita 10.8.11

Tribute To Arthur Murray

Attributes:

Kind spirited
A gentleman
A good friend
Always had a good word to say to you
Sharp as a tack!
Enjoyed great food
Loved dancing and singing
A good guy
Praises lived in his soul
Smiled until the very end

You will be missed Archie. Rest in peace

Peace… Bri K

Henrietta Faust – senior member of our writing group
Handwritten in class 9.22.11
A Farewell to Arthur—Smile

To a Writing Brother Arthur. I miss your infectious smile. Your laughter. And how you could take an awkward incident and make it into a major joke of the day. That day when you shared the joke we all saw the humor in the moment. Like that day of the tray struggle? Two people were struggling over a food tray? You made it a good joke of the day.

Miss you Arthur. You loved singing, acting, writing. So I must say farewell to our www.thebestdayofmylifesofar.com Writing Brother

- Writing Sister, www.thebestdayofmylifesofar.com, Henrietta Faust

Loretta Gaither – senior member of our writing group
Handwritten in class 9.22.11
Arthur Murray Was a Friend of Mine

I knew him from the Uptown Theater and knew he liked to sing and dance. My husband and he were good friends, went to Simon Gratz High School together. Arthur was a barber, he used to cut hair at a shop at 29th and Dolphin in North Philly. And when I came to Philadelphia Senior Center, that was when I saw him again. Oh, I can’t remember how long it was when I saw him last before that. When I saw him at the senior center after all those years, he kissed me on the cheek right away. He said, “I love you, Loretta,” and I said, “I love you back.” He loved singing and he really, really loved our writing class. He is going to be missed by our writing class and the whole center. I am going to miss his smile. He is going to be missed. I don’t know how to put this all into words. But I feel better that I wrote this story about him.

Mo McCooper – senior member of our writing group
Handwritten in class 9.22.11
Arthur Murray

About 2 years ago, on a day when there was confusion about which room the writing class would be in we were waiting on the large room next to the registration desk. At the piano on the far side of the room a man was playing the piano while another man and a lovely lady were singing any words they knew to the songs. After a little while Benita, our writing teacher, and I joined in. We were encouraged to sing by a tall, thin man with a winning smile who also played the piano. Arthur Murray made sure we enjoyed ourselves and learned how to harmonize at the same time. Soon after, Arthur joined our writing group adding his positive attitude and ideas for extra socializing to the agenda. On the charter buses to and from the NPR TV and radio studios and the Free Library of Philadelphia, among other writing class events, Arthur led us in “sing alongs”!! I’ll miss him BIG TIME!!!

Mr. Robert (Putting Your Mind to It)

2011-10-02T23:00:00.000-04:00

You all know Robert Leung - one of our 3 Musketeers, but guess what? We now have 2 Roberts regularly attending class every week! And yes, my silly senior buds have been trying out new nicknames on them: “Bobby” for our original member; “Mr. Robert” for our newer addition.

I’ve liked Mr. Robert ever since he joined our group in August. The first time we met, I was immediately struck by a special quality he has – you can see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice but I couldn’t put my finger on it. Then, this past Thursday, as I listened to him read his story out loud – about friendships he’s gained and lost over the years – I realized what that quality is called.

Strength.

It’s hard for me to say exactly what makes a strong man, but I feel like the ability to be in touch with real feelings is a big part of it. That’s the kind of strength that Robert’s got, and to various extents, that’s what a lot of the male members in our class have got. Our men – they’re really, extraordinarily strong. I am so proud of them.

Robert Mitchell
8.11.2011
Putting Your Mind to It

To be where you’re at.
To get where you want to go.
To be thankful for what you got & family.

At an early age being a toddler (age newborn-5 yrs) our household utilities were: electric can oil lamp, gas, a pot belly stove, also too that was the heat of the house in a 3-bedroom house for 5 kids (mother, 3 sisters & 1 brother). I was taught to be respectful of elders, be courtesy, have manners, and always speak when spoken to!!!

My teenage years, we lived in a 3-bedroom house. Our second house had electricity, gas & coal heat. My room was furnished with a single bed, a dresser, mirror, clothes closet, no, I repeat no!!! radio, t.v., air conditioner, or all the luxury that the kids now have today.

I was drafted in the military after I turned 20 yrs-old and did a 2 yr. tour of duty during the Vietnam War. Back home again and I got married for the second time 2 yrs later.

Once I was in the work field, all the luxuries that I didn’t have when I was young were in my reach. Once I put my mind to getting them: a house, a car, a garage, 5 kids, a wife with both of us working. You can get all these amenities & more once you put your mind to it and strive to do whatever it takes to make life a blessing for you and your family; with God in your life you will make it.

Robert Mitchell
9.1.2011
Growing Up

I was raised by my mother, however, my father wasn’t around – why, I don’t know, I guess it was a man thing. My mother taught me love, family, respect, discipline, speak-up when spoken to, and to get along with people, don’t kiss their (back side).

Let me break it on down;

Love- Love yourself before you love someone else.

Family- Be there for your family when needed.

Discipline- Without discipline, you have no sense of direction in life.

Speak up when spoken to!!- When you are asked a question, speak plainly so the other person can hear you. Don’t mumble.

Kissing Backside- Just to get along with people, don’t give up your pride and dignity.

With all that she had taught me, I add 2 more. Have compassion for others cause you’re not better than them, and respect other peoples’ opinion, cause they have freedom of speech.

Roller Skate Stories

2011-09-27T20:05:00.000-04:00

And now… (drum roll please) it’s my pleasure to introduce to you… not one but two… trouble makers on roller skates!

You know what this means. Miss Mo and Doris get major street cred in my book! I think a little trouble makes them extra cool, don’t you? Hey, but still, don’t try either at home ;)

Missouri Grier
9.15.2011
Dog Lessons

As a little girl in my neighborhood, there were not many things to keep your mind busy. So with nothing to do but play with my dog, I decided to teach the dog how to skate. We went into the backyard, and the lesson began, and the skates were put on the back feet—and I was in trouble. The dog tried to run, and I tried to get up off the ground where she left me.

The lesson was a failure.

Doris Lang
9.22.2011
Don’t Lie

When I was a child there was a rule in our house that we could not ride a bike or roller skate. But at 9 years old all my friends were skating. One day when I knew my girlfriend would not be home, I asked her mother if I could borrow her skates. She asked me if my mother knew, of course I lied and said yes.

When I put on the skates I immediately got into a race. I never skated before. I was going down the street as fast as possible and right in front of me was a pile of leaves. I didn’t know how to get around them. I tried to go thru. I fell. I nearly slid down the sewer. My left hand was killing me. I knew if I went home my mother would pinch me. That was her form of punishment.

I sat at the curb crying. My brother came out to get me. Everyone was waiting for dinner. My father put Sloan's liniment on my arm and nearly burned all my skin. After screaming all night my Aunt took me to the hospital.

I broke my arm in three places. I was in a cast for 3 months. That was the last time I wore skates.

2 Magical Birthdays

2011-09-22T17:22:00.000-04:00

Today's class was magical. Arthur's sister Ardelia showed up.

I had talked to her younger daughter earlier this week when she called me on the phone, but I didn't realize Ardelia was showing up. We hugged, no words needed exchanging. I felt like I knew her already. Turned out, in a way, I have always known her - when I introduced myself, she smiled through her tears. And paused. And told me her older daughter's name is Benita. I couldn't believe my own ears. The “coincidence” was too beautiful to believe.

Because she showed up when the group was already writing quietly, I waited for her turn in the "reading order" to introduce her gently to the class so as to not make her or the group too sad, and she stood up and said that being there today was the best birthday gift she had ever got – then she told us that today was her 75th birthday. I mean, for me, that meant the entire universe. THIS "coincidence", the magic, the meaning of that, is too huge for me to ever understand. The fact that she was standing there in place of her brother whom we all loved so much, and in place of his passing told us it was her birthday.

Needless to say, I didn't know what to say - so I sat there with my jaw open while the seniors did the perfect thing. Without missing a beat, they began singing. Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear... SISTER, happy birthday to you. In total unison. Totally spontaneously, just like that. It was one of the happiest moments in the life of this entire project. It was so pure and so perfect.

Robert had brought flowers for the table in honor of Arthur so he gave them to her. Literally, from memorial flowers they transformed into birthday flowers.

There were a few stories today about Arthur, all extremely moving, from Mo, Loretta, and believe it or not, from Robert too (our 2nd Robert, Robert Mitchell... btw he got crowned with the nickname Mr. Robert today whereas our 1st Robert is getting called Bobby more and more officially now) - saying that even though he didn't know Arthur well (because Mr. Robert joined our group after Arthur got really sick) Arthur made an impression on him. And a story from Henrietta too called “A Farewell to Arthur: Smile” and signed, Writing Sister. And Henrietta made a collage for Arthur too. He didn't have an organized burial or memorial service, so Ardelia told us our "Special Class" on 10/6 will be really meaningful for her, it's exactly what she needs.

Meanwhile, around the table - and it was one of our higher attendance today - there were stories on all things, and a lot of funny stories. My senior buddies are so perceptive, they knew the group needs humor and cheer, and one by one they stepped up to the plate through their writings and did just that. And Helen who said she was just listening today, said she was so happy to see how big the class had gotten since our first days down in the basement, and then I looked at my watch at the date and realized two days from today, September 24th, is our class' 2-year anniversary.

Happy Birthday to Us ;)

A Special Class for Arthur

2011-09-21T13:04:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone,

We're hosting a Special Class in Memory of Arthur on Thursday Oct 6th from 1-2pm - please consider attending if you are in Philly. Your showing up would mean a lot to us.

In the meantime, please consider adding your comments on our Facebook page and we'll read them out loud on your behalf that day. It's easy to post a comment: simply click Here to see our page, then click the LIKE button and jot down whatever is on your mind.

You can also email me directly or mail a handwritten letter to the Philadelphia Senior Center (509 South Broad Street, Philadelphia PA 19147-1005) to my personal attention. Be sure to indicate "Special Class for Arthur" on the envelop.

To remember some of Arthur's stories, please click Here.

Thank you for all your encouragement. We need it!

Gratefully,
Benita
benita@thebestdayofmylifesofar.com

Mo (Pike's Peak)

2011-09-18T19:07:00.000-04:00

Who can use a pick-me-up blog post today? Mo’s stories to the rescue! If you’ve been following along for a while, you know that he is one of our adorable Three Musketeers (click Here to read more!) but have I ever stopped to tell you how caring he is to all the other seniors in our class and all our young visitors as well?

Recently, in chatting with one of our volunteers on email, I realized that some of the physical weekly experiences that are so apparent to me, are the very things that I forget to tell you about on the blog. And Mo’s presence in the class is one of them.

It’s in the most subtle ways that he shows how much he cares. On days when there is a higher attendance, he would politely write less or says that he is listening, so others, especially newer members, would have a chance to speak. On days when there is a lower attendance, he would find ways to compliment the members who are around the table, especially of course his best buds Michael and Robert. A lot of times he would give spontaneous speeches about Michael’s integrity; or tell a lovingly funny story about something witty that Robert told a passerby on their way to class.

Also, whenever another member of the group needs a title for a story, Mo would always offer a suggestion, but only gently and when asked. And – not sure if the other seniors even know this – every week after class when Dee and I stay to pack up the pens, paper, and handwritings, Mo keeps us company. He’d clear cookie crumbs off the table (you guys know we love birthday snacks!), straighten out the chairs, and help us carry our supplies back to our storage closet.

With Arthur’s recent passing, I feel like I should take the time to notice and appreciate these little things that Mo and other seniors do, and share them with you, just as I share their stories here.

Mo McCooper
3.31.2011
Pike’s Peak

On the edge of town, we lived the an apartment over a tavern on the highway and my cousin Joey, who was 3 years older than I, would come to take me places. Sometimes my mom, his Aunt Katy or my mom’s little sister who I knew as Aunt Nancy would give Joey some change for ice cream cones at a place a few blocks away. Teenagers also went to dance there. We could stand around the juke box and watch the records spin. The girls were called “Bobby Soxers” and the boys “Jitterbugs”.
Joey was saying something funny all of the time. He made everything we did together a lot of fun. I idolized him.

The name of the place with the dance floor was “Pikes’s Peak”. Later in life I learned that it was named after a famous early American Landmark.

Mo McCooper
5.5.2011
Ins and Outs

Ours was a baseball town. Most of us started to play with older relatives or friends in grammar school or junior high school at any empty lot big enough for the bases and a little outfield.
The first ones there would place their hands around the bottom of the baseball bat. Others added their hands until the last hand went over the top. That last hand became the first batter. Then, came 3 more batters, a catcher, pitcher first baseman then the other positions.

When a batter struck out, flied out, or grounded out they would go to right field unless there were other players waiting. All other players would move up one position after an out.
If you caught the ball in the air you went right up to bat and the ex-batter took the place of the one who caught the ball.

No adults were involved. The game is called “ins and outs”. Kids learned every position. We all quickly learned the double play so 2 of us could move up 2 positions.
Most of us ran or rode our bikes to the games at the big town playground which had sometimes 4 games going at once.

Mo McCooper
5.26.2011
Brookline Pool

My cousin Joey and 1 other older kid took me on 2 buses to a town in Haverford township Delaware County to go swimming in a 2 pool swimming club. Somebody was a member.

Grandmom taught me to swim when I was 3 years old in the Atlantic Ocean at a beach called “the Inlet” in Atlantic City, New Jersey. We also jumped into creeks and small ponds in towns close to the Schuylkill River but no one was able to practice swimming there.

At Brookline pool, we didn’t want to go to the little kids’ pool so we practiced in the shallow end of the big pool where a lifeguard watched the deep end and sort of kept an eye on the rest of us.
More later.

In Memory of Arthur

2011-09-12T18:36:00.002-04:00

It is with tears in my eyes that I type this. Our friend Arthur passed away yesterday in his sleep. Back in June, he told me that he had cancer but I didn't think it was my place to share about that here online, but now I feel like it's time. He was always a teenager at heart, he sang karaoke till midnight and always invited my volunteers and me along, he lived life like one big party, he liked taking videos of us with his phone, his hugs and smiles were always genuine, and despite all the weight he lost in the past few months his integrity and spirit powered on. Back when we had Seniors' Storytelling Day last November and I was nervous before we got on stage, he held my hand the whole time. I am really, really sad as I type this. I really don't know what else to say. This is the last story that he wrote in our class.

Arthur Murray
7.18.11
This Wonderful World of Ups and Downs

What makes the world go around

Do’s
Keep right with the Almighty
(to be continued)

And Don’ts
Do not make the staff mad, why because anything can happen. Already some people just be working not because they are dedicated to their job, some that are loyal, some are impatient, some let the Jonses get them down, in other words if their job are being better then they might lose their composure and if that happens the way things are now-a-days, there’s always somebody that wants a job and they out in the cold, if you know what I mean. It’s just a matter of time. Just to think Martin Luther King lost his life, why, because somebody somewhere had larceny in their heart. Well when someone felt threatened they either hired someone to do dirty work for them, watch your back these days, it must be in the food, air, drugs, or whatever. All I can say if you’re the victim, I pray for you. Count your blessings. Don’t get caught up in that trend. I’m not trying to be something that I’m not. You can’t be yourself because people only care about themselves. Where is the love? When will we learn? In my few years I’ve been on this planet, I’ve seen a lot of ups and downs. But, I’m going to try my best to live a positive life as long as our Father uses me as he see. He, the “Almighty God” for this I’m so thankful. Amen.

Links to some other stories that Arthur wrote.

Life is So Wonderful

Togetherness

Singing

Friends are More Important than Money

Broken Hearts

Ups and Downs

Click Here to see how I first met Arthur. I still remember that day.

Pat (Aftermath) - a poem for 9/11

2011-09-08T16:05:00.000-04:00

We stand united remembering 9.11.

Pat has been a part of our class for a few months now. In previous weeks, when it was her turn to read at our table, she would usually recite a poem from memory. Before beginning, she would take a full second to close her eyes as though to tune out the world and travel deep into her memory bank, and when she has picked the right poem for the day, she’d open her eyes wide. The room would hush. Word after word would arrive loudly and clearly, marching straight from her core and filling the room. Her voice is like nothing else you’ve ever heard. Rich, complex, deliberate, with not a single misplaced word or ill-timed pause. I’d always sit there wishing that one day she would write down her poems in her words so you too can – to the extent this blog and our imagination allows us – hear her voice too. Today was that day. This is the poem she wrote. I just got home from the senior center, and knew I had to share this one with you right away. Pat’s courageous voice must be heard.

Patricia E. Williams
9.8.2011
Aftermath

The Nerve of them,

after passing the lady with the torch,
after dining on democracy,
and consuming freedom,
to think that this great nation
could not rise above the ashes
of those three buildings and lost lives,

Because of the unity of us,
the courage of us,
the strength of us.
we shall prevail.

The nerve of us.

Robert (Lots of Fun)

2011-09-05T12:30:00.000-04:00

In the previous blog post, we heard from Dorothy about how much she enjoys reading and typing our seniors’ handwritten stories, especially her dad’s. Now, let’s hear from Robert about how proud he is of Dorothy and how much he loves his new grandson.

People always ask me why I named this project The Best Day of My Life So Far. Why So Far? The question is not easy to be to answer, I can fill pages about my full reasons, I have many, and I promise you I am working on filling those pages, which one day I will share. But when I see Robert’s last three sentences, about things he plans to do with his grandson when he is older – I think to myself, Yes! That right there is what I’ve always meant by So Far, that’s always been my hopes and dreams for my seniors buddies, that’s why I started this project in the first place! It’s about a thirst for life, and a choice to be happy and excited for the future. Robert’s got it. And I can’t even explain how happy and excited that makes me.

Robert Leung
8.11.2011
Lots of Fun

As usual I came to our meeting today, Thursday. It is such a nice and beautiful day. The sun is shining and the air is fresh and clean. No smog like in California, the place I used to live.

The reason I came here to Philadelphia was to visit my daughter, Dorothy and my grandson Andy. He is almost 1 and a half years now and as quite as can be. I love him so very much. He loves me too.

I cannot wait until he is a little older so I can go places with him, like doing tagging and running and then I can teach him to swim.

I look forward for the summer to come; it will have lots of fun------

My daughter, Dorothy, is working at the Penn Hospital. Her work is very important and she has a high position. She is in charge of the hospital and all the doctors. She and her husband, also a doctor, met at Stanford University in California. Her husband is Italian and their son, Andy, is as cute as he can be, I love him to death.

I can’t wait till the summer again so I can go to the park with him to do some running and go to the library and teach him to read and write. Of course, I’ll also teach him some Chinese and the Chinese language is not easy to learn. I also plan, when it is time, to teach him to ride a bike.

We Heart Our Copy Editors!

2011-09-01T19:13:00.001-04:00

Denver, Colorado

Youngstown, Ohio

Hong Kong, China SAR

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Today’s blog post comes to you from all around the country, and better yet, the world.

Our project has never stopped growing since it started just under 2 years ago (9/24 will be its two-year anniversary actually!) Right now as I type this, hopes and dreams and actions plans are being created – hopes and dreams of how to make our project right here last forever and forever, and plans which I am looking forward to sharing with you in the next few months.

Right now as I type this, I am also thinking about what a super class we had today and how the trust in our class is stronger and deeper than ever, just as attendance continues to grow in numbers and diversity of all sorts. No matter how crazy my own life or day is, I know every Thursday when I sit at the table with my favorite group of seniors, I can find peace again and see life clearly again and through their stories collect enough happiness again to carry me through my week.

Right now as I type this, I am also thinking about how happy I am about our 8-week summer storytelling program which was our first public experiment of taking the essence of our original class and turning it into a compact, customizable format. Session 8 was yesterday and it contained nothing but sheer joy. Click Here for the program’s blog www.ourbestdaysofar.com to see what a difference 8 weeks can make.

My head is like that, floating from cloud to cloud. I am a dreamer at heart - my blessing and my curse ;) And so it’s with utter respect and admiration that I present to you the bread and butter of our project, the bedrock that allows me to stand here and dream big and reach high: my beautiful copyediting team. Coordinated by the best copyediting coordinator anyone can ever dream of, Tanya Krawchuk, here are the voices of some of the hardworking hands that transmits our seniors handwritings to your computer screens week after week. Thank you copyeditors, you are the reason that our project can choose to dream.

Courtney Polenick, Youngstown, Ohio
8.18.2011
Hello to All!

As a new copy editor (going on a month now!), I am so excited to be a part of The Best Day of My Life So Far, and I can already feel the infectious enthusiasm and dedication of all team members and class participants. Here is a little bit about me, and why I became involved with this project.

I am a recent graduate of a master’s program in behavior analysis, where my research and practical experience focused on older adults living in residential care settings. My research interests include assessing the potential benefits of social and creative activities for older individuals.

I first learned about The Best Day of My Life So Far through a chance discovery of the project’s fan page on Facebook. As I read the seniors’ stories, I was deeply moved by the realization that, even though I don’t know them personally and I may never meet them, they can reach out to me and to other readers through the words that they courageously and graciously share. At age 29, there are several decades between the senior writers and me. But I can fully relate to their expressions of humor, grace, and wisdom.

Although I have thoroughly enjoyed reading all of the stories that I have received as a copy editor, one of my favorites is entitled “Flying Dutchman and Lone Ranger,” by Joe Garrison. Joe beautifully echoed my sentiment that music, as well as other forms of art, can touch our lives in a way that is timeless and universal. As a musician and artist, I wholeheartedly believe that engagement in the arts, including storytelling, can positively impact quality of life for individuals of all ages, and can increase feelings of social connectedness across cultural, societal, generational, and even geographical boundaries.

The Best Day of My Life So Far uses modern technology in a way that reminds us of an age-old truth: Everyone has a story to tell. The writings of older and younger class participants encourage readers to pause for a moment in the frenzy of daily life to partake in this simple, yet powerful aspect of the human experience that unites us all. Providing an outlet for generations to connect and share their stories and perspectives with each other and with the wider internet community is clearly beneficial for everyone involved.

Again, I am thrilled to be on board, and I have a sincere admiration and appreciation for all who make this project possible.

Dorothy Leung, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
8.18.2011
Copy Editor Insight

I used to receive at least two to three letters a week from my dad. His notes became so frequent and predictable that I neither realized nor appreciated being the recipient of his kind words. That is, until those letters stopped coming. A couple of years ago, my dad stopped diligently taking care of himself, and I noticed a decline in his mental and physical health. When I moved him from California to Philadelphia, my sister and I were worried that he may not have a community of friends, so it was a pleasant surprise when I learned he was attending a "writing club."  When I attended the writing workshop and presentation last year at the Philadelphia Free Library and learned of the depth and breadth of this wonderful class, I knew that I needed to support it in any way I could. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to be on the copy writing team. I am able to read about and learn from some remarkable seniors whose stories are touching and honest and so funny! I love having the chance to "listen" to the lessons from those who have lived through incredible challenges, those who still have little materially but whose hearts are richer than most. And, I especially love when I am assigned my dad's stories, to know that he is once again lifting that pencil to the paper and expressing himself through words. I don't think I will ever get him back to the vibrant way he once was, but I do see - through his slanted, all-caps writing - the spirit that still wants to shine.  I don't always know how my dad keeps busy on most days, but I never have to worry about where he is on Thursdays. I love being able to log onto the blog and see his smiling face among the many people in the class. It's exciting to see him excited about his friends and the wonderful volunteers who make this possible. Although he doesn't write as frequently anymore, in many ways the weekly stories are even more meaningful than any letter of the past...and these stories are ones I will surely not take for granted.  - Dorothy Leung, 29 University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Director, and New Mom

Mary Ann Krawchuk, Denver, Colorado
8.18.2011
Copy Editor Insight

The Senior Stories are often windows into the world of what Tom Brokaw has labeled, the Greatest Generation. These individuals contributed so much to this country, and their stories are part of their legacy. It is also a window into the aging process, and the challenges and joys that one faces. While it is obvious the seniors enjoy sharing their stories, they also allow the rest of us to deepen our understanding and love for the people behind the stories.

Sandra Leung, Hong Kong, China SAR
8.18.2011
Copy Editor Insight

Here’s a blurb =)

Been involved for half a year now – heard about the program from my good friend Karla and just wanted to contribute back to society! Simple =) Has definitely been a very rewarding experience to give back and have actually been learning a lot from these stories! It especially feels great when seniors write that the best day of their lives is while writing at The Best Day of My Life (So Far)! =)

Marci (A Simple Question)

2011-08-28T10:00:00.006-04:00

Just after Ellis read his letter for Watson (cheek out the previous blog post), his sister Marci read this story out loud to the group. Hearing this story made the simple sight of these two siblings – sitting just across the table from me, side by side, elbow to elbow – extraordinary.

Marci Zelmanoff
8.11.2011
A Simple Question

I was a patient at Catch-Penrose AI. When the psychiatrist asked me in a soft tone, “Do you by chance have a brother?” I said, “Yes – named Ellis?” I hadn’t seen nor heard from Ellis in over a year. She thought of contacting and getting in contact with my brother. Last summer was joyous. We are developing a fondness for each other a day at a time. If not for this MD, we might have never re-met. We would never learn that we lived 3 blocks from each other. I may not be too fond of this MD or any MD, but I am grateful to him for asking me a simple question.

Ellis (Dear Watson)

2011-08-26T08:22:00.000-04:00

Do you guys remember how not long along, Ellis’ former student (who now lives in Africa!) found him through this blog and wrote us to ask about him? Click Here to check out that blog post again. A couple weeks ago, we read Watson’s note out loud to the class and Ellis was moved to speechlessless. Watson! This letter goes out to you from Your Favorite Teacher describing his fond memories of your1971 6th grade class. Write more – and ask your former classmates to do the same. You’ve made Ellis’ “entire summer”… now it’s time to make his entire fall!

Ellis Zelmanoff
8.11.2011
Dear Watson

Dear Watson,

I am extremely happy to receive your email at my creative writing class at the Philadelphia Senior Center (main one in Philadelphia, PA, on August 11, 2011).

How are you and what are you doing in West Africa? I have retired from Public School Teaching in 2008 and spent my last year in it as a teacher of English as a Second Language in North and Southwest Philadelphia mainly with students ages 4 – 9 from Africa, South America and Puerto Rico. The classes went well. I was sorry to say goodbye to each class I had. After I taught your Sixth Grade Class in Camden, I went to Lakewood, NJ, and Philly again in my public school teaching. After I was done teaching public elementary school, I went into Computer Programming – teaching young adults in Princeton, NJ, for the Attone Institute, a computer programming school for first year students in Computer Science. I was also privileged to teach and work as a Computer Programmer for Campbell Soup’s in Camden, Bellcore in Piscatarbay, NJ, and Reece in Bordentown, NJ. I even had a 5 year stint as a Computer Programming Contractor in NYC where I commuted faithfully from New Brunswick, NJ, every morning for about 5 years.

I think a lot about your 6th grade class in Camden, NJ, and mostly have fond memories of the way we ended the last few months of the school year.

I remember you and your mom and Joe Sikorsky and his mom. Brian Holden was another mostly fond memory, Sharon Ray, Sharon Clifford, Debbie Molleneany, Sarah, and Wanda Cooper and her friend Jackie were also fond memories. We had some trouble in the beginning of the school year in Sept ‘71 but got our act together by June ’72 “that our year together was a good learning year,” I felt honored and elated by his remark and others from you, Wanda, Jackie and Arlisha.

Please reply to my email. I would like to find out more about you and any other students in my class as you guys were my first teaching experience and overall. I rate the class as a dynamic success – especially the peaceful way you guys came in to see me the last day in June of the class and let me know that I did at least some things you liked.

Please write more
Ellis Zelmanoff

God bless you. You have made my entire summer. Keep writing!

If you know any of the other students still, feel free to pass this email on to them.

Maybe we could have a class reunion someday.

Facebook: every LIKE counts!

2011-08-22T12:35:00.000-04:00

Can't get enough of our 6-year-old honorary member? Below are drawings that Joseph made and showed our seniors when he visited the group a couple weeks ago. Thank you Renee (Joseph's grandmother and Beatrice's daughter) for your sweet words on Facebook just now:

Hi, Benita and everyone. I'm sorry that it took me such a long to get back to you but I had the most beautiful time with you when I was in Philly. My grandson had such a wonderful time. He loves to read and write stories too. I love to write too. Hopefully next time I will read some of my stories. God bless you all and keep on writing.

Hi, Renee - So good to hear from you. Made my day! I know Beatrice loved seeing you guys there, so yes you have to come out to Philly and visit us again soon - bring more family... we know you have a gigantic bunch, bring 'em all!

And hi, Readers - We know you live all over the world and may not be able to visit physically, but you can still let our seniors know you are out there listening to their stories. How? Facebook! Simply click HERE to see our Facebook page, then press the LIKE button, and ask your friends to do the same. It would just take you a second but would mean the world to us. Every LIKE counts. Your support on Facebook directly fuels our seniors' confidence and keeps them writing week after week. Thank you.

6-year-old Joseph (Train Ride)

2011-08-19T12:09:00.002-04:00

Around here – on this blog and in our class – words are worth more than pure gold. Then I realized that in the hands of a six-year-old, that’s when they become infinitely priceless. Below is what Joseph – Beatrice’s GREAT GRANDSON (!!!) wrote when he came to visit our class. Yes, literally, he was sitting at the table with all the rest of us, blending right in with the seniors, looking quite tough and adult and invincible with his nice hat, with his mom and grandma also there cheering him on. Oh and you know what they say about pictures being worth more than words. I’d say Joseph’s pictures make his already priceless words, even more impossibly unbelievably out-of-this-world. Joseph sitting at the table with us, writing and reading his story out loud to a roomful of seniors, counting for us how many people he drew on the train and the bus. I’d put all that on my top ten list of unforgettable moments from this project… no doubt about it. His being there just meant so much.

Joseph Rey
8.11.2011
Train Ride

We went to the underground mall.
We went to the mall on the train. We rode the bus also.

Brendan (Sweet Tooth)

2011-08-16T22:55:00.002-04:00

Think the last blog post is as sweet as things get around here? Think again. Here’s Brendan, one of our incredible Satellite Class co-leaders, showing us all how to treat a lady just right… honor her with an all-out sugar poem of course!!

Can’t get enough of Brendan? You’re in luck! Hang out with him tomorrow at our summer satellite class, which meets every Wednesday 4-5:30pm at the Free Library of Philadelphia Room 108. Tomorrow is session 6 of 8 - can you believe how fast summertime has flown by? Check out how much that class has grown in the past 5 weeks by visiting www.ourbestdaysofar.com. I can’t be more proud of Brendan and our satellite crew- you guys are doing a fantastic job!

And now, back to the romance. Ready, set, blush!

Brendan O’Hara
8.4.2011
Sweet Tooth

My sweet heart
gave me my sweet tooth
you see
before I met her
my favorite dessert was
bread.
maybe a dinner roll
or some warm pumpernickel
perhaps a piece of toasted rye
or grandma’s famous cinnamon loaf.
I spent my childhood quenching my palate
with grains and wheats.
But then she came along,
my sweet tooth, my sweetheart, my
Emily Jean,
with her perfect row of teeth
and her predilection for
cavitied food.
you see she loves
and tarts
and pies.
And so she proceeded to win over
my enamels with
boston crèmes and
lemon meringues,
rhubarb bars and
apple tarts.
Soon,
I couldn’t finish an
evening without a scoop of
something with butter or sugar
or heavy cream.
But I have never regretted a moment of our 2.5 year
marriage
or the twenty pound that I have put on
in the process.
and she loves the new fat on my body
so much so that
she recently got me my very own
membership at the
YMCA.

Hazel (Uptown Trash) and Joe (Remembrance)

2011-08-14T15:28:00.000-04:00

Well well well I looked at today’s date and what do you know… it’s 6 months till my favorite holiday, Valentine’s Day. Silly I know but I am always looking for a good excuse for romantic stories! So ok, are you ready for a mini emotional roller coaster? In the next minute, you may burst into an uncontrollable giggle and go on to drop a slight tear. We are talking serious romance today: not for the faint of heart ;) !

Hazel Nurse
5.26.2011
Uptown Trash

Several years ago in the Atlantic City High School lunch room, my friend, Dorris introduced me to a young man who needed a date for his senior prom. At fourteen years of age, I heartedly accepted his invitation eagerly anticipating this new experience.

On prom night he appeared in a rented tuxedo with a corsage of red roses in hand. After attaching it to my older sister’s full length gown, I was excited. He ushered me to the back seat of a long jitney chauffeured by a friend of his family. After a farewell from “mom” and a lecture from “dad” insuring my return before midnight, we were off to an enjoyable evening.

Through the years we corresponded and after one heated discussion I decided to end our friendship and called him, “Uptown Trash”. However, although I cut him off of a photo, we were married eight years later.

Joe Garrison
7.28.2011
Day of Remembrance

This day has two meanings for me. It’s my sister’s wedding anniversary and also the birthdate of someone very close to me. If Debra was still here, today would be her 58th birthday. I remember on this day 4 years ago she came to visit me and we went out for lunch that day. Any visit from her was special but this was a milestone in our relationship. After we enjoyed lunch, we came back to my apartment and I placed a gold ring on her finger. At that moment I felt as though I was king of the world because I felt so deeply in love with her, and her with me. We shared a long embrace and a meaningful kiss.

It is a coincidence that the song, “You Light Up My Life” was written by a man named Joseph and it was for a girl named Debbie. It was a hit record.

Even though she is no longer with us, I will do my best and keep Debbie’s name and her memory alive. I’ll never get over her. She was a beautiful, sweet girl. That’s what she’ll always be for me.

Josie (Changes)

2011-08-08T17:36:00.000-04:00

The news about today’s stock market plummet has made me pretty queasy. That was the feeling in my stomach when I toggled my screen away from CNN.com and popped open my “stories” folder looking for something to post here for you. Browsing through our seniors’ latest stories – all of which are amazing in their own ways, I found myself pausing at Josie’s, and rereading them several times. They seem even more calming today than when I had first heard them in class.

… the old heavy black Singer sewing machine with engraved golden print that sang smoothly like a locomotive as grandmother guides fabric beneath the needle that rose and fell to create a stitch…

Rereading these words, I swear I am just watching Josies’ grandmother at the sewing machine, watching - and listening - as the needle makes that single stitch. She’s right. “Life is moving so fast,” but at the same time, life is simple, life is ok, when we take the time to appreciate the way a simple needle rises and falls. Today’s still the best day of my life so far.

Josie A Miller
7.21.2011
Changes

Today is the beginning of a new phase in my life. I am 72 years old and today, for the first time, I joined a senior citizen center. Before now I had resisted joining a group of “old” people because I want to keep up with the present and the future. Life is moving so fast. New technology, new types of art, especially music. New people with new languages, food and dress. The faster I ran the faster things changed. Now I embrace my own time, my own age and realize little has changed.

Josie Miller
7.28.2011
Dresses

Images of fabrics of numerous textures, prints and colors; my grandmother’s hands as she held the scissors and cut into the clothes; the old heavy black Singer sewing machine with engraved golden print that sang smoothly like a locomotive as grandmother guides fabric beneath the needle that rose and fell to create a stitch.

I had never owned a store bought dress.

10 of a Million Reasons

2011-08-04T17:45:00.001-04:00

So many reasons why today's class was unforgettable:

10. We surprised Dee with birthday cupcakes! Yay! It was fun to see Dee so happy.

9. Brendan, one of the leaders from our Wednesday library satellite class, came to cheer Dee on.

8. Brendan wrote a loving story about his wife of 2-1/2 years... stay tuned for a blog post of that!

7. Madi, our teen intern who helps to lead our satellite class, gave a great recap of how that class has been blossoming. Click Here to read the satellite blog which Madi narrates.

6. We had a big, happy class with big-hearted stories.

5. The weather was nice and not too hot, so seniors could travel to class easily.

4. We took a lot of fun photos. (Click Here to see today's album! To see photos as they are posted, please Like us on Facebook. Thanks!)

3. Beatrice's daughter, granddaughter and great-grandson visited from North Carolina and Delaware!

2. Joseph is six ;)

1. My mom and sister who are visiting from Seattle came to class. I think they loved it.

Doris (Up in the Air)

2011-07-30T16:45:00.001-04:00

You guys, it’s so hot here in Philly! Well, nothing beats the heat wave like an air conditioner story... and a laugh! This is what Doris wrote the first time she joined our class – and you know we’re a rowdy bunch, so can you imagine how loudly we were laughing? Oh yeah, we like funny, and we’ve enjoyed welcoming Doris into our group so much.

Doris Lang
7.21.2011
Up in the Air!

My husband and I decided to put an air conditioner in and forgot to look to see if we had a window sill. My husband threw it out of the window. He was afraid he might have killed someone as we live on the second floor. He bent over a table under the window to see if he hurt anyone, and the boy downstairs was holding it. He told my husband to release the cord. He said what cord? The cord was under his stomach, and he did not know it. The boy brought it up and it was fine.

Henrietta (The Dancing Spirit)

2011-07-28T17:18:00.000-04:00

Once in a while, I leave class and think, "That was a perfect class,"
and that feeling lasts with me the rest of the day, and it's the happiest
thing. Last Thursday and today were both that kind of a class. Nothing big happened, it’s just the group morale, the respect, the ease.

Quiet writing time was quiet. Even when a new or regular member walked in late, other members were able to welcome them with hugs and kisses, then continue to focus on their writing. Detailed soul-baring stories were written and shared out loud. And afterwards, we lingered, took pictures, socialized, snacked. Everything just clicked.

In 2 years our class has not only grown exponentially in size, but also exponentially in depth, into something very emotionally complex. Every half a year or so, I’d feel something like an actual emotional growth spurt that takes the whole room with it. It’s hard to describe. Something about the vibe in the room. The past two weeks have definitely felt like that. One of the moments that moved me was when Henrietta read this poem out loud.

Henrietta Faust
7.21.2011
The Dancing Spirit

Suddenly, one day, there it was: a dancing spirit.
It’s as if I can taste it!
It’s a moving to any beat!
The dancing spirit laid dormant, then surfaced
“like a stalking, old boyfriend popping up again.”
And there it was the one dancing spirit again.
It could do the bob and weave to the beat.
And there it goes moving of feet.
To the boogie-beat.
Sounding like a washed up and out fraudulent rap beat!
Aaah! I needed that. Gotcha!
Hand me my walking stick.
Hand me down my hat.
My dancing spirit is back! And I just got it back!
Thank you dancing spirit.
And see who is verbally nailed.
You can hear it.

Surprise Note from... West Africa!

2011-07-24T15:13:00.002-04:00

Once in a while, you guys surprise us with notes that sweep us off our feet. Your words give us so much encouragement, did you know that? Last week, you did it again. Wattson, we later found out, now lives in West Africa. Click Here for the story that reconnected him across the world to his Favorite Teacher, who is one of the newer members of our class! Thank you, Wattson, for reaching out to us and letting us share your note here!

Date: Fri, Jul 15, 2011 at 3:27 PM
From: Wattson Budinger

Hi   - I was filling out an email form and it asked me for a security question, and one of the questions was 'Who was your favorite teacher?' and the first name that popped into my head was Ellis Zelmanoff. I did a google search and I found ‘The Best Day of My Life So Far' blog post he wrote, and I am happy to say that  I was a student in Mr. Zelmanoff's first teaching job - 6th grade at Cramer Middle School in Camden in 1971 - 72. Small world!  

Wattson Budinger

Click Here and Here to see some other moving notes you’ve sent us that we have never forgotten about. Inspired by what Wattson, Kathleen and Brenda have written, and feeling the urge to write us? The simplest way to do that is via Facebook: simply "Like" us Here and post a comment! Email is always welcome too! You can reach our PR Manager at Emily@thebestdayofmylifesofar.com. Hope to hear from you soon!

Bernice (It’s Good to Be Here)

2011-07-21T12:10:00.000-04:00

As you know from the previous blog post, Bernice was home recovering from a medical scare for several months… and guess what? Last week she came back to rejoin the class. I simultaneously jumped up and screamed and picked her up in my arms when I saw her. Bernice my sweet and hilarious bud is back and looking great!

Bernice Moore
7.14.2011
It’s Good to Be Here

It’s been a while since I’ve been here to see all the ones I have not seen in weeks. It is good to see them smiling faces, some new, some old. I hope I can see them each day. There is a lot of things to do each week. We have a lot to talk about. I have a new great grand baby, he is 7 months old. He loves to look at the TV.

Click Here to read the scary story that happened several months ago.

Loretta (A Bright Side Somewhere)

2011-07-18T12:42:00.000-04:00

I have learned so much from Loretta. I admire her for talking and writing openly with about her struggles with homelessness. I admire her for always being the earliest one to class – when I open the door to the room, I am always greeted by her bright, fresh smile. And often in front on her in the middle of the table, is a box of cookies or fruit that she has brought in for the class, just because. A few months ago when Bernice had her medical emergency, it was Loretta who bought her a purse and a toy bus in reference to all the adventurous bus stories Bernice likes to tell us. (Click Here to read that moving story.)

In Loretta, I have learned about generosity. I have realized that no matter how much a person has, he or she always has more to give. That no matter how much I have, I always have more to give. That no matter how rough life gets or how crummy a day gets, there is some way to give to someone else, some way to make another person’s day a little bit brighter. And we just all gotta do it. Just because. Just like Loretta. To give is really the only way to live.

Loretta Gaither
4.21.2011
How This Class Helps Me

Last Wednesday, I was with a lady named Mrs. Seawell and she brought my clothes from my apartment to the senior center. I am homeless again.

Trying to get a new place to live.

Vicky, the senior director here, and her staff, tried to help me find a new place to live and they found a storage closet for my clothes until then. I am back in the shelter for now.

I have to wait for the shelter to find my new place. I have been in the shelter twice. Thank you Vicky and Bob and the other staff here at the senior center.

Right now, I am in our writing class so I feel a lot better and I also go to church to pray.

With all the people here in writing class being so nice, I forget about all the other difficult things going on in my life when I am here.

Thank you for everyone here for being so friendly and warm to me.

Loretta Gaither
5.26.2011
A Bright Side Somewhere

I went to an Art Show and dinner where they were showcasing four of my art pieces- three shoes that I decorated and a mom and baby turtle set I made.

On the bus last weekend, I saw a lady crying so I went to sit next to her and gave her a hug. She said she was sad because she was homeless. The lady next to her told us that she was homeless too and they had a good heart-to-heart talk and we all felt better.

Later, I talked with people from the Diamond Shelter who are helping me find a safer environment. It reminds me of a Christian song, A Bright Side Somewhere For Us And We’ll Find It. I know I will a new home and I will not be homeless because God will show me where to go. I am like his clay and he’ll mold me back.

Loretta Gaither
6.23.2011
Changing

Today I came to class on the bus and recognized a familiar face smiling at me. It was Joy, a friend from years ago. She was just a little girl then and she remembered me as soon as she saw me. Joy got into trouble when she was little and I helped her out and she never forgot about it. Joy is now a grandmother and told everyone on the bus how nice I was to her. Joy said that she turned her life around because of my talks with her. I taught all the kids to respect the elders and there were others that changed too.

I decided a long time ago to change too and bring positive thinking into my life. And today I remained calm while a younger worker at the vital statistics office treated me rudely. I found someone to help and was able to finish the application. I felt good to be calm and I know that starting today with God’s help, I will be in the senior apartments because I was able to change and have positive behavior. I know that positive thinking as you get older is very important.

Arthur (Life is So Wonderful)

2011-07-14T17:22:00.000-04:00

Yeah, let’s stop and think a little bit. Sometimes it’s easy to forget to do that. Such sweet words by my bud Arthur.

Arthur Murray
6.30.2011
Life is So Wonderful

When you stop and think a little bit, life is so sweet. Lots of times we don’t really value it as much as we could. When you stop and look at another person’s situation, some are happy, sad, troubled, mad, unhappy with their life but look at the bright side, we’re still here. All we have to do is love one another much more. The world is here for you and I. My experience in life is loving each and every one because of the energy you get back is so great. Love and this world is full of love and that is what the world needs is love and understanding. Just let go. With all the love you can give and cherish the love in return.

Keep up the good work.

New Class Starts... Tomorrow!

2011-07-12T09:58:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow is it! The first session of our 8-week “Our Best Day So Far” satellite class at Free Library of Philadelphia!!! Thinking about coming but maybe a teeny bit nervous? No problem! We were thinking it would help if we walk you through what to expect. Click Here to see our satellite blog, narrated by our teen intern Madi, as she shares how tomorrow is going to go… and how she was once in YOUR shoes! Yup, she started getting involved in our project like you, as a blogreader, then visitor, and now she is, a core part of our team! Now, how inspirational is that? Come to class and ask Madi more about it when you see her tomorrow ;)

Quick reminder of the time and place: 4-5:30pm Parkway Central Branch Room 108. Be there be there be there - it's gonna be so much fun!!!

BTW major news break: We officially hooked up our new satellite blog to Facebook, which means via Facebook you can read BOTH the original blog (this one here) and the satellite blog! Woohoo, digital conveniences rock!

Launch Party Photos!

2011-07-07T20:20:00.001-04:00

Guaranteed to put a smile on your face: Launch Party photos are loaded up on Facebook and they are super fun! Below is a sneak peek. "Like" us on Facebook (click Here then press the "Like" button) to see the full photo album. Thank you to photographer Mark Garvin (who is also our teen intern Madi's dad!) for capturing the spirit of the happy day.

Hazel, Beatrice, Hattie (We Are Growing)

2011-07-05T21:41:00.001-04:00

In the previous blog post, I shared about what last week’s Launch Party means to me. And now, I am excited to share some of our seniors’ reflections. I love how Hattie entitles her reflections, plain and simple: “We are growing.” I love how our seniors understand and believe that our original, still-ongoing class has the capacity to produce great changes well beyond our first classroom. And how Hazel talks about lasting “forever.”

I love how Beatrice says: “We are branching out. We started small and we are reaching out to everyone on the internet. My friends and family are very happy about this project. They say it is the best thing and has the right title.”

It’s true: the title is right. The Best Day of My Life So Far. From day one, this project was a miracle. And every day, it just keeps getting better.

Stay tuned for even more Launch Party stories. “Like” us on Facebook to see them as they get posted and see event photos! And remember, the purpose of our event was to officially launch our upcoming 8-week multi-generational storytelling class, so please help us invite all the seniors AND teens you know! The party has just begun!

Hazel Nurse
6.30.2011
Launch Party

The Story-Telling and Writing Class “Launch Party” at the Central Library on June 29th was well attended.

Throughout the program a huge video screen showed colorful photos of our activities. Also, a tasty buffet of fruit, cheeses, crackers cake and cookies along with fruit drinks were enjoyed by all.

We listened to our hostess, Benita, welcome us and speak about our new satellite class – “Our Best Day so Far” as she described outreach and genuine efforts to sustain what we are doing and to have more events to last forever.

Dee, our lovely co-leader spoke about the intergenerational involvement in our lives.

A prominent member of our class, Beatrice emphasized the value of putting our experiences on paper.

The reading of Joe’s story and a most eloquent talk by Mr. Gordon were both welcome treats.
Following this, Madi (our teen intern), Amy (one of the co-leaders of the new satellite class), Grace (AARP Associate State Director) and other officials brought us up to date concerning “Our Best Day So Far” slated to begin in July for eight weeks, meeting at the Central Library.

Beatrice Newkirk
6.30.2011
At The Library

Our class came to the Library. We met there at half past one o’clock on June 29th. We had lunch with the other people. The program was very nice. We met lots of friends. The members of our class spoke. Everyone liked what they heard.
Our pictures were on the screen. We got a chance to hear from other people. Everyone felt welcome.
We are branching out. We started small and we are reaching out to everyone on the internet. My friends and family are very happy about this project. They say it is the best thing and has the right title.

Hattie Lee Ellerbe
6.30.2011
We Are Growing

Yesterday, Wednesday June 29, 2011 was an exceptionally happy and exciting day.

Our writing class was invited to meet at the Main Library on the Parkway to meet with and share stories with various cultures, ages, and backgrounds, and to launch “Our Best Day So Far” – an outreach initiative featuring a summer program. It was such a joy to hear from each participant. We were met there by Benita, Dee, Amy, and even a picture of our beloved Jill who recently moved to Australia. Many of the project’s volunteers were there and there were many expressions of love and appreciation.

Yesterday - A Project Milestone

2011-06-30T21:31:00.004-04:00

Our Launch Party yesterday was such a milestone for our unstoppingly, constantly growing project. Even as I stood there at the podium at Free Library of Philadelphia, sharing our project vision and plans for our first official satellite (to take place in 2 weeks at the same room of the event - visit our satellite blog www.OurBestDaySoFar.com to find out more) to the beautifully all-ages audience, I knew that moment - the event itself - was yet again breathing new life into the project. This project defies any boundary, any summary, and I am loving every moment of it. Loving that I get to grow with it. One thing I have grown to understand is how to balance my roles as our organization's leader and the the leader of the original class. How to think and act with purpose, but still every Thursday let loose and allow myself to enjoy the company of my senior buddies, my co-leader Dee, and the other volunteers and the teens who visit our original class every chance they get. And to learn from everyone else in the room.

Today, after all the excitement of yesterday's public event, we had class as usual, and I thought to myself, this right here is where I belong. Especially as this project and its digital AND physical community continues to broaden, it's the depth of the friendship at our original table that defines the heart and soul of our project.

Many members of my amazing volunteer team worked for months towards yesterday's event, and many of them shared some very moving words at the podium. For many months, I had been cheering for each of them every step of the way, and was just so proud to see them shine. Madi, our teen intern and satellite blogger, opened her speech by saying, "This project means so much to me." And THAT right there just means so much to me. I can keep naming the sentences that moved me. I can draw you pictures of all the happy flashbacks of yesterday that I am getting today. But there are really so many.

The TV station 6abc and the radio station WHYY were there yesterday too, and we'll share the broadcasts here with you as they go online. Our hope is that these broadcasts can prompt more seniors and teens to join our satellite class (7/13-8/31). And with all sincerity, please really do help us reach out to the seniors and teens in your community to attend our class as well. A flier with meeting time and place (as well as a very fun video by one of our satellite co-leaders!) can be found on Madi's blog www.OurBestDaySoFar.com.

Stay tuned for my senior buddies' stories, from today, of yesterday's event. Their perspectives are so beautiful. I really can't wait for you to read those.

Big thanks to professional photographer Mark Garvin who is also Madi's dad ;) for capturing the event with the photos above. Visit our Facebook album where we will be posting more photos.

Thank you, everyone reading these words, for all your support.

Party Tomorrow: Bring a friend, a teen, or a senior!

2011-06-28T13:25:00.002-04:00

Take a late lunch break tomorrow and come hang out with us!! We've got short videos (we've got serious and we've got funny... can't wait to show you...), powerful readings by seniors and teens, words from our wonderful partners AARP and Free Library of Philadelphia, words from our passionate team, and time to mingle with you over afternoon snacks. Let us make your Wednesday awesome! Bring a friend, a teen, or a senior! Can you tell we're all super pumped?

See you 6.29.11... or in other words... tomorrow!!


This is the summer initiative that our event is launching. Come to the event to find out why this class is so significant as our project continues its miraculously rapid growth!


Some of the friendly members from our team that you'll get to meet tomorrow.

Luis (Well Stacked and Still Waiting)

2011-06-26T10:55:00.001-04:00

And now, a shoutout to our very own Luis as he is en route to Houston to compete in the racquetball division of the Senior Olympics! Luis, we are all here cheering for you - your own digital cheering squad! Well, that’s a story that is waiting to unfold and be told when Luis gets back in town.

Until then, how about a little something (or, more like a majestic something!) that shows another facet of his colorful life... let's just say it's "a love story" with a twist. But wait, there’s another twist: see the responding email that our super copyediting coordinator Tanya sent me after she read Luis’ story! I couldn't wait to pop the email open when I saw her subject line: “Something Fun for Luis”.

Luis Fuentes
6.16.2011
Well Stacked and Still Waiting (A Love Story)

And, she’s been waiting a long time, too long. Her make-up has started to run, wrinkles have started to replace a once smooth skin. A lady that had been described as having a majestic beauty that drew everyone’s attention, now appeared gaunt and alone.

Her appearance, which she always took pride, had now been totally neglected. As I stood there, having difficulty looking at her, my thoughts went back to the day when we first met.

We were both very young. She a maiden, I, just a boy. But it was love at first sight.

She was beautiful, well stack, and just looking good, like any lady should. I boarded her several times that day, until it was final time to say goodbye, and go my way.

I can still hear and see the imaginary sounds and sights of fireworks, bells and whistles, and fog horns in the night, . . . . or were they?

Knowing I would never see her again, I turned for the last time, but she was gone. And now, after all these years, I stand here looking at her, all tattered and torn.

What happened, where did she go? What was her name, what did she do?

My questions were answered when she left me that day in 1952.

All stacked in red, white and blue, little did I know she would go full steam ahead and make her maiden voyage true.

She was built for pleasure and speed. Her beauty and performance became stuff that was hard to believe. Her name, the SS United States. The largest and fastest ocean liner ever built.

Little did I know, when I boarded her in “52”, that her 17 year journey would include, “holding the record for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic, designed to serve as both luxury passenger ocean liner from New York to ports in Europe, and as a transport to host U.S. military troops”, until her forced retirement in 1969.

After year in dry dock and not knowing what to do, she was moved to the Delaware River in South Philadelphia and docked at her new resting place at pier 82.

Yes, Her wait has been long, her patience virtuous. Still well stacked, her condition fuctional. And now, at age 59, the stately lady is seeking a new suitor and new ground, that is, if one can be found.

Tarnished by decades of neglect, now comes forth a passionate commitment by a granddaughter named Susan and the help of a gentleman, they call “Gerry”, to restore this “damsel in distress” to the majestic beauty I once knew, when I last boarded her that day, . . . that day, when she left me in 1952.

This time things will be different when I board her again, not to deliver tokens of warm wishes and good cheer, bon voyage gifts as it was in “52”, but to set sail with her anew.

It’s imperative to note when new partners and mates are eventually found, . . . to remember dear leady, with the passage of time, . . . wherever you go, . . . whatever you do, . . . that I was once yours, and you will forever, be mine.

Subject: something fun for luis
From: Tanya Krawchuk
To: Benita Cooper
Date: Wed 22 4:01pm

While renovating our house many years ago, we found tons of old papers under the many layers of linoleum. We had to look through them all – they were fascinating! We took photos of some articles/advertisements we thought were interesting. Here’s one of them:

Mo (Moves)

2011-06-23T19:35:00.000-04:00

You know what I like? When a senior tells a story and several months later I hear another story that brings me back to the same place, or to the same time. I just think these two of Mo’s stories together make the world seem so big and so small at the same time. As small as the payphone in Dan’s shop, and as big as the social dynamics between the North and South Sides. What I like even more, is that the people in these places tend to linger on in my imagination. Dan, whom I will probably never even see a photo of, feels to me like one of the warmest and most wonderful men I ever knew, too. Weird, I know. But I am so attached to all my senior buddies’ stories. I get carried into them every time.

Mo McCooper
03.17.11
Moves

When I was 7 years old, we moved into an apartment on top of Dan’s Barbershop in the middle of hill near the railroad bridge. The bridge divided the town- on the one side was the North Side and on the other was the South Side. The whole town was half a square mile and it was the smallest borough in the United States.

The apartment was my 8th address in the town since my parents had brought me home from Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia. I was born on June 21, 1931.

Dan, the Barber, was one of the warmest and most wonderful men I ever knew. I called him Uncle Dan.

There was a pay phone in the shop my parents were allowed to use after the barbershop was closed. We lived for ten years until Dad and Mom bought a house in October of 1952.

The Irish have a saying: “It’s easier to move than pay rent!”

Mo McCooper
6.2.2011
South Side

Railroad tracks and a train station divided the town into North and South sides which created team sports rivalries. The south side had no stores or row houses and more large single homes. Less car traffic allowed for touch football and tennis ball variations of baseball in the streets.

By the time we got to 7th grade and the summer before we noticed many pretty girls on the south side, most of whom went to public school and wore more attractive clothes.

Thoughts of hugging and kissing were invading our heads but most of us Catholic school boys were shy procrastinators.

Things were WARMING UP!!

Robert and Michael (Wonderful Differences)

2011-06-22T18:39:00.000-04:00

And now, a journey through Michael’s life around the world. There is no better introduction than a few words by Robert. For those of you newer to this blog, Robert, Michael and Mo became best friends through our class, and we call them our 3 Musketeers. There’s no way to think about one of them without the other 2! Mo’s stories coming up in the next blog post!

Robert Leung
6.2.2011
Wonderful Differences

I love to come to these meetings, because I’ve met different peoples, different ages, and most of all, all different races. Like myself and Michael, we are Chinese, but we’re both born in China. All through 3 different wars. It’s a hard and difficult life. First and 2nd World War, then the Japanese invasion, then after that the Communist government. It’s very different. It gives me a wonderful life to be living in the U.S. I learn a lot just like in this daily meeting. We have the old and young, the white and black and yellow, all kinds of color. It’s wonderful, different colors, different cultures, different ages, that’s why I love to come to this meeting. That’s what it’s all about and I’m happy to write these stories.

Michael Chan Man-Tin
03/03/11
War Time

I was born in the countryside of Soo Chow. Afterwards, the Second World War happened in the year 1935.
During the war time, we were suffering a lot troubles. We lost not only millions of people’s lives, but lots of monies and properties, and also the development of the national planning.
I had left school to work in the factory office and I worked hard for five years in Hong Kong. Then I had the chance to work in the garment factory from 1950 to 1990.
Afterwards, I joined another line of business until 2001. Then my daughter invited me to join her here in the United States.

Michael Chan Man-Tin
4.14.2011
Building a Business

I was born in Shanghai’s Soo Chow on 2nd January 1933 and went to the big city and stayed there for about 5 years and then to Hong Kong by the year 1950. It was a big change as the dialect is completely different but the words are the same and the construction of the words are different. After a few years, I could join the commercial field to carry some business for ladies fashion skirts to export to the U.S.A. and other foreign countries European. Then I bought the properties for investment and collected the rent for a living.

Michael Chan Man-Tin
5.5.2011
Step By Step

My life passes quickly. I have been in this city 5 years now. I used to wonder how I myself could be settled down here. I have to thank God for leading the way to follow. And I am being led. I have a lot of things to learn and find the people here are very friendly. They help me to – step by step – enjoy my life in the society and hopefully to know more and more of this society.

I am happy to learn more and more from the friends here and thank you for the help.

Best Wishes!

Ellis (The Best Day of My Life)

2011-06-21T20:33:00.001-04:00

How awesome is it that during his very first visit to our class, Ellis shared so much about himself? Hearing his story and watching him beam made me so happy.

Ellis Zelmanoff
6.2.2011
The Best Day of My Life

The best day of my life was getting a brand new teaching job in central New Jersey in the summer of 1972. In the springtime of that year, I had just completed all of my necessary Elementary Public School teaching credentials at Glassboro College in southern New Jersey. I was a brand new teacher with tons of enthusiasm and a tough naïvette (thrown in for good measure). I received a solid 3.7 GPA in my final term at Glassboro and received encouragement from the job counseling center about Lakewood, New Jersey. Lakewood was a thriving, booming town not too far from Philadelphia and where most of my friends resided.

The preparations for the interview went well. I wore one of my sharpest suits in my wardrobe. It took about two hours to reach Lakewood from Philadelphia. It was a beautiful and scenic drive passing a variety of shrubs, pine trees, and hills lining the narrow Route 70.

The beauty of the physical environment sparked a renewed interest in my job interview later that week. My heart began to beat with increased anticipation.

Before I had arrived, my confidence and enthusiasm took a positive spike. I easily found Lakewood, the Board of Education, and the parking space.

I practically jumped of the door with excitement and I took deep long steps to the entrance of the Lakewood Board of Education.

“Can we help you,” asked a clerk at the Board office.

“Yes, I’m here to audition for the Middle School sixth grade position.” Looking over my resume, I hardly had much time to review before my name was announced.

“Hello, Mr. Zelmanoff. I am Dr. Mackolin, the Superintendent of the School District of Lakewood. We have looked over your resume and we are glad to meet you in person.”

Dr. Makolin shook my hand and asked me about me about my most rewarding teaching experience so far in Camden, NJ.

I said, “I hope I hope I am up to all of your challenges.”

“Fine,” said Dr. Makolin. “We want you to meet Mr. Kopco, the sixth grade’s principal for the school you’re considering for.”

I met with Mr. Kopco and I felt positive vibrations moving in both directions – from him to me and me to him.

Mr. Kopco said, “We are definitely interested in you.”

I drove back to the School Board’s Office to finish a few things with Dr. Makolin. As soon as I opened the door, Dr. Makolin said, “Congratulations. Welcome on board.”

Crunch Time – we need you!

2011-06-19T17:06:00.005-04:00

Just a friendly reminder that not 1, not 2, but 3 SPECIAL THINGS are happening in the next few weeks. It’s crunch time and we need all the help we can get from you to make each one a big success! And of course, Happy Father’s Day to all you dads reading this now!! In honor of Father’s Day, next week’s blog posts will feature the male members of our class – stay tuned for a whole lineup of funny, sentimental, courageous stories.

And now the 3 big things and how you can help.

#1 COME PARTY IT UP WITH US NEXT WED
Wed 6/29 1:30-3pm Philadelphia Central Library Room 108
Featuring video shorts, personal stories and intergenerational conversations
To launch our satellite storytelling class and share our plans for project expansion
Free and open to the Public… this means we want to see you all there!!!
Click Here for flier

#2 SENIORS AND TEENS, WE WANT YOU!
We are launching a “satellite” storytelling class, free and open to seniors and teens
This group will meet for 8 Wednesdays 7/13-8/31, 4-5:30pm
Philadelphia Central Library Room 108
Click Here for fliers and please invite all the seniors and teens in your lives… and just show up if YOU are a senior or a teen! We want you!

#3 VOTE FOR US TO WIN
The Best Day of My Life So Far is a semi-finalist in the national Beautiful Minds contest and we need the maximum number of votes to win!
Vote daily until 6/30 and ask your friends to vote for us too
Click http://www.beautiful-minds.com/MeetTheBeautifulMinds/2011BeautifulMinds.aspx and scroll down to see us on the semifinalist list, you can spot us with our Youtube video

I know, loads are happening! That's because we love what we do, and that's why we need you. Stick with us and keep spreading the word about us via Facebook and Twitter. Contact us via Facebook or email emily@thebestdayofmylifesofar.com with any questions. Hope to see you next Wednesday!

Vote for Best Day to Win the People's Choice Award

2011-06-10T19:13:00.003-04:00

Hi Readers,

As if all the excitement with our 6/29 Launch Party (you'd better be there if you're in Philly!) and Summer Satellite isn't enough, we've got extra breaking news to announce... and a BIG FAVOR to ask!

The Best Day of My Life (So Far) has been named a national semi-finalist in the 2011 Beautiful Minds contest, presented by the National Center for Creative Aging & Martek Biosciences. And now, we need all the votes we can get to win the ultimate honor: People's Choice Award.

TO VOTE, SIMPLY CLICK HERE OR VISIT http://www.beautiful-minds.com/MeetTheBeautifulMinds/2011BeautifulMinds.aspx

Your vote really would mean a lot to me personally. I say this for so many more reasons than I can count. I say this on behalf of my senior buddies, who have become some of my best friends, and my team, who is - and this is a fact - the most amazing team in the world. I say this because this project was always from day one and will always be personal, because it was inspired by my friendship with my grandma, which is very real and very deep and still unbelievably inspiring.

And so, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for voting, and please consider asking your friends to vote for us as well!

Gratefully, Benita

3 Week Countdown!

2011-06-08T18:35:00.002-04:00

A FLIER FOR TEENS...

AND A FLIER FOR SENIORS!!

The countdown officially BEGINS! It's 3 weeks till our Launch Party and 5 weeks till the first session of our brand new satellite class - we hope you are as excited as we are! A couple weeks ago, we posted a flier Here to invite you all to join us for the Launch Party. And now, we're hoping that you can help us reach out to the seniors and teens in your communities to join BOTH the party and the class. We've made it easy for you to spread the word - simply click on one of the fliers above to enlarge and share. Thank you for sharing!

Hattie, Isadora, Bri, Hazel (Hattie's Birthday)

2011-06-06T13:16:00.001-04:00

You know how we roll here: we love to party! Did you know that a month into the founding of this class, the seniors already gave it the nickname Partytime? We’re loaded up with summer birthdays in our class, and of course we’re celebrating every single one!! (Yup, even as we prepare for our big 6/29 Satellite Launch Event, we can’t help throwing mini parties in the meantime!)

It’s funny and embarrassing because I’m the world’s worst/ most impatient baker so I used to bring in store-bought or just-add-water treats for the seniors’ birthdays… that is, until Dee started co-leading the class with me almost a year ago, and baking the world’s most delicious and beautiful desserts… yup, all from scratch, every single time. I am telling you, Dee is incredible, my perfect other half in so many ways!! So you guessed it, now our class is not only known as Partytime, but also the Eating Club, and the Dance Party. Recently we had fun celebrating Hattie’s birthday. Both Hazel and Hattie actually got up and rocked their Suzie-Q dance moves. So awesome, right?

Hattie Lee Ellerbe
5.12.2011
Remembering

It was May 10, 1944, my 11th birthday. I joyously ran down to “Uncle Bill’s” Shoe-Shine Parlor, screaming “it’s my birthday, it’s my birthday”. In my excitement I jumped too close to Jack. Jack was Bill’s dog and faithful companion. He must have thought I was attacking Bill, because he immediately jumped up and sank his teeth into my left foot. The scar is still there.

Daddy: Take her to the hospital.
Grandmom: Let me wash it out with Borax- she’ll be alright!
Daddy: No, take her to the hospital.

Daddy overruled and took me to Hahnemann Hospital where they washed the wound and sent me home to Grandmom who was waiting to say, “I told you.”

I am happy because that was 67 years ago and I have survived. Thank you God!!!

Isadora Fields
5.12.2011
Birthday Wishes

Today is a beautiful day. The sun is shining brightly. Today is Hattie’s birthday. I gave her a beautiful birthday card. I am in the writing class. It is a lot of fun. I like listening to the many different stories written by the class.

Bri Kurmue
5.12.2011
Back and in Tack

Returned from New York on Wednesday a.m. Visited friend’s and enjoyed dinner and saw a few nice plays. Glad to be with my favorite group of people today.

Happy Birthday Hattie . . . 78 +3 days years old!

So . . . let me say
What a fabulous day
And maybe it will
Stay that way
So . . . let’s Suzie Q
Me and you
Hattie showed us how
And Hazel did too!

Peace, Bri.

Hazel Nurse
5.12.2011
Suzie Q

Recently, realizing that the original of the title “Suzie Q” was foreign to me, I finally satisfied by curiosity after three trips to the public library.

Suzie Q was a dance move popular in the 1930’s. It was known as the “Heel Twist” or “Grind Walk” used in the “Salsa,” “Big Apple,” Lindy-Hop and other dances. Also a song hit written by Lil Hardin Armstrong was in honor of Suzie Jane Dwyer (maiden name Quealey).

Beatrice (Our Visit to the Computer Room)

2011-06-03T18:18:00.001-04:00

I am willing to bet that this is the sweetest story you've ever heard about... computers ;) Have a fantastic weekend on and off your computers! And now... time for me to get off my laptop and soak in some summer evening sun!

Beatrice Newkirk
5/26/2011
Our Visit to the Computer Room

Last Thursday, we went downstairs to the computer room. We saw ourselves on the computer - we saw our stories on there.

My story was on there. It was read out loud from the computer. I also read my sister’s story. Everyone saw themselves on the computer.

We liked seeing ourselves on the computer. It shows how far we have come and how far we have gone. Every story is interesting. We learn so much.

Field Trip to... the Computer Lab!

2011-05-31T15:07:00.000-04:00

Hope you had a nice holiday weekend and are as ready for summer as we are!

As we gear up towards our 6/29 satellite launch event and our 7/13-8/31 satellite class sessions (click Here to see the flier - woohoo!), my senior buddies in our original class continue to kick things up a notch. By their popular demand, we've started a new tradition: special class sessions where we meet at the computer lab to read their stories out loud straight from this very blog! Below are some photos from our first session. Stay tuned for Beatrice's reflections of the day, and click Here to see the rest of our Facebook albums!

6/29 is Our Best Day So Far and YOU are Invited

2011-05-26T12:05:00.002-04:00

Please come and help us celebrate! To support our right to party ;) and stay updated on details, please like/follow us on Facebook/Twitter and repost our announcement. Find out more by visiting our exciting new satellite blog: www.OurBestDaySoFar.com

As usual, chat with us via Facebook. For a digital copy of the flier, email our PR Manager emily@thebestdayofmylifesofar.com. Thanks and hope to see you on JUNE 29!!

Say Hi to... OurBestDaySoFar.com !!

2011-05-22T21:48:00.002-04:00

And now, the news I’ve kept you waiting for, graciously announced by our Liason Officer and my super friend Ashley Humienny. We are SOOOO pumped about this and hope you are too! Check out our satellite blog OurBestDaySoFar.com and help us spread the word – we need you to cheer us on ;) WOOHOO!!

Ashley Humienny
5/22/2011
Our Best Day So Far

One of the first things that I noticed about Benita was how easily the concept of friendship comes to her. Some people are naturals at golf, some at physics or at cooking; Benita is a natural at friendship. She has an innate, unaffected knack for bringing people together, and bringing you closer to her.

This was a quick lesson for me as I was introduced to The Best Day of My Life (So Far) and began my own friendship with both the project and with Benita. In time I came to think of my work with Best Day as one of the most “natural” parts of my day, much like the class had become to its participants. It soon became difficult to believe that the phenomenon that is our storytelling “program” wasn’t in every school, senior center, and rec club across the country.

There is no doubt that this project is aching to grow, expand, and take on new forms. One of both Benita and my concerns was that this idea – this “baby” – would stay true to itself and its mission as we took off its training wheels. Any offshoot of Best Day would need to feel totally organic.

It is with this in mind that I am tremendously proud to announce The Best Day of My Life (So Far)’s prototype satellite program, “Our Best Day So Far”, sponsored by AARP Pennsylvania in partnership with the Free Library of Philadelphia. This satellite class, beginning in July 2011 at the Central Parkway branch of the Free Library, aims to take the original and revolutionary programming from The Best Day of My Life (So Far) and create a more compact, customizable model that can be reproduced in various sites all over the world. Along with "Our Best Day So Far"s two class co-leaders, the wonderful Amy and Brendan, we will have our very own teen intern Madi Garvin updating us via her satellite blog OurBestDaySoFar.com throughout the summer.

In terms of being a “natural” next step, our partnership with AARP Pennsylvania and the Free Library of Philadelphia fits the bill perfectly. Both AARP and FLP have consistently emphasized the need to create livable communities that give its members opportunities for growth and new experiences. We could not imagine a better way to introduce our new model than through two of the most influential institutions in Philadelphia.

So keep an eye out for announcements about “Our Best Day So Far” and the amazing events and parties that we’ll be rolling out this summer! Please feel free to email our PR Manager Emily@thebestdayofmylifesofar.com if you have any ideas or want to get involved!

Thanks again for everything, and I will see you soon.

Ashley

A Note from Benita - BIG news on its way!

2011-05-17T16:41:00.000-04:00

Hi readers!!

Want to hear something BIG? In partnership with AARP Pennsylvania and Free Library of Philadelphia, The Best Day of My Life (So Far) is excited to announce the launch of our official prototype satellite. This is something we've been developing behind the scenes for over half a year. We are so excited because this satellite marks a big step towards our vision and plans for long-term project sustainability.

To find out what this initiative is all about, stick around for a blog post later this week by our Liason Officer Ashley Humienny, who has been a sheer powerhouse in the conception and implementation of this satellite. Ashley will be unveiling a dedicated satellite blog that we've built... narrated by someone very special, whom I am personally very proud of.

Loads more coming soon! Time to buckle up - awesome ride ahead!

BIG Smiles, Benita

Hazel (Happy Tears)

2011-05-12T11:00:00.012-04:00

Happy weekend, everyone! Let’s make summer get here faster with one more story. This one brings me right back to my teenage summer jobs too, does it for you? And hey, guess what? Speaking of summer breaks… we have GIANT news to announce ;) Stay tuned!

Hazel Nurse
3/31/2011
Happy Tears

It was refreshing always to embrace the last day of school in June. However, we college students hurried home to apply for summer waitress jobs freely available at the seashore.
We were carefully coached by a head waitress not to complain as we supported loaded trays on one arm before reaching our stands.

After exhausting work on one July evening, I trudged home planning to take my clean uniform off of the clothesline and iron it for the next day.

The house was dark as I unlocked the door but the sound of loud, screaming voices saying “Happy Birthday, Hazel!” traumatized me. The tears flew as I shook uncontrollably in happiness.

Mo (Chocolate Chip Cookies)

2011-05-10T12:39:00.000-04:00

The sun is out in Philly! Who’s in the mood for fun, games and homemade snacks?

Mo McCooper
4/14/2011
Chocolate Chip Cookies

Starting in the summer between 7th and 8th grade when I was still under 5 feet tall, I would hide in a big bunch of bushes next to the town playground and find tennis balls before the owners came to look for them.

If the balls were brand new we would get another kid to return them. The others we took to streets in the north end of town where usually an older kid, better with a knife than us would cut the ball in ½. Usually teams of 3 would then play ½ ball with broom handles as bats. I was awful at this game. The worst pitchers could strike me out every time.

One of the reasons I put up with being the butt of the jokes and the last one chosen was the food which the neighbors would bring out to us on the sidewalks. Lemonade, iced tea, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and other tasty treats. But the finest food of all was Bobby Neely’s mother’s homemade chocolate chip cookies and homemade iced tea with real lemons and fresh mint. FANTASTIC!!!

Joe and Olivia (Vision)

2011-05-04T16:33:00.004-04:00

There is nothing more inspiring to me than a senior's pure, honest voice…well, maybe just one thing. When that voice reaches the ears of a teen, and she starts to speak out loud, too.

Last week, 17-year-old Olivia and her 15-year-old friend Shi came to our class during their spring break. When Joe needed help handwriting his story, Olivia listened, wrote and read it loud for him. After class, the girls stuck around and took a million photos with the seniors. We all had so much fun. Then after going home, Olivia wrote and sent me her reflections below. Vision. That word has just taken on layer after layer of new meaning.

Joe Garrison
4/28/2011
Vision

One afternoon I was getting on a bus, waiting for a seat when some well-meaning person offered to take me to a seat. However, he sat me on someone’s lap. I was embarrassed and the person I sat on was angry. I in turn was angry at the person who supposedly was trying to help me. I could smell alcohol on his breath. He said to me, “What are you arguing with me about? You can’t even see!”

Another incident was when someone asked me if I wished I could see. The moral of the story is I don't have physical sight, but I believe I can see. If I am in your presence or I experience being with you, then I see you. If I understand what you are telling me, then I see. To see means to understand. Movies and television are just as enjoyable to me as they are to you.

Olivia S. Brown
5/3/2011
Vision

I’m used to hearing stories about “a party last night”, the “latest school gossip”, or what’s “hot” and what’s “not”, but I rarely get to sit and hear stories as simple, but inspiring, as those shared with me during my recent visit to Philadelphia Senior Center.

One may get to hear stories similar to those I heard last week every now and then in a blog, article or documentary, but there was something special in hearing them first-hand—from people sitting right across from you set in a backdrop of so many unique personalities and characters.
I was most inspired by the stories told to me by the visually impaired in the room. They appeared to look at things from ways no one else could see. Although they were blind, I discovered that I was the one who couldn’t see after I was enlightened by their insight.

Overall I left the meeting thinking I need more people like them in my life.

Jill’s Goodbye

2011-05-02T12:33:00.001-04:00

We had an extra special class this past Thursday. The seniors planned and hosted a sendoff for our Public Education Coordinator, Jill, whom you have probably seen in many of our Facebook photos (how can you miss that fabulous red hair?!) While Jill will continue working on our project digitally, she is moving to Australia and we’re going to miss her so much!! The seniors and I have already made plans to Skype her into class, and give her (well…her face on the laptop screen) a seat, as we did for Wally the Walrus (check out that blog post from a couple weeks ago!)

For me, personally, one of the most special parts of this project is one that I never could have expected before starting it – the friendships I have gained with the magnificent individuals who make up my team. And Jill is someone I consider a truly great friend. Funny thing is, I would never have known her if she had not reached out to me offering to help with this project a little over a year ago. Not only has she given me invaluable professional social work advice, she has given me continual personal emotional support (oh yeah, you can ask her, she’s taken quite a few “please help” phone calls from me…)

And so, Jill: Best wishes for what’s to come. Thank you for everything you do for this project, and more importantly for being my friend. See you on Skype!

Jill Chonody
4/28/2011
Jill’s Goodbye

Sing it again!

How many times in your life are you serenaded? Once. Maybe twice. I lost count today around 5.

How often do you get to hear how people really feel about you? Once a week? A month? A year?

How often does it happen that a group of friends gather together to wish you well?

My friends at the senior center did all of these things for me today, but over the course of the past year or so that I’ve known them, they’ve done so much more. They have welcomed me into their fold, laughed with me, shared their stories, and allowed me to be a small part in their lives.

So as I leave for my new journey to Australia, I keep each and every one of these special people in my heart and in my mind. I will remember the hugs and kisses, the experiences we’ve had together, and most of all your kindness. When I’m missing the group, I’ll watch our video and I’ll keep visiting the blog so I can keep up with all your adventures.

Be on the lookout for a koala! He’ll be coming your way soon!!

Hattie Lee Ellerbe
4/28/2011
An Oxymoron: A Happy Sad Farewell

To Jill . . . . “our Jill”.

It is with happiness and joy that we wish you farewell.

Although we feel a little sad, we are very happy for you. Good luck . . . God bless you and keep in touch. The tears are going to come . . . .

Love you so much Jill!!!

We hope to stay in touch.

Love, Hattie Lee Ellerbe

Helen (Chivalry is Still Here)

2011-04-27T22:56:00.000-04:00

The only act that can follow the previous “star”-studded blog post is… hmm, a lil’ act of kindness, perhaps ;) ?

Helen H. Lahr
3/31/2011
Chivalry is Still Here

Sometimes it seems like this is a very impolite era, but then I look around and I realize that isn’t true.

One day, my daughter had pulled us in front of a restaurant and I opened the car door. I began to get out, and immediately, a lady took my arm and walked me to the door.

Another time, a young couple, who were talking to each other in front of the restaurant stopped and got on each side of me. They escorted me to into the restaurant.

This past Tuesday my daughter got up as usual and started to drive down I-95 at 6:25 A.M. The weather report promised the day would be sunny and beautiful. Before leaving the house, the reporter on KYW stated there had been a traffic accident, but it would soon be cleared. Well, we had been on the road long before there were two other accidents. A back had begun to occur and soon we weren’t even moving. Finally, my daughter called her school and told them of the situation.

Eventually, we reached Philadelphia and turned onto Front and Lombard Streets. We were very late for my daughter’s job so I told her to hail a cab. I didn’t want her to drive me to the Senior Center and make her later still. There are always a lot of taxis in the area.

As the cab pulled over and I bent down to open the cab’s door, I heard a voice say, “Let me do that.” This gentleman reached out and opened the cab door and placed my coat, which was hanging out of the cab window, on the seat and beside me. He said, “Have a nice day,” and closed the door.

This is a beautiful world in which we live in because there are many beautiful people in it.

Robert (Wally the Walrus)

2011-04-21T21:15:00.002-04:00

Hehe Facebook fans… I teased you with quite the class photos last week, didn’t I? (If you’re reading this blog and not a FB fan, you’re missing out!! That’s where all our goofy photos are. Click Here to see and "like" the page.) Who, you might be wondering, is that very fluorescent pink mystery writing class member? To deserve a seat and notebook and a snack and everything?! Well, who better to introduce Wally – the Walrus – than Robert himself?

Robert Leung
4/14/2011
Wally

Today is such a beautiful day. It’s a nice and sunny day. The sky is clear. The weather is 80 degrees. Three of us – Mo, Michael and me - walked all the way from Coffee Cup after our daily lunch, to come to our class. And here is the most wonderful thing: on my way to our meeting, I bought a wonderful, nice stuffed animal. It is called Wally the Walrus. It’s for my grandson Andrew, whom I love very, very much…

I love to carry him and feed him daily milk and most of all carry him and pet him to sleep each and every day. I just love him to death. I call him The Cutest. ½ Chinese, ½ Italian (his father is Italian). My daughter Dorothy met him at Stanford University. They both graduated there with honor degrees. My son-in-law is a doctor at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and my daughter Dorothy works at the School of Medicine. I’m so proud of her.

I’m very, very happy to come to this writing and reading club. I have met a lot of wonderful people. And I’ve learned a lot in the meetings. All the people are nice and wonderful…I love them all.

Nice News - Teacher of the Year Award

2011-04-18T08:00:00.003-04:00

I am humbled to share that I was awarded Teacher of the Year by Philadelphia Senior Center last Friday! The best part was having my senior buddies by my side, and seeing how happy they were. Here are a few very kind words from Vicky Lynam, the center's fabulous director. Thank you, Vicky, for letting me to barge into your office that summer day, and for your unending support!

Email received: Fri, April 15, 2011 6:20:16 PM
Subject: For the Blog
From: Lynam, Victoria
To: Cooper, Benita

I first met Benita Cooper in the doorway of my office in June 2009. Our then Volunteer Services Coordinator, Helen Sunga, had brought Benita to meet me, the Director of Philadelphia Senior Center (PSC), because she wanted to volunteer. We proceeded to have an animated conversation in the hall just outside my office because she had come to with an exciting idea for a new class – a writing & storytelling class for the members that would allow them to share some of the hidden treasures of experiences from their pasts. She shared that one of the writing prompts she would use for the class was “The Best Day of My Life…So Far” – which I thought was great. I loved the positive, upbeat quality of both Benita and the phrase “…So Far.” And she was willing to volunteer to teach it – even though she is a Harvard trained architect. Having grown up in Hong Kong, she’s bi-lingual too. Wow! We stood there throwing out ideas and getting very excited about the prospect of what could happen with this new class. We decided we’d try it as a 6 or 8 week series in the fall.

September came, then class started…it gradually grew in numbers and intensity. The seniors attending the class begged Benita to consider doing it as an on-going class instead of a series. They were having so much fun and the group was developing such a bond with one another, they didn’t want it to end. Neither did Benita or PSC Main Branch. The whole phenomena expanded, developed, and grew in ways no one expected at the beginning. It seemed almost miraculous to me. The blog that Benita started to link the seniors’ families with the stories they were writing became very popular, and the stories on it never fail to touch me in a very deep way. The families of some of the class members have expressed their heartfelt appreciation for the blog – and their responses have brought tears to my eyes a few times too.

The class, the blog, the relationships, the wonderful stories the seniors share, the commitment and enthusiasm of Benita herself – these are all wonderful things. Things that add depth and meaning to the lives of the people involved. This is why we decided that Fookling Benita Cooper should win PSC Main Branch’s Volunteer Teacher of the Year award, which she graciously received at a ceremony today. Keep doing what you’re doing, Benita. We at PSC all appreciate it and you!

Beatrice (I Will Keep On Writing)

2011-04-14T16:01:00.002-04:00

"Putting it down on paper is like releasing your burden – when you are writing you remember lots of things. It comes to you – that is why I will keep on writing."

Go… Beatrice!!

Beatrice Newkirk
4/7/2011
Our Writing Class

Writing from the heart is a good way to start.

We write from within, a lot of joy it brings.

We can write about love.

We can write about hope,

We can write about getting people off dope.

We can hope for the best and God will do the rest.

Everything we do in our class,

We know it will last and last.

We can write about the past.

There are so many things to remember.

Beatrice Newkirk
4/7/2011
Writing

Writing is putting you words down and experiences on paper. Sometimes writing things of what you feel on paper, it can be about a specific event, it can be about your life, it can be about things that happen during your lifetime, it can be about things related to you. We can write about good times and bad times. Putting it down on paper is like releasing your burden – when you are writing you remember lots of things. It comes to you—that is why I will keep on writing.

Beatrice Newkirk
3/31/2011
Fun in Our Writing Class

We had a good time last Thursday. We did not write anything. We just listened to Benita’s interviews and looked at our videos on the computer. We all looked nice. We talked about what we have done together so far.

We have many new members in the writing class. We welcome them with open arms.

Steve’s birthday was last Thursday. We all sang happy birthday to him. (Benita has many volunteers helping her. Steve is one of them. He comes to class and makes very nice videos for us.)

We have lots of fun here in this class, coming together every week. I look forward to this day.

Our teacher is the best. She tells us what to do, then we do the rest. Benita is her name. Writing is her game.

Things I Enjoy at the Writing Class
Beatrice Newkirk
3/12/2011

The things I like when I come to the class. I always look forward to coming to the class. We do things together. We listen to other people’s stories. Everyone who reads or tells their stories have everyone in suspense. Everyone has a story to tell. You feel something after hearing the stories. You can picture what they are talking about in your mind.

Where in the World...

2011-04-11T16:33:00.002-04:00

In the last blog post, I said hi to the “World” and I realized I owe it to you guys to share how literally I mean that. It’s my honor to share with you a partial (!) list of the countries where YOU are reading from. Thank you so much for being here with us, and please keep telling your friends about our project!

United States
United Kingdom
India
Romania
Canada
Albania
Australia
Germany
Ukraine
Bosnia
Herzegovina
Japan
South Africa
Pakistan
Mongolia
Poland
Honduras
Israel
Malaysia
Philippines
Greece
Italy
Sri Lanka
Gambia
Bangladesh
Cayman Islands
Hong Kong
Cambodia
Belarus
Jordan
Hungary
Turkey
Indonesia
Egypt
Austria
Spain
Kuwait
South Korea
Mexico
Kenya
France
Scotland
Denmark

Michael (Soo Chow)

2011-04-11T12:11:00.000-04:00

Hi world! Hi Monday! Hi spring! If you are in Philly too, how are you liking this fabulous weather? Finally, a legitimate no-coat-required-iced-coffee-appropriate spring day. Not in Philly? No prob! We’ve got just the story to get you in the mood for spring, wherever you are in the world. Soo Chow may be beautiful, but Michael’s observations are what really take my breath away. Only a man who truly honors life and loves nature can say something so gentle and wise.

Michael Chan Man-Tin
3/31/2011
Soo Chow

I was born in the beautiful countryside in Soo Chow, China. The water is running all the year long, but it flows in a different way depending on the season- winter, spring, summer, fall. The trees look different too in each season. Spring is the best season I like. The flowers of different plants together all form one big garden. It’s a beautiful world. I hope one day I can return to my country.

I needed not have a private garden. The whole town is full of flowers and grains growing on the farms.

Joe (Marriage - A State of Mind)

2011-04-06T13:08:00.000-04:00

Today, let’s talk – purely and simply and bravely – about true romantic love. I am guaranteeing it right now, this will be one of the most intense love stories you’ll have ever heard.

And so, inspired by Joe’s story, is it ok with you guys if I say something to my own husband here? Jason, you’re my “Something Good”. Thank you for making me the absolute luckiest girl in the world.

Joe Garrison
3/31/2011
Marriage – A State of Mind

Debra was my favorite girl but she reasoned, cared and thought like a wife.

Four years ago I had a heart attack and Debra was the one who told my sister, and was by my side the whole time during my recovery.

I met her at work 20 years ago. We were first office mates and we became friends, and one thing led to another.

It was in ’06, when we found out that we had been in love with each other all these years. Well, through the years we kept growing our friendship. I couldn’t start my work day without saying good morning to her.

This relationship was based on true friendship. We became a sounding board for each other’s problems, or struggles.

I can write a whole book about Debra.

Because of who she was, her sweetness radiated through the whole agency where we worked.

Everyone liked her, and the few people who didn’t—I felt that they were just jealous of her.
This girl was the love of my life and she passed away 2 years ago. She found out she had cancer in ’08.

Even though she is not here, I still feel as though she is here with me.
Believe it or not, sometimes when the wind is right, I still smell the fragrance of her hair. That’s how much I loved her.

When I found out that she had passed away, I literally lost it. It took me 6, 7 months to accept the fact that she has passed. That’s how much I loved her.

Debra was the sweetest girl I ever knew. If a person can find someone like that once in their life, there’re fortunate, they have something good. True romantic love is the perfume of life.

P.S. We had a special way of expressing our love to each other. We’d say Debra-Forevera, and that means she is mine forever.

Ronald (The Family)

2011-04-05T08:36:00.002-04:00

After reading out loud her story “The Big Earthquake” about Japan’s tsunami (check out the previous blog post), Beatrice pulled out the poem below, written by her son Ronald a few years ago. I remembered it right away. That familiar page of lines loaded up so much wisdom, so much reality, so much love. I remembered it because Beatrice had actually brought this poem to class back in 2009 or early 2010 when our class was still tiny, maybe with four or five regular members. I feel like back then, she brought it in to show us what a beautiful poem her son wrote, as a way to introduce us to her very family. But this time around, she requested that I make a copy for everyone in our class – which now has a roster of over 50 seniors and 20 teens – she didn’t have to say why. Because WE are a family now.

Ronald Newkirk (Beatrice’s son)
Shared in class 3/17/2011
The Family

When it’s family,
you forgive them for they know not what they do

When it’s family,
you accept them, ‘cause you have no choice but to.

When it’s family,
they’re a mirror of the worst and best in you.

And when they always put you to the test and
you always do you best, and just pray for GOD to
do the rest.

When it’s family,
some are preachers, some are gays, some are addicts,
drunks and strays, but none are turned away.

When it’s family,
some are lucky, others ain’t, some are fighters,
others faint, winners, losers, sinners, saints.

It’s all about family.

And when it’s family, you trust
them and your heart’s an open door.

And when it’s family,
you tolerate what you’d kill others for.

When it’s family,
you love and hate and take, then give some more.

Somehow you justify mistakes, try to find some better way
to solve the problems day to day in the family.

You take the trouble as it comes and love them more
than anyone, good or bad or indifferent it’s still family.

You choose your lover, pick your friends,
not the family that you’re in, they’ll be with you
‘til the end cause it’s family.

And when it’s family,
you forgive them for they know not what they do.

When it’s family,
they’re a mirror of the worst and best in you.

When it’s family,
let me be all I should be to
The Family. . .

Hazel and Beatrice (The Big Earthquake)

2011-04-03T11:10:00.000-04:00

Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to our readers in Japan, and readers with family and friends there.

Hazel Nurse
3/17/2011
Scary Reflections

After several days of terrifying news from Japan, memories returned of steps we Americans took years ago in case of an atomic attack. Air raid shelters, air raid drills, and blackouts were part of any day. Gas rationing and food rationing also existed. In fact, my Dad wore a white cape and carried a huge flashlight along with other air raid wardens until the “All Clear” was sounded.

I retrieved this little ditty that I wrote during this era:

"Baby Atom"
Baby atom drives so fast
In the fields of science
If we do not guide his steps
We’ll leave this world behind us.

Beatrice Newkirk
03/17/2011
The Big Earthquake

It was a very sad thing that happened in Japan. It was a big storm. It was so sad to see how the water could destroy so much and so many people died.

How lucky we are to be alive.

It happened so fast. There are still so many people unaccounted for. Generations washed away. All we can do is pray for everyone.

You never know when something is going happen. That’s why we have to love and help one another.

Bri (Traveling Notes)

2011-03-29T15:27:00.001-04:00

Something fun (!) as promised in the last blog post. The first sentence in the second note is the best part. And I gotta tell you how Bri delivered these notes to us too - that's a story in itself! One day I got this excited call from Arthur saying that Bri had left something in an envelop for the class in his door (they live the same building, which btw is how Bri heard about our class in the first place, through Arthur). And then, a few days later, I got another call from him. Knowing him, I knew he was loving the drama and suspense of it all, especially the fact that he'd been selected by Bri as the special deliverer of these "documents". You should have seen him when he walked in the next Thursday (class day) and immediately, ceremoniously handed me not one but two sealed envelops. The seniors all got such a kick out of the notes when I read them out loud. Everything about these notes was just so, so nice. And did I mention that this is only Bri's second month with our group? Now you know what I meant when in the last blog post I said, it feels like we've known Bri forever?

Bri (I Am From)

2011-03-25T16:38:00.001-04:00

Have you ever met someone and felt like you’ve known him or her forever? That’s how it feels with Bri. You know, it must be a little intimidating (a little, to put it lightly!) to walk into a seniors’ writing class expecting “class” in some form, only to see the most close-knit group of people, laughing, crying, hugging, clapping, calling each other their best friends. But with Bri, you get the feeling that she just belongs. She gets us right away. Some seniors take months to open up. Bri took no time. This poem is what she wrote the second time she ever joined.

And you know what she said yesterday? “I have only been here for a month, but I wish I had been here for years.” Of course she said this knowing we’ve only been around for just over a year. How perfect is she? I’ve got more to share… wait till you see what else she wrote in the next blog post…!

Bri Kurmue
2/24/2011
I Am From…

1. I Am From: Rats and mice and from roaches and flies and chinches and nightmares

2. I Am From: An overly crowed two (2) bedroom house filled with nine (9) people, one (1) dog, one (1) cat and one (1) toilet

3. I Am From: The deliciously cooked pots of pigtails and smoked meat, collard greens, the yam, baked candied and sweet. The taste still lingers on my tongue and in the crevices of my mind

4. I Am From: Bless your food before you eat. Wash your hands before you go into the refrig. Most definitely wash your hands after using the bathroom

5. I Am From: Nettie-Mae Spurell Spivey. And she was the MOTHER. A strict disciplinarian. And she had a humorist personality. One of the best mommies that ever walked this earth. I will never forget her goodness nor her love

6a. I Am From: The place of horrid existence, struggled living and continuous love, thrift store shopping with a practiced eye, searching for the best and finest clothing for her six (6) children, who were always the best dressed children in the neighborhood, public schools and Church.

6b. I Am From: Boys hair cuts, girls hair pressed/curled plus touched up every two (2) weeks

6c. From: Her Mantra. If you lie, you will steal. If you steal, you will take drugs and kill, then end up in the jail house.

And: That we (my brother/sisters) should always remember and believe that Jesus loves you and holds you in the hollow of His hands.

7a. I Am From: A Christian background, Sunday school, Bible study and church all day Sunday

7b. Having to renew my faith continuously as I journeyed thru this harried life

8a. I Am From: Prejudiced North America and I am an Afro-American female

8b: Two (2) foods that represent family: boxes of Argo starch and bottles of Pepsi Cola

9a: From the: Jimmy Martin. An absent father and a person whom, we (brothers/sisters) never recognized as father and never called daddy! He was only a shadow in our lives.
It took me many years to comprehend how my mom could even love such a man, let alone have children by him.

* But life’s journey has taught me about that emotion – love – and how it can color your best intentions and shade your dreams.

9b. From the: Wonderful, sweet, loving maternal grandmother that was always there for Nettie-Mae. And her six (6) children. Bringing food when the belly and the cupboard was empty. Buying us comic books, jump ropes, skates and even a puppy for xmas. She also took us to the seashore in the summer time. I was named after her.

10. I Am From: Nettie-Mae Spurell Spivey and Jimmy Martin. Each has since died and now uses Heaven as an address. Leaving on Planet Earth – Jimmy, Sandy, Cukie, Carl and Rickey. The essence of their shared love.

Big Cheer for Madi

2011-03-17T22:13:00.003-04:00

Some of you may remember Madi from our Facebook photos and Youtube video. It is my proud honor to announce that she has officially (re)joined our project as our Teen Intern!

Madi and I met last summer, during which she participated in our project first as a visitor, then regular attendee. Her internship, which begins this month and will be ongoing, includes a large leadership role in the summer that involves working with diverse teens in the city, and blogging about her experience to a public audience. More (very very very exciting) details to come – stay tuned.  And now, please join me in a big cheer for Madi!

Madi Garvin
3/3/2011 via Facebook Message

I had already been volunteering at the Philadelphia Senior Center for a month when I attended my first The Best Day of My Life (So Far) class, and as soon as it was over, I was left wanting more. I was astounded that I had already missed out on the classes I could have attended. So, I made it my goal to go back the next week. And then the week after that. Soon enough, I was a regular attendee.

The most memorable moment, or moments, of my time in The Best Day of My Life So Far was spending time with Loretta and writing down her words. At the beginning I was a little timid, after all I can barely write quickly enough for my own words! But I was able to keep up and hear some quality stories in the meantime. Hearing about her misfortune with the Philadelphia Housing Authority and how she coped and kept positive without having a place to live was truly inspirational and heart-wrenching at the same time. This particular experience, and all of my time spent with the seniors, has gotten me thinking about things differently. When Loretta revealed that she was struggling with homelessness, people offered to let her stay with them. That taught me a real lesson on humanity and how the human spirit can heal even some of the worst situations.

The Best Day of My Life So Far has also greatly impacted my life during the school year. As a result of spending my time at the PSC over the summer, I have become more extroverted and academically determined. Because of my participation in the group, I now go to many more school events and fundraisers than I did last year. Academically, I was not doing bad last year, but now I have the pleasure to say that my grades have improved: instead of getting by with mostly A-s and Bs (and the occasional C), I now pride myself in getting As and a minority amount of Bs. The class impacted my grades because I truly learned the importance of continuing one's education in a prosperous manner. In ninth grade I went from having average grades with only one honors class to having good grades with three honors courses this year, and next year I have registered to take all honors and one advanced placement class. I am truly thankful for the class, and the people in it for fostering my academic and social development (all while having a great time!)

This class has helped me grow in so many ways and I am extremely excited (and a little scared) to start blogging. Bridging the gap between seniors and teens is extremely important. Every generation has something to say!

Mo (The Parlor and The Movies)

2011-03-15T13:30:00.000-04:00

The last two posts were on the heavy side – I know! I feel bad! So I owe you guys a couple lighter ones, don’t you think? Oh, you know whom we can always go to for that… my buddy Mo! I like these two posts together because they are different but similar: one is indoors, one is outdoors, but in both cases Mo associates memories of places with particular family members. BTW, happy super sunny day, Philly, and hope you are having a nice day wherever else you may be.

Mo McCooper
1/6/11
The Parlor

The Irish homes in my grandparents’ neighborhood, East Falls, were mostly row houses with two stone steps leading up to the porch. Behind the front door was a small hall which led to the stairs to the second floor. To the right were the entrances to the parlor with windows looking out onto the front porch and the steep street out front.

As many as a dozen grown-ups and big kids would squeeze into chairs and a couch in that little room. The little kids would sit or lie on the floor.

My grandparents called that room, “The Parlor.” Storytelling, singing, and a little dancing went on there. One of my favorite childhood songs was, “If You’re Irish, Come Into The Parlor.”

More To Come….

Mo McCooper
2/3/11
Double Features

Sometimes on a Friday or Saturday evening, Dad would drive me into a part of Philadelphia where two movies were being shown for the price of one.

Food before or after at a nearby restaurant would complete a great adventure. Telling my mom and maybe later Uncle Tommy about the movies would be part of the fun.

They would not be children’s movies. They were usually war movies or crime stories and sometimes the life stories of inventors or athletes. They were not new movies. I loved them.

Dad would point out stores, churches, theaters and ball fields in the neighborhoods we drove through in the pick-up truck. Dad made sure that I’d be curious about the city as I grew older.

Arthur (Togetherness)

2011-03-11T17:35:00.000-05:00

To you all reading in Japan, or those of you trying to get in touch with family and friends there, hang in there. I am so sorry to hear the shocking news of the tsunami. I can’t even begin to imagine how much you are dealing with. I am not sure the right words to say, and just hope today’s blog post can be uplifting in some tiny way.

Arthur Murray
3/3/2011
Togetherness

It’s all about putting yourselves together with the lovely stories among each other…everyone can do this.

Just focus on whatever you want to, the good days, bad days and most important things in your life. This is the best class at the senior center because all you have to do is be yourself.

With so many things going on there’s so much to talk about. Today, Thursday, I was in a play. It was very interesting, set in the time when Martin Luther King gave his speech in Washington, D.C. This is the 3rd play we have done so far.

I just had a birthday March 2nd. I am 71 years young now (smile). I am enjoying each and every day now because it is “later than you think”. Tomorrow might not ever get here.

There should be more classes like this one. People like you and I – TOGETHER.

Mr. Gordon (Trading Sorrow for Joy)

2011-03-09T11:19:00.001-05:00

Here’s another perfect gift, this one in the form of a grateful story. Kind of like a giant verbal thank you card from Mr. Gordon, to Beatrice, Valerie and Brenda all at once.

Hallmark cards are fun to buy, but plain words can do their job, sometimes it’s easy to forget.

Our senior buddies Beatrice and Brenda were sitting right at the table when Dee read the story out loud for Mr. Gordon (because Mr. Gordon is blind, one of us usually writes down his words in advance then read them on his behalf to the group). When their names were called out, Beatrice and Brenda didn’t just smile. They beamed ear to ear. And Valerie? Since she is an actual staff member at the kitchen, she wasn’t in our classroom. After class, Dee and I found her and made her a copy of this story. She was really overwhelmed. “Mr. Gordon wrote this? Mr. Gordon wrote this?” she kept saying. It was beautiful to see.

Arlin Gordon
3/3/2011
Trading Sorrow for Joy

There are some days when some things seem to be bright and cheerful, so we never know what people are going through as they seem to be always smiling.

One day I came here at the senior center and found out that a friend of mine had passed away. It gave me a sad feeling because of our closeness. I was feeling kind of down that day. I walked into the cafeteria and the warm welcome I received when I walked in made me forget about things for that moment. The people who sit with me at the table, even though we all are going through some things, we seem to lift each other’s spirits. The workers are always so joyful and make you feel so welcomed. Our friend Beatrice (who volunteers in the cafeteria to serve hot soups) and a young lady named Valerie (a kitchen staff member at the senior center) are always pleasant, smiling, joyful and cheerful. We must always try to remember that no matter what we are going through, that there are always good and cheerful people who have been placed in our lives. We don't have to dwell on the sorrowful things in life because joy is always around us.

I look forward to Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and riding with the people on the Paratransit bus to the senior center because each one of us helps the others. There is always a joyful greeting as we ride the bus to the center. I thank God for placing these people in my life. I am thankful for Valerie who always greets me with a warm greeting when I enter in the cafeteria.

P.S. Brenda, I didn't forget you!

Beatrice and Loretta (What Almost Happened)

2011-03-02T18:25:00.001-05:00

It gives me so much peace to know that our class is a place where even the most bitter things can turn sweet. Two weeks ago, I knew at some point I was going to have to share with you, our readers, about what happened to Bernice. I was so afraid that this was going to have to be another kind of blog post. But good news. Bernice is alright.

We had such a scare. Two weeks ago, Bernice and her twin sister Beatrice weren't in class, and no one (including the other seniors) knew what was up except there was gossip at the senior center that Bernice had a massive heart attack and got sent to the hospital. I had known Bernice since the very, very first day of this class. And it just so happens that we get along really well because we are very similar in personality. A lot of times Bernice likes to sit next to me, at the seat to my right. Every time in class, she draws a portrait because it's been our inside joke and she's determined to keep it going.

I was gone that day in Seattle, visiting my grandma and my family. And our wonderful co-leader Dee broke the news to me very gently on email. I freaked out. Dee had tried calling Beatrice but couldn't get a hold of her. The hospital said they couldn't release any information. Finally when I got home to Philly, I tried calling Beatrice again. I was afraid that if I had called from Seattle I couldn't have handled the bad news. When I got a hold of Beatrice, and she told me her sister is alright, I was so relieved. Bernice has to rest at home, probably can't come to class in a while.

Heart problems run in their family, and last Thursday right before class Bernice had intense chest pain. But luckily her daughter called an ambulance and rushed her to the hospital in time, and they did surgery on her and put in a medical device to keep her arteries open. She stayed in the hospital for 4 days. On the phone, Beatrice told me she had lost all her siblings and "my twin and I" are the only ones left, so she was really nervous, then in the same breath, she assured me she'd definitely be in class the next day - it just so happened that class was the next day. I think our class is where she feels the most relaxed and supported so she really wanted to be there especially because of what had happened. Said she had really missed being seeing everyone the past week. Meanwhile, Beatrice said all this in a super calm tone. Took a lot of time to ask me about my trip and everything.

In class the next day, everyone was so happy to see Beatrice and hear updates about Bernice directly from her. Everyone clapped and cheered when Beatrice walked into the room. And then, wow, Loretta. She walked in with a big smile and told Dee and me that she had a gift - on behalf of the class - for Bernice. When we saw what it was, Dee and I just looked at each other and our eyes simultaneously welled up. We both went speechless for an entire minute. Loretta had put together the most thoughtful gift anyone can ever give Bernice. It had 3 parts: a card plus 2 very special things, one hidden as a mini surprise inside another. I will let Loretta tell you what they are in her story below. Beatrice was very moved, and told us she couldn't wait to bring them to her sister's house right after class.

We miss you Bernice!! Rest up and come back soon!! Our class is not the same without you. Love, The Writing Class.

Beatrice Newkirk
2/24/2011
What Almost Happened

I almost lost my twin sister. I was so afraid. It was 9 of us. Six brothers and three sisters. Now there are just me and my twin Bonnie. I lost two brother’s and a sister. The rest I lost through the years. I did not want to be left here alone without them. We have kids and all that. But we are the last of the older people in the family. We started the family tree – because of God she is still here. No one lives forever. We have to take one day at a time. Everyday is a birthday. I think of everyone here in this center and here at the writing class. She said she misses coming to the class. She sends her love.
Beatrice Newkirk

Loretta Gaither
2/24/2011
Worth It

Every Thursday I used to attend an exercise class, Silver Sneakers here at the Centre. We would exercise to music and use weights. I would go to this class before the writing began. Now, I would rather go to this writing class. I was worried about Bernice since she was in the hospital and was thinking about something to make her laugh. I found a pocketbook and a toy bus which is perfect since she always writes about her experiences on the bus. I thought that would be nice and make her laugh.

I believe that being nice to others and volunteer work makes me feel better and is the only way I know to cope with things in my life. Sometimes it is hard, but it is worth it.

Click Here to read some of Bernice's latest stories on the bus. Browse our story archive for more stories and drawings ;) by our special friend. Click Here to read her tribute to her twin sister Beatrice.

"Day with Grandma" Photo Challenge

2011-02-25T13:36:00.003-05:00

Click Here to read my grandma's note to our seniors if you haven't yet - you've got to, it's the most precious thing! And below, as promised, are the photos she mentioned. These were taken by talented Seattle photographer and my good friend Susan Ulep - you can check out her work by clicking Here. So! Here's an idea for you. How about taking YOUR grandma and/or grandpa out for a day and a shoot? Our family went to the salon and the botanical gardens but maybe you can come up with some cool activities of your own. And hey, I'd LOVE to hear how your day goes and see your photos. I am always happy to chat with you on our Facebook page or at benita@thebestdayofmylifesofar.com

A Note to Our Seniors... from Grandma!!

2011-02-25T12:18:00.001-05:00

And now... a note that has no rival in preciousness. A note from my grandma to our seniors!!! My grandma who is my personal hero and my inspiration for this entire storytelling project! And oh yeah - written on napkins at a hipster coffee shop in Seattle. What better writing supplies can you wish for on this earth, right ;) ?

My husband and I just got back from a super trip to see my family in Seattle (I miss you guys already!) and since we are both obsessed with real soulful Seattle coffee, we hopped endlessly from shop to shop and took my adventurous "Po Po" along. "Po Po" is what I call my grandma because we speak in Chinese. So yup, she told me what she wanted to say to our seniors in Chinese, I put on my translator cap and wrote it down in English, then she signed her name in Chinese. Yesterday, I read the note to our seniors. Yeah. They were pretty moved. Their smiles were so indescribable. Real. Soulful. Maybe those words come close. And the makeover and photoshoot Po Po mentioned? Well, those deserve a blog post all its own. So back-to-back, in the blog post after this, please check out a photo journal by talented Seattle photographer and my personal friend Susan Ulep. For more about how my friendship with my grandma inspired this project, please browse the links on the blog sidebar.

And now, sorry to keep you waiting ;)... The Note!

Hi Everyone,

I've seen your photos on the computer. You all look so happy. Wish you continuous happiness forever. Ling Ling (that's what I call Benita) tells us about you and your stories. I feel very comforted. Maybe one day we can meet. Until we meet, we took some photos for you to see. We went out to get makeovers, and then went to the gardens for photos. My best friend came with us. We've known each other for 30 years. Before her husband passed away, we went fishing all the time. Now, Ling Ling takes us out every time she comes to visit to Seattle. We like to eat and go out. Do you like how our photos look? If they are too small, Ling Ling can make them bigger for you to see. (Also, thank you, Robert, for your gift of the Chinese wall calendar. Thank you for your thoughtfulness.)

Mei Hing (Ling Ling's Grandma)
February 16, 2011
All City Coffee Shop
Seattle WA

Michael (Life Like a Dream)

2011-02-21T14:00:00.001-05:00

Michael has been a part of our group for ten months now. In many of our Facebook photos, you can spot him with Mo and Robert – the three have become best friends and are constantly telling the group how great one another is. Three grown men bragging about one other – there’s nothing quite as tender.

For a while, without exception, all of Michael’s stories began with, “Time passes very quickly.” Recently, he started a story with “My wonderful life, it is just like a dream!” I don’t know if you feel the same way, but to me, this is a huge transformation. Like he’s really being himself now, really feeling free.

Michael Chan
12/16/10
Life Like a Dream
My wonderful life. It is just like a dream! I never thought I could come from my country in Asia. I was born in a beautiful country, Soo Chow China, which is the most beautiful “Garden” country in Asia. Many visitors from the world visit to see the “Gardens”. There are different flower shows for the four seasons around the year.

I left my country when I was 17 years old and my first stop was Shanghai. By 1949, I left Shanghai after staying there for 5 years. Then, I went to Hong Kong by train – it took 5 days by train. They speak a different dialect, Cantonese, in Hong Kong so I took night classes to learn both Cantonese and English. After 7 years I started my own company in the garment industry and worked very hard. My daughter came here to go to school at the University of Pennsylvania. I stayed in Hong Kong for 50 years before moving here to be with my daughter.

Michael Chan
11/11/10
Time

Time passes very quickly. I have joined the class for a period of eight months. It gives me very happy hours to enjoy the living conditions. My feelings have been changed and I hope to learn more and more gradually.

So I am very happy to say thanks and love to each other.

Hazel (Class Connections)

2011-02-17T14:00:00.002-05:00

Every week, I witness it with my own eyes and ears: it’s a small world after all. I love sitting with my senior buddies in class, hearing decades of experiences converge and overlap at one table. As Hazel says, it’s indescribable really, how one senior’s story can trigger that of another senior’s, and on and on.

This story doesn't work without its visual aids! So here are 3 pix: 1 of Luis showing his papers from his senatorial run with John Kennedy (yup - our very own Luis is a big deal!) (btw I like how Hazel is listening intently on his left, don't you?) 1 of the actual papers themselves. Followed by a pic of Hazel showing her photo of JFK. Small world in a big way, right?

Hazel Nurse
12/2/2010
Class Connections

After Luis distributed papers showing the time that he ran for an office in New York on the ticket with Robert Kennedy, I remembered my photo of President John Kennedy. The picture was given to me by a sixth grader, many years ago. It just reinforced the fact that November twenty second was the anniversary of his assassination. He was a leader, a realist, and an idealist who embraced economic opportunities, civil rights, the arts desiring to make the nation special.

While searching for the photo, I stumbled upon some of John Lee, another student and a real live boxer. He was excused from class many times to exercise as directed by the physical education teacher. I was informed of his special diet of eggs and other foods. With his grandfather’s appearance often in the classroom, demonstrating great support and encouragement for the upcoming champion.

The connection this class offers is indescribable.

Luis (Happy to Make Your Acquaintance)

2011-02-14T14:00:00.001-05:00

It’s February 14, and you know what holiday it is! If at the beginning of the story, you think we are talking about politics… think again. Oh, I don’t know, anyone in the mood for some romance?

Luis Fuentes
I Am Happy to Make Your Acquaintance
12/19/2010

Paul O’Dywer was a good man with good intentions. He was passionate in his beliefs and committed to human rights.

I met Paul during the good, the bad, and the ugly years of the Civil Rights Movement in the sixties- the years leading up to the infamous year of 1968. We marched, picketed, and campaigned together. It was rumored that Paul ran guns to the IRA, the Irish Republican Army, during the conflict in England. Knowing Paul, I believed every word of it.

Paul was the younger brother of the former, two-termed mayor of New York City, William O’Dywer. Paul, himself, campaigned for and was successfully elected as the President of the New York City Council.

Over the years, knowing I was widowed, Paul always had someone he wanted me to meet. Although we stayed in touched, our careers took different paths.

In 1966, we met again at a political fundraiser. We greeted each other warmly. As always, he had someone he wanted me to meet. Before I could respond, he called her over- expressing how politically active she was. He said she had earned respect as a community activist and was a deputy commissioner in the government.

“Alberta, I’d like you to meet Louis. Louis, Alberta.”

She smiled and said, “Happy to make your acquaintance.”

Also responding, I took her hand and responded, “The pleasure is all mine.”

We turned to Paul, laughing hysterically, and I said, “Paul, not only is Alberta my campaign manager, she is also my wife.”

Time for some Radio!

2011-02-10T12:32:00.003-05:00

Facebook fans got the scoop already, but I want to fill the rest of you in! Just a quick note to let you know that I will be interviewed on a couple of radio shows this month.

2/15: “eCare Diary” on Blog Talk Radio
Tues 2-2:30pm

We’ll talk about The Best Day of My Life (So Far)’s growth to date, project plans, and how the project offers a new approach to caregiving.
Format: live interview.
To listen live, call in to this number: 347-857-3399
To listen after the taping, simply play the recorded podcast on the show’s website http://www.ecarediary.com/Radio9/Multi-Media-Story-Telling-Project-Connecting-Seniors-with-Younger-Generations.aspx

3/7: “LIVE at the Writers House” on WXPN
Mon 8-9pm

Besides me, you’ll get to hear from other winners of the 2010 Leeway Art and Change Award. Each guest has been working on an art project that promotes social change in a different way – I am very excited to learn about everyone’s projects!
Format: recorded interview – the recording session will take place with a small live audience on 2/28.
To listen, tune in to the station (Philadelphia 88.5FM) or stream it online www.xpn.org when the show airs.
To listen afterwards, simply play the recorded podcast on the show’s website www.writing.upenn.edu/wh/involved/series/live

Looking forward to some nice chats! Please check out both shows!

Emily (Reflections)

2011-02-08T13:30:00.001-05:00

Speaking of rainbows (you gotta check out the last blog post if you haven’t yet!) I can’t be more proud, or more touched, by the miracle that is our project team. A few blog posts ago, you heard from Dee about her experience as our Writing Class Co-leader; here now is Emily and her experience as our PR Manager. I love the part where Emily calls our team “an intensely passionate group that includes people of all ages, from all walks of life.” For me, these words mean so much. My team means so much to me. Our team formed gradually, as one by one blog readers (most of them I had never met before) reached out to me with personal letters expressing passion and offering help. And now, around 30 “random” strangers have turned into the most close-knit team I’ve ever seen. How wild is that? Want to know something wilder? Even if I had searched the entire earth, I couldn’t have assembled a stronger team. I am convinced by that.

Thank you, Emily, for these outrageously beautiful words. And thank you for everything you do. As those of us behind the scenes know, you do A LOT for our project!

So readers… please sit back and enjoy this one. This is a really special post. And as Emily said, do email her back with YOUR reflections. We’d love to hear from you.

Emily Antoszyk
2/8/2011
Reflections of the Project

I happened upon The Best Day Of My Life (So Far) in the fall of 2009 when it was little more than a blog and a class. In the beginning, I offered to type stories; I was already volunteering for a living through AmeriCorps, and I loved the feeling of contributing to the community. I also have a close relationship with my grandmother, and the idea that someone might start a project like this for her was inspirational. As I started reading and typing, I began to get interested. Who were these people? What were they like in real life?

Before I had even attended a class I knew the project was something I wanted to be a part of. In the spring of 2010, I signed on for more responsibility recruiting teen interns to take part in the storytelling. I also offered to take on the role of Public Relations Manager as the project grew. Both tasks proved to be challenging at first, and I feel so fortunate that The Best Day Of My Life (So Far) gave me room to grow
into the roles that I chose to tackle.

Working for TBDOML(SF) has taught me useful skills, but more than that, it has dispelled my perceptions of what it means to be “old” or a “senior”. On my first visit to the class I was pleasantly surprised by the group’s vibrant and youthful tone. Even though I am decades younger than the attendees, I immediately felt like I could relate to the stories in class.

When the teens started coming to class it added a new dynamic. While we had a small, diverse group of teens, the stories that struck me most were the ones that were completely different from my upbringing; inner-city kids with tough home lives and adult responsibilities before they reached adulthood. Their frankness in class was something that surprised me because I know how difficult it can be to talk to teens, and some of these teens were opening up with some extremely personal stories in their first class! Their willingness to talk about some really difficult experiences was something that touched me deeply, but that also speaks to the open and accepting nature of the class.

The Best Day Of My Life (So Far) has also introduced me to amazing and committed volunteers, and it has given me the opportunity to be a part of a project that is changing the way that younger generations relate to seniors and the way that seniors bond with each other and the surrounding community. This project has been a pathway to friendship for many of its participants - seniors and volunteers alike. On a personal level, I have become friends with people I would not otherwise have met, and have become acquainted with several committed mentors. As a whole, the volunteer team is an intensely passionate group that includes people of all ages, from all walks of life. You have to realize that around thirty volunteers take time out of their jobs and lives to contribute to this effort, that’s an incredible
amount of commitment!

I would like to sum by saying thank you all for your readership and support, our project would not be nearly as momentous without our readers. Did you know that The Best Day Of My Life (So Far) blog has readers from over 30 countries and has 10,000 hits? Pretty incredible considering we have only been in operation for a little over a year now. The way I see it, The Best Day Of My Life (So Far) is part of a bigger movement - to connect seniors, teens, and communities all over the world.

Please feel free to write any questions / comments you have to me at emily@thebestdayofmylifesofar.com. I've thoroughly enjoyed getting mail from people around the globe wanting to know more about the project or how they can start similar efforts in their own communities. Currently, we are mentoring a fledgling project in Seattle and look forward to hearing about their progress. Some of our next steps in expanding the project will include nurturing satellites in the northeast. Stay tuned!

Or Like a Rainbow

2011-02-04T13:47:00.000-05:00

Or like a rainbow.

The wisest, sweetest, most breath-taking sentence in the world.

Beatrice Newkirk
2/3/2011
Our Writing Class

Our writing class is the place to see and be. We do things together. Everyone has a good time. We listen to everyone’s stories. Some are read out loud. Some members talk about what they had written. After everyone reads or tells their story, our pictures are taken. We missed last week but we always make up what we missed. Because of the storm, we were not here. Everyone who comes to our class is from different places. They come from different neighborhoods. The stories I hear are very interesting. We are like a family. Or like a rainbow. To the writing class, I love all of you. I miss everyone until the next meeting.

Mo (Childhood Stories)

2011-02-02T13:59:00.000-05:00

I am constantly impressed by how much detail Mo is able to remember (+ willing to share) of his adventures as a young boy. I was rereading some of his stories today, and it occurred to me just how vivid they are… I can SEE the cops – whom everyone knew by name, imagine that – patrolling the sidewalks, keeping the town “safe from jerks and punks”. I can HEAR the neighbors cheering in unison for each homecoming veteran, and for every well-played baseball match. I can TASTE and SMELL that famously delicious and infamously stolen lemon meringue pie. I can TOUCH… well, for one, “the first low roof on a town building or unused garage” under my shaky feet as I get ready to parachute off of it!!! Yup, that’s Mo. Always taking us right there into the action.

(Haha I sound like I am talking about a movie, don’t I? The Oscars are coming up soon afterall… and Mo’s stories rival the most "realistic" 3D blockbuster if you ask me!)

Mo McCooper
10/14/10
The Cops

From my earliest memories, there were cops around. My dad’s older brother, Joe, was a township policeman as were Mr. Norton and Mr. Tierney. Their children were friends of ours. Our town had it’s own police force who lived in the town. Some of their kids went to school with some of us.

Sargeant Girvin was the head of the town police. He knew every kid and would not hesitate to holler at us or even chase us if we were where we shouldn’t be but we all liked him a lot and secretly called him “Charlie the Cop.” He was ably assisted by Augie, Boots, Jake and George. They all kept our town safe from jerks and punks. Officer Di Bonn, his wife and beautiful children had a lovely home on the street between my house and my Aunt Helen’s, where I hid between a tree and ate a large lemon meringue pie meant for my family. But that’s another story!

(Click Here to see Mo’s lemon meringue pie story. The title? "A Criminal Act")

Mo McCooper
9/23/10
The Baseball Fields

Our town seemed to have a baseball game in play every weekend. Out first baseman, Buddy Walker, played in the Major Leagues during the war. During WWII, an outfielder named Jerry McCarthy was brought up to the St Luis Browns in the American League.

Many of the churches had adult teams. I was very proud of my dad and Uncle Tommy for playing on these very skilled teams.

When the men were playing they took up the space of a college team. When we elementary school kids played, we could field three teams and often did.

At the end of WWII many of our citizens came home and the cheers arose again.

Mo McCooper
12/02/2010
Paratroopers

During WWII the news reels and some of the main pictures would show parachutes leaving airplanes and landing in trees and on the ground. When we left the movie house we would look for the first low roof on a town building or unused garage to become parachuter’s. Sounds of “Geronimo” filled the neighborhoods.

Mo McCooper
12/16/10
The City

When I could walk even a little bit, my Dad would take me all kinds of places to meet all kinds of people. People who worked at auto factories, truck manufacturers, railroad car plants elected my Dad to represent them to the owners of the companies through managers and other non-union workers.

As soon as I went to school, I would add union comic strips and books to the Batman and Red Rider comics I could trade. Dad did not push the information, but it was an interesting part of my early education.

There would always be a movie, circus, fair, sportsmen show, rodeo, auto show, or church fundraiser during that day. I loved the city.

Some of my mother’s aunts and uncles lived in West Philadelphia, where many white families had moved out to the suburbs. It opened up a whole bunch of new kids to play tennis, baseball, touch football and games I forget. Their families were wonderful.

My Dad’s brothers and sisters were in the northern districts of the city. Grandpop bought some farmland in Bucks County on a beautiful creek, but he lost the property to prohibition. More to follow…