My mother and I recently spent two weeks living in a retirement community, as a “trial visit” to see if she would like to move there in the future. While there I gained a new appreciation for older folks. Many were born in other parts of the world and moved here at various ages. Some have lived here all their lives. They are historians, writers, athletes, musicians, scientists, artists, parents and grandparents and great-grandparents, and they share their collective knowledge and wisdom through story-telling and doing what they do best for their community.

World’s Greatest Mom

Three times a week Greta brings a portable CD player up to the atrium on the roof and plays music, ranging from American standards, to crooners, to opera. One night she played Enrico Caruso singing traditional Neapolitan songs. She prefaced the music with a brief talk about Caruso’s life. People of all nationalities gathered to sit quietly and listen, some with closed eyes. One woman who was otherwise uncommunicative began singing along in Neapolitan to one of the songs, and one who had seemed restless got up to dance.

Helen lived as a Jewish girl in Nazi occupied Vienna. At lunch she told us how her family survived thanks to the kindness of strangers. A policeman advised her family to hide on Kristallnacht, and another helped her family escape over a border. So she lives to tell us with pride about her grandchildren, one of whom is an actress whose name she says we will know soon. I am glad she is here to tell her story.

At other lunch tables, Bob spoke with my Mother about the Malbec wines they both enjoy. Terry told us stories of running in marathons. Lucy talked about the book we were all reading in Spanish class. Violet showed us her favorite morning stretches. Paul led a singing group. Pat named his favorites of the birds which sing outside his window.

Some of the residents have strong bodies whose minds can no longer keep up with them, and some are sound of mind with bodies which can no longer care for themselves. Some folks are lucky to be fit and sharp. Many are somewhere in between. People help each other find what they need.

As the COVID-19 virus moves through our country, I have been thinking of my Mother and others her age, praying for their safe delivery from the pandemic. I’ve been thinking of all the Americans who, like my husband, were born with a primary immune deficiency. I hope they can survive both the virus and the strains on the medical system which serves them. I’m thinking of the differently-abled people of this country, who may not be able to understand why they can’t go to the library or the store or give hugs or high-fives now.

Jeff with supplies for his weekly infusion of immune globulin (thank you plasma donors!)

How we behave right now matters a lot to all of us, perhaps especially to some of these people we may not notice or properly value. Taking precautions now will help these people survive. Can we do this? We can. Do we choose to do this? I hope so. Is it too much to hope that our eldest and immune-compromised and differently-abled people will survive? People die all the time, and the earth is groaning under the weight of everyone here. But society at its best allows and encourages each person to contribute according to his or her capacity, and asks that we all care for each other.

Let’s do it.

For over three decades at Persephone Farm, we have endeavored to teach employees how to take care in their work, to demonstrate respect and gratitude for all the beings and resources involved. Now we urge you to take care at this time when the consequences of our actions are critical. As our good friend David says, “Life is precious, so let’s live it that way.”

Thank you.