At yesterday’s Memory Café in Trumbull, CT, a woman picked up a purple poemRENOVATION word block with the word “sweetest” printed on it. She studied it for a long moment before placing it beside the word “feathers,” not far from the word “storm.”
Sweetest, to me, was the quiet consideration of that word’s potential. The willingness to explore, the suspension of time, the air of cares forgotten.
There were nine attendees at this social gathering for people living with memory loss or other dementia symptoms, and their care partners. It was held in a cozy, private room at the Sitting Duck Tavern, a friendly place.
Once wings, pieriogi and soft pretzels were consumed, poemRENOVATION word block sets were scattered on the table. We worked with words from Emily Dickinson’s poem “Hope is the Thing With Feathers” and from the song “The Best Things in Life are Free.” Sweetest was the truth of those words, the sense of community this shared activity brought to the table, the letting go of inhibitions, the smiles.
Sweetest was the opportunity to share poemRENOVATION with this group I would not have otherwise met. Sweetest was their laughter, their thoughtfully arranged phrases, their willingness to explore and to share.
Sweetest is the joy of stringing together the words to tell you this story, a reminder of the comfort and peace writing has always brought to me. Sweetest is the knowledge that I can share that same joy with people living with dementia and their care partners.
If you’re interested in attending a Memory Café event, they’re held from 2 – 3:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month at the Sitting Duck Tavern in Trumbull, CT. Seating is limited, so please RSVP to Dean Brown: dbrown@epochsl.com.