i’ve been making mixtapes for my friends and loved ones for years. its such a strong habit for me now that i can definitely chronicle certain phases of my life through the playlists i have saved through itunes and well, other programs on my laptop. so now i figure why not extend this joy to others that may not have the access to creating their own mixtapes? and well people who do not even know what one is… and mainly i thought – the elderly. you see, i know this (rather the procurement of such mixed CDs) may sound a bit unnecessary after a certain age – but music should be enjoyed every single day of one’s life. and after seeing how much enjoyment each friend or family member has shown upon receipt of any of my mix cds or mixtapes (for all you old school people out there) – well then i came up with the idea of senior citizen mixtape mania!
well, how will this work?
since i’m back in volunteer mode – i’ve dug up a lot of my old files for my community service work – dating as far back as high school days. and back then i was volunteering at a convalescent home as part of the mandatory service work my school had as a requirement to graduate. so my friends and i would visit the home as a group and greet the residents – or at least the ones that wanted company … and this was pretty much 99% of them. i was amazed at how many of them wanted company — and looked forward to our arrival every weekend. i heard stories from some residents that they haven’t had any visitors come by to see them for months, even years. this saddened me a great deal – as i viewed the photos of family members neatly displayed next to their nightstand … with their unwavering hope that they will come and visit them… soon.
so, i thought i would pop in and visit the residents of broadway manor convalescent home a few times within the next few weeks. spend a few minutes with a few and talk about whatever they want to talk about… and hopefully the conversation with steer itself to the discussion of music. and only then will i bust out with my notebook and start listing all the musicians and groups they loved when they were younger.
i will take that list home and i’ll proceed to download all the tracks i can find… and create mixtapes for every single one that wanted one. i realize that they may not have a stereo on hand to listen to this stuff… but i was at best buy the other day and found cheap radios for $19.99. i will probably get one and give it to the activities manager at the convalescent home… that way as they are doing their morning exercises or afternoon arts and crafts – they can take turns listening to the mixtapes that were made for them. and they can take turns smiling as each track is played … as they remember each memory attached to the song… and they can share in each other’s joy.
isn’t it pretty amazing how music can bond people together almost instantly?
this good deed is so right up my alley – i can’t wait to get started. (i will have updates for the free arts for abused children project soon!)
