Getting old stinks! My grandfather used to always tell me that aging is just part of a seasonal process and that no one is getting out of here alive! As a young person consumed with having fun—going to school, playing sports, and eagerly awaiting summer vacations—I would just smile respectfully, receive a hug, and run off to live the carefree life of most teenagers and young adults.
Then, my grandpa died. That day was filled with profound sorrow for me and my sisters. Believing that my grandpa was in a much better place didn’t ease my heart at that moment.
However, many decades later, I have come to appreciate all the “grandpas” and “grandmas” ACE has been given to love during whatever time they have on this earth.
ACE used to refer to our infirmary residents as our “senior kids.” I love that term, as it reflects what often happens as we age: we start to embrace a carefree attitude and appreciate the simple joys of life, including the songs of birds, the drama of storms, and most importantly, the family members who ensure we feel loved.
That’s what ACE does daily. Although we can no longer visit the St. Mary Infirmary to spend time with the residents there, we have many available locations on our property where we could build our own ACE infirmary, just around the corner from the ACE office and across the road from our Peace House.
Stay tuned for more information on how this infirmary will come to life! We’re considering using containers for its construction, and we will need your help to get it up and running quickly. Imagine how wonderful it will be to provide a clean, safe environment for our “kids,” where you, our volunteers, can visit every day to offer love, friendship, and even gardening help.
If you’d like to support our ACE Infirmary initiative, please consider donating online here and designating it to “ACE Mobile Infirmary.” You can also email Susan at office@acexperience.org and let her know you’d like to help.
Growing older may be terminal—because, as we all know, none of us is getting out alive. But we can make it memorable, and we can also learn a few things about living in the moment from our senior kids.
