October 2004 Volume 11 Number 8 A NEWSPAPER FOR ASBURY METHODIST VILLAGE Residents, Associates, Families & Friends www.asbury.org Ghostly Tales From a Spirited Few With the cool crisp air of Autumn come the chilling tales of ghosts and goblins, spooks and spirits, and things that go bump in the night. Read on…if you dare! The Spooky Truth Reporter, Martin Moon and wife, Janice, think Alaska is pretty cool—freezing, in fact! About Local Spirits By Paula Strain, Edwards-Fisher hosts haunting Mountain Mary- Alaska—It’s Cool! land are different from those in By Martin Moon, Diamond G Metropolitan or Tidewater Mary- wenty-four Asbury residents and friends land. ForFor one thing, their haunting liflifee is used trains, planes, buses and a cruise much like ours—two generations or 50 ship to discover the beauty and vastness It was here that the Aldeburgh seawall T to 70 years long. While a few do horrify (and cool weather!) of Alaska from September ghost went walking…or did it? or terrify, most seem to want to assist 2 through 12. After flying from Baltimore to Anchorage on Oh What A BOO-tiful Continued on page 15 September 3, the group boarded the dome cars of the McKinley Express luxury train for a two- Mourning: An English day tour of snowy and mountainous Denali Ghost Story National Park, with close views (but no close encounters) of wildlife, including bear, deer, By Reg Westlake, Villas moose, wolves, mountain goats and eagles. One don’t believe in ghosts — but per- brave bear wandered alongside the train at a haps I should after learning about a sop. Itrue experience in Aldeburgh, a town Then, on to Fairbanks and a visit to the his- on the east coast of England, and famous toric Gold Dredge No. 8 and an opportunity to pan for gold. Among the most successful, Liz Van Continued on page 15 Billiard recovered nuggets valued at $11- plus by the nearby assay office. The Dredge tour included an all-you-can-eat miners’ lunch (stew) and a stop at the Trans Alaska Pipeline site. The Haunted Kitchen Another plane ride (Alaska Airlines) back to By Marj McGuire, Villas Anchorage and a scenic bus ride to Seward to hen John was transferred from Orono, Maine, where he had an office on the board the 55,000-ton Statendam of the Holland University campus, to southern Maine, we bought an 1820 sea captain’s house America cruise line. A day of cruising the Col- in Wells with property running down lege Fjord followed with snow-capped moun- W tains at port and starboard was especially sce- to a cranberry bog and open water beyond. The house was a New Yorker’s (me) dream nic for passengers in deck chairs sipping hot house: white, with the original old glass in the Continued on page 7 window panes and black shutters all around, sitting on a granite foundation with a granite stoop, and a hipped roof with tall white chim- neys on either side. Fireplaces in every room, INSIDE: mostly boarded over, and the usual New England Protecting Yourself Against the Flu .......................5 ell containing a dining room, pantry, kitchen and porch. We learned that the house at one time had Francis Asbury Really Got Around ........................6 The Galloping Goose—oooo, spooky! That Was the Week That Was at Kindley ...........10 Continued on page 15 Asbury Acts of Kindness .......................................11 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S CORNER VILLAGE The Best Is Yet to Be LIFE everal decades ago I became Portugal, who taught me how to Back by popular demand, intrigued with the quote, eat some sort of creature he would this month’s issue was S “Grow old along with me; the scrape off the rocks. He tried his brought to you by ghosts, best is yet to be.” I even bought a best to tell me what they were, but goblins, and a spook-tacular sundial with that inscription and I still have no idea, which is prob- staff of residents! packed it away so that when we ably a good thing! These types of bought our first home I could put traveling relationships remain with Editor it in a special place in the yard. me as fond memories, and more Linda Williams Aber All my life I’ve been involved with life lessons. Communications Publications older adults. And I guess it’s from all As the evenings have turned those experiences that I’ve gained cooler here at AMV, and as the days Coordinator a deep respect and admiration become shorter, I’ve noticed more Asbury Methodist Village for seniors in our world, and why and more couples out walking in 201 Russell Ave. that quote has also become a part the evenings. I always smile when Gaithersburg, MD 20877 of me. I see them strolling hand in hand. 301-216-4106 • [email protected] My great aunt owned a nursing Sue DaCamara It gives me more opportunities to home and as a child I was taken Acting Executive Director Resident Editors reflect on relationships, and I won- to work routinely by my mother, Sally Schear, Kindley der if they are experiencing the who was the Director of Nurs- Melva Hiatt, Mund ing, to interact with the residents. My husband and I love to travel, best that was yet to be for them. Lois Lord, Trott Throughout school I was involved especially to foreign countries. Even I’m grateful for the opportunities Gordon Allen, 419 in volunteer activities with seniors. foreign languages haven’t been a you’ve provided me over the past Alice Furlong, E-F Yet when I went to college I decid- barrier to those relationships I’ve couple of months to re-establish Resident Staff ed I wanted to work with children. had with seniors. I’ll never forget relationships, form new relation- Building 419: Genevieve Wimsatt One week of work on the elemen- visiting an ancient spa in Budapest ships and help explain business tary school playground convinced and having a very elderly woman and corporate relationships. And I Diamond: Marjorie McFarland, me to go back to my true calling. sit down beside me and carry on hope that in various ways the AMV Martha Grimm, and Martin Moon So I changed my major and ever a very lengthy conversation with associates and I are helping you Edwards-Fisher: Betty Goen, since I’ve been working with older me in her native language. I had no to experience a wonderful time in Joan Dunlop, Mary Rose Wells, adults. I have learned many life les- idea what she really said to me, but your lives. I continue to believe Martha Hunt, Dorothy Welch, sons from the relationships I’ve we connected on some level. And that as we work together in part- Paula Strain and Betty Savage been so fortunate to have with there was the senior gentleman on nership with each other, we can seniors over the years. a cliff in the southernmost part of make the best even better. Kindley: George Boddiger Mund: Judy Weaver, Winston Taylor and Anne Porter LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Trott: Marjorie Brugger, Marion Livingston, and Dear Editor: in the giving, but it is important to Because it is the long-standing Jeanne North (PACs) At the recent meeting of the Vil- understand that Pay Grade 14 at policy that residents may not give lage Life staff, we were discuss- Asbury is not the same as U.S. Gov- tips or gifts to specific associates, Villas: Reginald Westlake, Tom ing the Christmas Gift Fund , won- ernment Grade 14. the Christmas Fund provides you, Wilkinson, Marj McGuire, and dering how to help our residents I hope we will all give to the the residents, an opportunity to Mary Anstead understand its importance. There Christmas Gift Fund in a spirit of give a financial gift to associates as Printing: was a wonderful article in the “Vil- thanksgiving for all that is done a thank-you for services rendered. Chesapeake Publishing Corp. lage Life” (Aug/Sept) by Jeanne for us both by those we see in the All of you have received a bro- North describing the Fund and Dining Rooms, Maintenance and chure describing the fund, and Design/Layout: who benefits from it. But many Housekeeping and by those we detailing how gifts may be made. Electronic Ink of the residents tend to take for never see or speak to. Please consider this a friendly granted all the work that goes on Anne Porter reminder that payments to the fund behind the scenes here. Most of are due by November 15. Checks us at the meeting agreed that if we Thanks for your letter, Anne. Per- should be made payable to CCAV think about the fact that we tip haps this information submit- and sent to your Apartment or Villa the waiter at a restaurant when we ted by Dan Muller, Villas, will be representative. They are: eat out and that the waiter usually helpful. Diamond: Home’ Reitwiesner (114) has to share that with the dish- Edwards-Fisher: Wally Gedosch (414) washers, bus boys, etc. it helps put 419: Evelyn Lackey (215) into perspective our giving to the The Asbury Christmas Health Care: Administrator’s Office “The mission of Village Life is Fund. If each of us gave just a dol- Kindley: Reception Desk Gift Fund to provide timely, interesting lar a day each year ($365/year) to There are more than 800 asso- Trott: Elouise Weaver (601) and entertaining news about the Christmas Gift Fund, it would ciates that serve Asbury residents.