The cheery poster-sized cards are displayed prominently on our office filing cabinet.

Humor can be found in both posters.  In the page with the male pilgrim, the turkey declares, "Wouldn't you rather have roast beef this year?"  In the page with female pilgrim, Tweety Bird recites the following joke: "What key has legs and can open doors? ... A turkey!"

We hope that you enjoy Meyer's artwork as much as we do.

It's a full-sized poster featuring all of the Halloween standbys, as well as Tweety Bird and Daffy Duck.  Amazing!

On that note, we wish you HAPPY HALLOWEEN from all of the “jolly jack-o-lanterns” at Senior Services’ Transportation Program (including “Chief Pumpkin,” Cindy; Lead Scheduler, Donald; Eastside and West Seattle Scheduler, Amy; and South King County Scheduler, Kailan)!

Today's post is a creative attempt to express our deep appreciation to all of our fabulous volunteer drivers.  Please imagine our staff singing together-- with impeccable pitch, in perfect unison, with much grandiosity and heartfelt spirit.  Please also envision some stellar accompanying dance moves.


The tune to this song is "Rubber Duckie" from Sesame Street.  It has come to our attention that many folks are unfamiliar with this classic song, so you can first get a taste of the tune here.  Please also feel free to create your own melody.

So, without further ado, here is our little ditty for your entertainment (clearing vocal chords):

Volunteer drivers, we love you!
You are heroes through and through.
Volunteer drivers, you’re lifesavers, it’s true!
(woh woh, bee doh!)

You brighten seniors’ days.
Volunteer Drivers, you’re amazing in oh-so-many ways!
(doo doo dooooo, doo doo)

Oh, when a senior
is feeling lonely and melancholy,
you take them for a ride
and then they feel energized and jolly!
(drive-a-drive-drive!)

You are hardly ever late.
Volunteer drivers, you are easy to appreciate!
(Yeah yeah yeah yeah)

Volunteer drivers, we love you!
You are heroes through and through.
Volunteer drivers, we just wanted to say “THANK YOU!”
OPTIONAL: (you, you, you, you!)

We hope that you have enjoyed our musical message of thanks.  We are determined to never run out of ways to tell our volunteer drivers how grateful we are for all that they do!

This handout was produced by Seattle residents with early-stage dementia.

In our various roles within Senior Services’ Transportation Program, we often come across seniors living with dementia.   This can be challenging and upsetting for us to encounter, and our hearts go out to those grappling with their new memory-related struggles of daily living.

 Yet, a local program (often given the name of “Momentia”) attempts to de-stigmatize dementia and remind us of the many gifts seniors with Alzheimer’s disease have to offer.  The positive spirit and hope of Momentia are very inspiring, and participants are emboldened and empowered by its various offerings.  Hence, we’d like to share more about this program with you today.

Marigrace Becker offers lively and descriptive reflections about Momentia on the ChangingAging blog.  She proclaims,
“This, together, is Momentia. A new story told most compellingly and vividly by people living with dementia. A community transformation unfolding as the new story surges onward, leaving its tangible and joyful mark in our museums, parks, community centers, art galleries, stadiums and coffee shops. An irresistible invitation for us all to play a part in abundantly life-giving ways.

And through it all, we use the word to celebrate. The old dementia story has come to an end. The new dementia story is emerging. Momentia! Try saying it. It must, in fact, be exclaimed. The word springs from the lips, proclaiming, transforming, inviting. Momentia! There’s a new dementia story being told. It’s a hopeful story, it’s a triumphant story, and we’re all a part of it. Momentia! We’re not afraid anymore. We are celebrating. Because as dementia is on the rise, so is Momentia!”

It’s hard not to get excited about Momentia with such enlivening words!  KUOW recently aired a story about the program’s group at the Greenwood Senior Center, which you can listen to here, and you can also find out more about Momentia on its Facebook page.  In addition, our post is very timely because an entertaining Momentia evening showcasing the "new dementia story” told by persons with memory loss will take place on Tuesday, March 11, 2014 from 5:30PM to 7:30PM, at The Kendall Center, Taproot Theatre.   You can find out more with the flyer located here.   We hope to see you there.

Let’s get some powerful momentum rolling for Momentia!

• Reach out and drive someone.
• The road will never be the same again.
• Sheer driving pleasure.
• The ultimate driving experience.
• We’ll put you in the driver’s seat.
• ‘Driven’ with compassion.
• The drive of your life.
• We are driving excitement. 
• Drive Your Dreams.
• Driving is believing.
• Drive up.  Dream up.
• Drivers and passengers will never be the same.
• You have a ‘license’ to make a difference.
• Keep our wheels spinning.
• Imagine the stories you’ll hear.
• Imagine the places you’ll go.
• Our volunteers accumulate "miles and miles" of positive impact.
• Help us leave no senior behind.
• Let’s get seniors out and about.
• Take a turn in the right direction—become a volunteer driver today.
• Rides change lives.
• Let the journey begin.

Do you have any good ideas?  If so, please email them to me at hilaryc@seniorservices.org.  To end with a tagline, let’s “drive the distance” to ensure that more caring volunteer drivers are making a difference in the lives of King County seniors!

In February, we published a cheesy poem honoring our Volunteer Transportation drivers.  We feel that it is now time to do the same for the amazing volunteers and staff of the Hyde Shuttle program.

Here is our "Ode to Hyde Shuttles" (from a client perspective):

I was unable to get out and about on my own,
and I grew tired and bored at home all alone.
I wistfully dreamed of a way to break free
from the same four walls constantly surrounding me.

I was then informed of a shuttle called Hyde
that I could use if I ever needed a ride.
The van would pick me up at my home
and take me anywhere I wanted to go.

Registration was just a phone call away,
so I called to get started the very next day.
It was so easy to sign-up it was hard to believe;
I felt like there wasn’t anything I couldn’t achieve!

The shuttle came to pick me up at my front door,
and, just like that, I had a whole new world to explore.
I was able to go to the Senior Center, doctor’s, and store—
as well as the beauty parlor, a friend’s home, library, and more.

I felt very alive, empowered, and carefree;
there was so much more to do than just watch TV!
I’m no longer painfully limited in what I can do;
there are many new hobbies and activities to pursue.

The drivers are all courteous and as nice as can be;
they really strive to take good care of me.
They gingerly help me get into the van with care
and don’t mind that I need to stay in my wheelchair.

It’s hard to know how to effectively convey
all of the gratitude and positive things I want to say,
but I hope that ending with this statement will do:
Hyde Shuttle team, I truly appreciate you!

In the spirit of Dr. Seuss, here is a cheesy poem for your reading entertainment: